A Controversial Bill (H.R. 897) To Mosquito Control Programs: A Policy Analysis
Charles Guissou, University of Kentucky
[h=4]Year of Publication 2016[/h]
[h=4]College Public Health[/h]
[h=4]Degree Name Master of Public Health (M.P.H.)[/h]
[h=4]Committee Chair Sarah Wackerbarth, PhD[/h]
[h=4]Committee Member Richard C. Ingram, DrPH[/h]
[h=4]Committee Member Hefei Wen, PhD[/h]
Abstract
The primary purpose of this paper was to analyze the legal, financial, and administrative burdens of the Pesticides General Permit on mosquito control programs from a policy perspective. Mosquito control is often highly controversial, particularly when it involves the use of pesticides that have their own potentially serious health and environmental impacts. In 2009, the Environment Protection Agency issued the permit to be obtained by pesticide applicators before pesticides could be discharged into waterways in addition to existing Federal Insecticides, Fungicides, and Rodenticides Act (FIFRA) regulations. Some provisions of the permit could impact mosquito control activities. Therefore, in response to that new regulatory layer a bill (H.R. 897) was proposed as a policy solution to repeal the regulation requirements so that mosquito control programs would apply mosquito pesticides under FIFRA regulations only. The change is backed by mosquito control professionals and pesticides industry interest groups but objected to by environmental activists.
Even though the bill has a bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate, it has yet to become a law. So far, since the implementation of the permit regulations, no state or local mosquito control pesticide applicator has complained of any barriers limiting its activities and none have been subjected to a legal action. Moreover, the regulation has been implemented seamlessly across the country. As a result, our policy analysis didn?t support the repeal of the Pesticides General Permit as requested by mosquito control professionals. The principal contribution of this policy analysis is to advocate for effective, efficient, and environmentally sound mosquito control practices that will help minimize or eliminate the discharge of pesticides into waters of the United States.
[h=4]Recommended Citation[/h] Guissou, Charles, "A Controversial Bill (H.R. 897) To Mosquito Control Programs: A Policy Analysis" (2016).
Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.). Paper 78.
http://uknowledge.uky.edu/cph_etds/78
