“Good morning. Thank you Chairman Lucas and Chairman Hastings for holding today’s hearing.
“Today we are reviewing pesticide registration consultations under the Endangered Species Act as they are carried out between the Environmental Protection Agency and either the National Marine Fisheries Services or the Fish and Wildlife Service.
“Unfortunately, several opinions coming from the National Marine Fisheries Service fail to respond to and incorporate concerns voiced by the EPA.
“It’s important for these agencies to work collaboratively in reaching conclusions on complex issues such as the one we are dealing with this morning. While it is not unusual to see different agencies reaching differing opinions, it is unusual for reasonable people not to understand how those conclusions are reached. When the agencies fail to be transparent and fail to base their conclusions on the best available science, the decision is often left in the hands of the courts, leaving those outside of agriculture to make a ruling. This should not be the case. We need someone to step up and resolve these issues. Perhaps this is something that Congress should address.
“This hearing comes as we’re beginning to see the potential effects these differences of opinion could have.
“The questionable environmental data used in assessing potential harm to endangered species has producers in the Pacific Northwest and California facing a potential unprecedented restriction on the use of pesticide products labeled and registered by the EPA. This restriction could conceivably affect the rest of the country.
“Many in agriculture have expressed concern about the lack of transparency, a lack of state and stakeholder participation, use of less than best available science and the lack of an economic impact assessment on the restrictions contemplated by the National Marine Fisheries Service. I share those concerns.
“I am looking forward to hearing from today’s witnesses on these issues. Again, I thank the Chairs for holding today’s hearing."
Source: House Committee on Agriculture
