Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Update On ADEQ Pesticide General Permit

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) is currently in the process of responding to comments received on Arizona’s Draft Pesticide General Permit. Arizona’s Draft PGP was public noticed in the Arizona Administrative Register on February 25, 2011 coincidental with the time the U.S. Court of Appeals granted a petition to delay the effective of permit coverage nationally from April 9, 2011 until October 31, 2011. U.S. EPA is in the process of reviewing comments a Reasonable and Prudent Alternative (RPA) from the draft Biological Opinion by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) on U.S. EPA’s draft permit. The Arizona draft PGP is not subject to this RPA.

ADEQ anticipates issuing the state permit in time to meet the October 31, 2011 date established by the court. After October 31, 2011 permit coverage is required for the application of pesticides to waters of the U.S.

While U.S. EPA will be issuing its own Pesticide General Permit, permit coverage in Arizona (except for Indian Country) will be under ADEQ’s Pesticide General Permit.

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