The Honorable Carol Browner
Administrator, US EPA
401 M St, SW
Washington, DC 20460

Dear Administrator Browner:

I am writing to urge you to take action to protect the nation’s groundwater supplies from pesticide contamination.

EPA’s 1991 Pesticides and Ground-Water Strategy committed the Agency to addressing this important issue. The Strategy anticipated federal action to restrict the use of problem pesticides through state management plans. In 1996, EPA proposed a rule which would require the states to develop specific management plans for managing five problem weedkillers. At that time, EPA stated that these pesticides might cause “unreasonable adverse effects” in the absence of effective management measures provided by state plans. Now more than three years later, EPA has yet to issue a final rule.

I am very concerned with this unwarranted delay, and I am anxious to know when you expect to issue the rule that will provide for improved management of those pesticides that most threaten groundwater.

As you know, a wealth of data shows that legally applied pesticides continue to threaten groundwater in many areas around the country. Please, Administrator Browner, act now to protect this important resource.

Sincerely,