The potential problems of pesticides in ground water are serious. Addressing potential and existing problems requires the integration of ground water and pesticide programs, authorities, and resources at both the Federal and State levels. USEPA's "Pesticide and Ground Water Strategy" describes the policies, management programs, and regulatory approaches that the Agency will use to protect the nation's ground water resources from risks of contamination by pesticides. It emphasizes prevention and resource protection over cleanup.

A central goal of the Strategy is to provide States with the opportunity to manage the use of pesticides in ways that protect ground water resources. Through the implementation of State Management Plans (SMPs) for pesticides, States may promote the environmentally sound use of pesticides that might otherwise pose an unreasonable risk to the ground water. Through SMPs, States should address pesticide use in all areas, rural and urban.

USEPA generally intends to require SMPs for specific pesticides through a chemical-specific regulatory action. Currently, there is a proposed rule to restrict the sale and use of five pesticides (alachlor, atrazine, cyanazine, metolachlor, and simazine), that have been identified as either probable or possible human carcinogens, unless there is effective management provided by an SMP.

Most states have voluntarily developed Generic SMPs to establish the general framework for the SMPs that will address specific pesticides (Pesticide SMPs). The SMPs:

1. describe the State's ground water protection philosophy and goals, its authority and the resources that will be used to fulfill its commitment to manage the pesticide's use;

2. describe in detail the manner in which the State intends to carry out its commitment; and

3. establish a process for public participation to make pesticide users aware of the State's management measures.

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