News Bites
EPA Finalizes Controversial Clean Water Act Rule
On May 27, 2015, EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers finalized the controversial WOTUS rule which sets
forth a definition of “waters of the United States” that will
significantly expand the types of land and water bodies
that will be subject to NPDES permtting requirements
pursuant to the Clean Water Act. Under the rule, EPA will
be able to regulate isolated wetlands and ponds located on
farms by designating them as “regional water treasures.”
In addition, isolated bodies of water will be deemed
regulated “systems” thus expanding federal control over
thousands of farm fields throughout the country. Legislation has been introduced in the Senate (S. 1140), titled
the Federal Water Quality Protection Act, that would rein
in what is widely viewed within the regulated community
as the rule’s regulatory “overreach.” The Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works, chaired by Senator
James Inhofe (R-OK), is expected to mark up the measure shortly. Prospects for a Congressional fix, however,
remain uncertain given that the House and Senate would
need enough votes to override a likely Presidential veto of
any bill that would repeal the rule. CPDA will continue to
monitor further developments on this issue as they occur.
CPDA Summer Conference
& Annual Meeting
August 3-5, 2015
The Hermitage Hotel
Nashville, Tennessee
Registration is Now Open!
Visit www.cpda.com for more information
Issue Highlights (June 8, 2015)
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EPA Finalizes Controversial Clean Water Act Rule
OSHA Interim Enforcement Guidance on HCS 2012
Addresses CPDA Worker Safety Concerns
CPDA’s John Boling Organizes Pac Pals Event
OSHA Interim Enforcement Guidance on HCS
2012 Addresses CPDA Worker Safety Concerns
In response to the concerns raised by CPDA
regarding worker safety risks that could ensue if
distribution warehouse employees are forced to
re-label millions of individual end use product
containers and bags over the next six months,
the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provided temporary relief. Under
interim guidance on the Hazard Communication
Standard (HCS 2012) issued by OSHA on May
29, 2015, no distributors will be required to
affix HCS 2012-compliant labels to individual
product containers that bear HCS 1994-compliant labels and are already “packaged for shipment” – meaning those existing stocks that are
boxed, palletized, or shrink-wrapped. However,
an HCS 2012-compliant label and Safety Data
Sheet (SDS) for each individual product container within a shipping unit must accompany the
shipping unit when it is distributed. In these situations, the relabeling of existing stocks would
not have to take place until December 1, 2017.
The previous guidance, issued on February 9,
2015, was silent on the relabeling of existing
stocks already ‘packaged for shipment.’ OSHA’s
latest guidance represents a significant ‘win’ for
the protection of worker safety. CPDA continues to work with OSHA in addressing problems
with HCS 2012 compliance that still must be
resolved. Specifically, HCS 2012, as written,
requires the relabeling of individual product
containers anytime there is new information
on hazardous chemicals used in a formulation.
CPDA remains hopeful that a workable solution
to this problem can be developed.
CPDA’s John Boling Organizes Pac Pals Event Featuring Representative Rodney Davis
In his role as leader of the Pac Pals Agribusiness Sector, CPDA Director of
Legislative Affairs John Boling organized a recent meeting with Congressman
Rodney Davis (R-IL), Chairman of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on
Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research. Joined by 14 agribusiness industry
colleagues, the goal of the meeting was to learn how the Congressman was able to
raise over $1 million to run in a special election and then repeat the effort shortly thereafter, how he works with the PAC community, and his thoughts on the
National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) patriot program. Pac Pals
is a network of PAC administrators that come together for insight, best practices and
to learn how to become more proficient PAC managers.
Register Now for the 2015 CPDA Summer Conference & Annual Meeting
Registration for the 2015 CPDA Summer Conference & Annual Meeting,
scheduled for August 3-5 in Nashville, Tennessee is now open! The meeting will
be held at The Hermitage Hotel, Tennessee’s only Forbes Five Star and AAA Five
Diamond Hotel. This elegant hotel, located in downtown Tennessee, captures the
rich tradition, charm and southern hospitality of America’s Music City!
This year’s speakers program will feature noted agricultural economist Matthew
Phillips (Phillips McDougall) who will provide attendees a comprehensive overview of current trends in global agricultual production and the related impacts on
the pesticide and agrotechnology industry. Phillips is one of the most sought after speakers in his field and he is
well respected throughout the agrotechnology industry for his insight and expertise on factors shaping agriculture world-wide.
The meeting will address a number of other topics of critical importance to your company such as the development of strategies for patenting combinations of off-patent chemistries, the impact of OSHA’s 2012 Hazard
Communication Standard on manufacturers, formulators, and distributors of non-pesticide agrotechnology
products, a presentation and roundtable discussion focusing on data compensation issues related to the Joint
Inerts Task Force, and perspectives on how weed resistance management programs are affecting the agrotechnology industry and agricultural production.
In conjunction with the Summer Conference & Annual Meeting, CPDA-Canada will hold its annual meeting
and an open roundtable discussion that will focus on the status of regulatory initiatives affecting the registration
of pesticides and agrotechnology products in that country.
CPDA encourages individuals to visit our web site and register for the meeting no later than July 24th. After
that time, registrations will only be accepted on-site and will be subject to a $100 late processing fee. More
information is available on the meetings page of CPDA’s web site (www.cpda.com). We look forward to seeing
you in Nashville!