Mary:
I didn't mean to sound condescending. If I did, I apologize.
About EPA - was that a joke, or do you really avoid EPA?
Pesticide use - good point - we never know fully who is using what,
although out pesticide staff tries to find out. And it's a losing
battle trying to keep up with all the new pesticides and herbicides
on the market. I agree, the Feds ought to fund the mandates they
pass along, such as the extensive drinking water testing
requirements. Our comments on the revolving fund program proposed
in the SDWA legislation included our view that Uncle Sam should
provide money for testing, rather than money for building new
systems. (Especially considering the history of construction
grants and loans under the CWA, which went predominantly to large
cities rather than to the small communities that need the most
help.)
Connection between surface and ground water systems - certainly a
concern. The Floridan Aquifer is recharged largely in Georgia, so
we worry about that all the time. Have you been involved in the
UDI (Under Direct Influence) program? If so, what are your
thoughts on it?
Yes, a poisoned water supply IS more expensive to deal with than
testing. Unfortunately, testing doesn't tell you anything until
it's too late - the aquifer is already contaminated. A better
approach is PREVENTION, such as wellhead protection, which is what
I was referring to in regard to revising the Clean Water Act.
Wellhead protection requirements are a political hot potato,
because it's land use management, and developers and industry hate
land use rules. We just got rolled here recently at the State
level on that issue. Stronger ground water protection measures in
the federal Clean Water Act would help our effort. (But it would
have to be flexible for States that don't need it, and would
require funding. Hence the stone wall we've encountered.)
Ecofeminism could help (is helping?) a lot on the
pesticide/herbicide problem: avoid their use to begin with, by
using non-chemical methods of pest and weed control. Is anyone on
the list following the Delaney Clause controversy?
Al
