HOUSE GOP BILL, USDA RULE SEEK CONTINUED METHYL BROMIDE USE

Farm state Republicans in the House have introduced a bill to ensure continued use of the ozone-depleting pesticide methyl bromide, months before parties to an international treaty designed to completely phase out its use by 2005 will decide whether to accept the United States' request for exemptions. At the same time, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is taking comment on a proposal that would require all wood packaging passing through the country to be treated with methyl bromide, a...