The American Farm Bureau Federation says most of agriculture's concerns with the Environmental Protection Agency's implementation of the Food Quality Protection Act are addressed in new legislation introduced yesterday.  The House bill forces EPA to use sound science when evaluating pesticides.

Such a bill is needed "because of the difficulties EPA has experienced in implementing the FQPA," said AFBF President Dean Kleckner.  "The FQPA has been on the books for nearly three years, and there's still great uncertainty about how EPA will implement it and whether farmers and ranchers will have continued access to safe pest control products."

The bill was introducers by Reps. Richard Pombo (R-CA), Ed Towns (D-NY), Gary Condit (D-CA) and Allen Boyd (D-FL) and 16 other members.  It would clarify and improve many regulatory procedures under the FQPA.