Volume 144, No. 91 covering the 2nd Session of the 105th Congress (1997 - 1998) was published by the Congressional Record.
The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS” mentioning the Environmental Protection Agency was published in the Senate section on pages S7939 on July 10, 1998.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS
The following petitions and memorials were laid before the Senate and were referred or ordered to lie on the table as indicated:
POM-501. A resolution adopted by the City Council of Hialeah, Florida relative to the renaming of the Everglades National Park; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
POM-502. A resolution adopted by the Village Council of Miami Shores Village, Florida relative to the renaming of the Everglades National Park; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
POM-503. A resolution adopted by the Village Council of the Village of Virginia Gardens, Florida relative to the renaming of the Everglades National Park; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
POM-504. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the Legislature of the State of New Hampshire relative to trade with Japan; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
POM-505. A resolution adopted by the Legislature of the State of Michigan; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 72
Whereas, The Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 (FQPA) as passed by Congress and was signed into law on August 3, 1996, by President Clinton; and
Whereas, Among the purposes of the FQPA is to assure that pesticide tolerance decisions and policies are based upon sound science and reliable data; and
Whereas, Another purpose of the FQPA is to assure tolerance decisions and policies are formulated in an open and transparent manner; and
Whereas, The EPA is required by the FQPA to have reviewed approximately 3,000 of the approximately 9,700 existing tolerances by August 1999 to determine whether these tolerances meet the safety standards established by the FQPA; and
Whereas, The implementation of the FQPA could have a profound negative impact on domestic agricultural production and on consumer food prices and availability. With Michigan's diverse agriculture, this impact could be especially severe on our numerous specialty crops; now, therefore be it
Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That we memorialize the Congress of the United States to take the following actions:
1. Direct the EPA to initiate immediately appropriate administrative rulemaking to ensure that the policies and standards the agency intends to apply in evaluating pesticide tolerances are subject to thorough public notice and comment prior to final tolerance determinations being made by the agency.
2. Direct the EPA to use its authority under the FQPA to provide interested persons the opportunity to produce data needed to evaluate a pesticide tolerance so that the agency can avoid the use of unrealistic default assumptions in making pesticide tolerance decisions.
3. Direct the EPA to implement the FQPA in a manner that will not disrupt agricultural production nor have a negative impact on the availability, diversity, and affordability of food.
4. Conduct oversight hearings immediately to ensure that actions taken by the EPA are consistent with the FQPA provisions and congressional intent. If the intent of the legislation is not carried out, then Congress should postpone the August 1999 deadline. Following oversight hearings, Congress should, if necessary, take appropriate actions or amend the FQPA to correct problem areas.
5. Encourage the Secretary of Agriculture and the United States Department of Agriculture to increase its commitment of manpower and budgetary resources to work with the EPA to gather scientific data. Furthermore, Congress should encourage the United States Department of Agriculture to conduct an economic impact statement on the implementation of the FQPA.
6. Clarify the role of Section 18 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act as its provisions relate to the reestablishment of tolerances under the FQPA.; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the members of the Michigan congressional delegation, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Adopted by the Senate, March 26, 1998.
Adopted by the House of Representatives, June 11, 1998.
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