H.R. 3824 — Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 2025

This section prohibits the EPA Administrator or a State from requiring a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (Clean Water Act) for a point source discharge into navigable waters of a pesticide authorized for sale, distribution, or use under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), or the residue of such pesticide, resulting from its application—except as provided in Clean Water Act section 402(t). (Thus, most pesticide applications are exempt from NPDES permitting requirements.)

This section exempts from National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit requirements discharges from point sources into navigable waters of pesticides authorized for sale, distribution, or use under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)—or residues of such pesticides—resulting from pesticide application. (As background, NPDES permits under CWA section 402 regulate pollutant discharges from point sources into navigable waters to protect water quality.) The exemption does not apply to (1) discharges resulting from a FIFRA violation relevant to protecting water quality, where the discharge or excess amount would not have occurred but for the violation; (2) stormwater discharges regulated under CWA section 402(p); or (3) manufacturing or industrial effluent, publicly owned treatment works effluent, or discharges incidental to vessel operations (e.g., ballasting or biofouling prevention).