RURAL Act

Bill: 117-hr-1821
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Gibbs, Bob [R-OH-7]
Introduced: 2021-03-11
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Environmental regulatory procedures

Hazardous wastes and toxic substances

Licensing and registrations

Pest management

State and local government operations

Water quality
Latest action: action_date: 2021-05-13
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-03-11
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Reducing Unnecessary Regulations on Agricultural Lands Act or the RURAL Act</b></p> <p>This bill modifies requirements governing the use of pesticides in or near navigable waters. Specifically, the bill prohibits the Environmental Protection Agency or states from requiring permits under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System for discharges of pesticides into navigable waters if the pesticides are (1) registered, (2) used for their intended purposes, and (3) used in compliance with their pesticide label requirements. The bill establishes exemptions from this prohibition.</p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1821 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 11, 2021 Mr. Gibbs introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure , and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To amend the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to clarify Congressional intent regarding the regulation of the use of pesticides in or near navigable waters, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Reducing Unnecessary Regulations on Agricultural Lands Act or the RURAL Act . 2. Use of authorized pesticides Section 3(f) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act ( 7 U.S.C. 136a(f) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (5) Use of authorized pesticides Except as provided in section 402(t) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, the Administrator or a State may not require a permit under such Act for a discharge from a point source into navigable waters of a pesticide authorized for sale, distribution, or use under this Act, or the residue of such a pesticide, resulting from the application of such pesticide. . 3. Discharges of pesticides Section 402 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1342 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (t) Discharges of pesticides (1) No permit requirement Except as provided in paragraph (2), a permit shall not be required by the Administrator or a State under this Act for a discharge from a point source into navigable waters of a pesticide authorized for sale, distribution, or use under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, or the residue of such a pesticide, resulting from the application of such pesticide. (2) Exceptions Paragraph (1) shall not apply to the following discharges of a pesticide or pesticide residue: (A) A discharge resulting from the application of a pesticide in violation of a provision of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act that is relevant to protecting water quality, if— (i) the discharge would not have occurred but for the violation; or (ii) the amount of pesticide or pesticide residue in the discharge is greater than would have occurred without the violation. (B) Stormwater discharges subject to regulation under subsection (p). (C) The following discharges subject to regulation under this section: (i) Manufacturing or industrial effluent. (ii) Treatment works effluent. (iii) Discharges incidental to the normal operation of a vessel, including a discharge resulting from ballasting operations or vessel biofouling prevention. .