The Sixth Circuit Court has granted USEPA's requested six month stay for compliance with the NPDES permits.  The deadline for complying with this regulation has been changed from April 11, 2011 to October 31, 2011.  In the meantime, legislation has been introduced in Congress which will exempt agriculture from having to comply with this burdensome requirement.

 

This week, probably on Thursday, March 31, the US House of Representatives will vote on HR 872, which is legislation to eliminate the need for NPDES permits for pesticide applications.  There are nearly 100 co-sponsors of this legislation which has gotten bi-partisan support.  Illinois Congressmen Tim Johnson, Bobby Schilling, John Shimkus, Jerry Costello, Aaron Schock and Randy Hultgren are co-sponsors. 

Please contact your US Congressman by calling their office in Washington D.C. and ask them to vote YES on HR 872.  Tell your farmer customers to do the same; as it stands, anyone who would treat a farm pond for aquatic weeds would have to get a permit first from IEPA.  This regulation sets a troublesome precedent for pesticide licensing that will only expand in the future beyond aquatic applications if HR 872 fails.  Currently, the compliance date remains April 9, 2011 for this regulation.  As of today, there is no application process available in Illinois to get a permit, and while Congress deals with this legislation USEPA has also requested an extension of the compliance date until October 31, 2011.  We will keep you posted.