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Arkansas Agriculture Pesticide Management
was implemented in February 1992. This was done by forming a taskforce
consisting of twenty nine (29) members from Federal, State, and
Local governmental agencies, as well as Registrants, University
Representatives, Environmental Groups, and the General Public. This
taskforce met twice a month until the Generic Pesticide Management
Plant was completed in July 1992. The Pesticide Management Plan (PMP)
was concurred on by EPA, Region 6 in July, 2003.
The goal of the Arkansas Agricultural
Chemical Generic Ground-Water Management Plan is to prevent the
state’s ground water from being polluted by agricultural chemicals
and, if pollution is found, to respond appropriately. This goal
provides for the protection of the public health and welfare, the
propagation and protection of terrestrial and aquatic life, the
protection of the environment, the operation of existing industries
and agriculture, and the maintenance and enhancement of the long-term
economic health of the state. The PMP also recognizes that preserving
ground-water quality is far less costly and more ecologically sound
than restoring ground water to its natural state, a process that
may not be technically or economically viable.
Banning agricultural chemical use altogether
would be the only sure way to protect ground water from agricultural
chemical pollution. However, considering the overwhelming benefits
afforded to the state by careful agricultural chemical use, banning
these chemicals is not a viable solution to the problem of potential
agricultural chemical pollution in ground water. Ground-water quality,
as it relates to agricultural chemical use, is described in terms
of the amount of agricultural chemicals found in the ground water.
The National Primary Drinking Water
Standards promulgated by EPA sets maximum contaminant levels (MCLs)
for pesticides. These MCLs are the initial "reference points"
upon which prevention and response strategies are based.
Between 1992 and 2003 various monitoring
programs have focused on the occurrence of pesticide contamination
in the alluvial aquifer underlying the extensive farmlands of the
Arkansas Delta. Over 500 wells and springs have been sampled. Pesticides
were detected in several of the wells monitored. This information
and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to require
Pesticide Management Plants (PMPs) as a prerequisite to continued
use of several pesticides which are important to Arkansas farmers
have resulted in the Pesticide Management Plant (PMP) for Arkansas.
The Arkansas Agricultural Chemical
Ground-Water Management Plan (PMP) is based on the Guidance for
Pesticides and Ground Water State Management Plans and The Pesticides
and Ground-Water Protection Strategy documents prepared by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The need for a plan to protect
ground water from contamination by agricultural chemicals and agents
arises from evidence nationwide that using these chemicals can,
in some instances, lead to contamination. In February 1988, EPA
proposed a strategy to regulate certain pesticides by prohibiting
their use in areas vulnerable to leaching unless a state develops
and implements an acceptable management plan. The advantage of a
state plan as opposed to a federal plan is that a state plan can
provide protection for ground-water resources without unnecessarily
restricting pesticide use. State plans can be more sensitive to
local conditions such as soil types, farming practice and hydrogeological
considerations.
EPA’s Office of Prevention, Pesticides,
And Toxic Substances has encouraged the development of the PMP to
manage pesticide use so that such use will not result in unreasonable
risks to human health and the environment. Agencies with responsibilities
regarding the protection and conservation of ground-water resources
have contributed their input and expertise in addressing each of
the components outlined in EPA’s guidance documents. The management
plan guidance document stipulates which topics are to be addressed
in the PMP, and this plan has been developed consistent with those
topics. Section topics, while addressed separately, are often interrelated.
Therefore, successfully implementing one section may depend upon
successfully implementing all other sections. Some of the sections
were considered especially integral to the success of the PMP and
were addressed accordingly. For instance, preventing unacceptable
pesticide contamination rather than relying on remediation, is a
primary goal of the PMP. To that end, emphasis was placed on prevention
measures, especially education, and a monitoring program to assess
potential problems and to assess the PMP’s overall effectiveness.
The PMP is responsive to the President’s Water-Quality Initiatives,
EPA’s Pesticides and Ground-Water Strategy, the state’s philosophy
toward ground-water protection, federal and state environmental
law.
Arkansas defines ground water as part
of "the waters of the state". As such, it is subject to
the full protection afforded by the Arkansas Water and Air Pollution
Control Act. This act stipulates that water-quality standards are
based upon present, future and potential uses of the waters of the
state and a statistical evaluation of past water-quality conditions.
The standards are designed to enhance the quality, value and beneficial
uses of Arkansas’ water to aid in the prevention, control and abatement
of water pollution, to provide for the protection and propagation
of fish and wildlife and to provide for recreation in and on the
water (Arkansas Water and Air Pollution Control Act, Regulation
2). Efforts implemented under this plan are designed to not only
maintain present ground-water uses and not impair potential uses,
but to ensure that overall water quality is maintained and, when
possible, improved.
The seven principles that govern
the PMP are:
- Agricultural chemicals are beneficial
and important to the economy of Arkansas.
- State and local government should
be primarily responsible for ground-water protection, with federal
expertise and information augmenting their efforts.
- The use of agricultural chemicals and agents should not impair any present use of ground water or
cause a public health hazard.
- Safe drinking water supplies, including
those drawn from private wells, should be protected.
- Ground-water quality monitoring
by state agencies, local governments and other interested parties
should initially be directed to areas of the state most vulnerable
to contamination.
- Agricultural chemical use and practices
should not pollute ground water.
- Education and voluntary implementation
of Best Management Practices are integral components of this plan.
The PMP provides a basic framework
to respond to problems as they arise. Whenever a problem is identified
and a decision is made to develop a response plan, an initial assessment
of the possible extent of the problem will be conducted. As the
problem is defined, implementation of preventive best management
practices (BMPs) will be encouraged. The results of these preventative
measures will be analyzed by field tests and/or modeling that will
provide a more refined set of BMPs. These could include the consideration
of use restrictions, including state-limited-use designations, label
restrictions or requiring alternative product use.
A monitoring program aimed specifically
at pesticide detection is on going. Should pesticides
be detected and existing BMPs found ineffective, field tests and/or
modeling will be conducted to improve them. The results of BMP monitoring
and implementation will be evaluated continually to refine chemical-specific
plans. The PMP briefly outlines existing programs and ground-water
protection efforts that relate to pesticides.
State Pesticide Management Plan is
a state program that has been created to protect groundwater from
contamination by pesticides. They contain risk assessments and descriptions
of actions that will be taken by the state to prevent contamination.
Two categories of Pesticide Management Plan can be created: Generic
Pesticide Management Plan and Pesticide Specific Management Plan.
Each of these plans must contain the following 12 components:
- State Philosophy and Goals Toward
Protecting Groundwater
- Roles and Responsibilities of State
Agencies
- Legal Authority
- Resources
- Basis for Assessment and Planning
- Monitoring
- Prevention Actions
- Response to Detections of Pesticides
- Enforcement Mechanisms
- Public Awareness and Participation
- Information Dissemination
- Records and Reporting
Generic Pesticide Management Plan is
voluntary and applies to all pesticides. They contain the basic
framework of the Pesticide Management Plan which will be the same
regardless of which pesticide is restricted. The Pesticide Specific
Management Plan is required by EPA as a condition of use for a particular
pesticide. The Pesticide Specific Management Plan contains actions
necessary to prevent contamination by the specific pesticide being
regulated.
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