EPA chief Gina McCarthy put up a stout defense at a House Agriculture Committee hearing today to charges that her agency is out of touch with the farming community, stating that she works closely with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and has “great respect” for USDA.

 

As she has at other congressional hearings, McCarthy heard from lawmakers who accused EPA of “regulatory arrogance.”

 

Chairman Mike Conaway, R-Texas, stressed that he would like to see EPA consult with USDA.

 

“Historically, USDA's expertise and advice has been evident in the actions EPA has taken to evaluate pesticides and their uses,” Conaway said to start the hearing. “It concerns me to hear the farm community express increasingly urgent concerns about the lack of seriousness with which EPA takes and incorporates USDA expertise, advice and opinions, especially during formal interagency review.”

 

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