Application of Pesticides to Waters of the United States in Compliance With FIFRA

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Today, EPA is issuing a regulation stating that the application of a pesticide in compliance with relevant requirements of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) does not require a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit in two specific circumstances. The first circumstance is when the application of the pesticide is made directly to waters of the United States to control pests that are present in the water. The second circumstance is when the application of the pesticide is made to control pests that are over, including near, waters of the United States. This rulemaking is based on the Agency's interpretation of the definition of the term "pollutant" under the Clean Water Act (CWA) as not including such pesticides. This final rulemaking replaces EPA's previously published Interim and Final Interpretive Statements on the Application of Pesticides to Waters of the United States in Compliance with FIFRA. EPA's Interpretive Statement, published February 1, 2005, described the Agency's interpretation of the CWA with regard to the application of pesticides regulated under FIFRA that are applied to or over, including near, waters of the Uni