On Thursday, November 17, at 10:00 am, the Committee on Small Business Subcommittee on Agriculture, Energy and Trade held a hearing entitled Adrift in New Regulatory Burdens and Uncertainty: A Review of Proposed and Potential Regulations on Family Farmers. The hearing took place in Room 2360 of the Rayburn House Office Building.

The Subcommittee discussed possible ramifications on farmers and other small businesses of possible regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  This hearing focused on new National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit requirements under the Clean Water Act (CWA) for the application of pesticides and other chemicals that must be registered under the Federal Insecticide, Rodenticide and Fungicide Act (FIFRA).  In addition, the Subcommittee addressed new National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for coarse particulate matter (PM) that may or may not incorporate dust. 

Opening Statement:

Chairman Scott Tipton (R-CO

Witnesses and Testimony:

Philip Nelson, President, Illinois Farm Bureau, Bloomington, IL

• Witness Disclosure 
• Testimony 

Leonard Felix, President, Olathe Spray Service, Inc., Olathe, CO

• Testifying on behalf of the National Agricultural Aviation Association
• Witness Disclosure 
• Testimony 

Ray Vester, Vester Farms, Stuttgart, AR

• Testifying on behalf of the USA Rice Federation
• Witness Disclosure 
• Testimony 

Carl T. Shaffer, President, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, Mifflinville, PA

• Witness Disclosure 
• Testimony 

Additional Items:

Official Hearing Notice

Official Witness List

Official Hearing Memo

Hearing Video

Press Release