State and local legislators and elected officials are concerned over the implications of H.R. 4288, the Agriculture Labor and Uniformity Act.  This legislation would limit the imposition of requirements over and above those established by the Environmental Protection Agency in terms of the Insecticide Fungicide and Rodenticide Act.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) representing lawmakers in 30 states addressed a letter to the Senate and House Agriculture Committees expressing concern.  Geoff Horsfield Manager of the EWG noted, “It is imperative for state and local governments continue to have the authority to adopt more health-protective safeguards when necessary to shield their communities from exposure to toxic pesticides.”  The EWG pointed to the fact that local officials can respond to a situation faster than the federal agencies tasked with health protection. In contrast federal administrators have a broad perspective and access to a wider range of technical and legal resources than local officials. There are also local political considerations that may influence the decisions of county or state regulators that may be unjustified in either direction of intensity.