State Airs Groundwater-Protection Proposal
January 31, 2013 - NewsDay
by Emily C. Dooley
The state Department of Environmental Conservation has released its proposed plan to protect Long
Island's water supply from pesticide pollution -- more than a decade after the state legislature ordered
such a program.
State officials say the plan will safeguard groundwater while meeting the needs of farmers, residents
and businesses.
Critics say the measure offers little action and that too much time has passed to keep studying options.
Supporters, including farmers, favor continuing a cautious approach.
The plan, made public this week, calls for evaluating the pesticides found in groundwater, their
concentration and the reasons for their use and implementing pollution prevention measures, including
enhanced groundwater monitoring.
Other measures could include modifying pesticide use or requiring less-toxic products, DEC
Commissioner Joe Martens said in a news release.
"I was just astounded that after a decade pretty much all they are doing is kicking the can down the
road," said state Assemb. Robert Sweeney, (D-Lindenhurst), who chairs the Environmental
Conservation committee. "There's not much substance to it."
DEC spokeswoman Lisa King said in an email the proposal "presents a blueprint for action that gets the
strategy off the ground in a meaningful way."
Plan supporters said the use of pesticides is key to protecting Long Island's $300 million per year
agriculture industry.
"We can't farm in a place like Long Island without crop protectants," said Joseph M. Gergela, executive
director of Long Island Farm Bureau. "Let's do it smart. Let's not be hasty." He said state officials need
to use science to determine if a substance is dangerous and if economically viable substitutes are
available.
Underground aquifers provide Long Island's nearly 2.8 million residents with water for drinking,
irrigation, industrial, agricultural and other uses. The sandy soils do little to filter out contaminants.
Since 1997, 117 pesticide-related chemicals have been detected in the aquifers, according to the draft
plan. Thirty percent of all dry pesticides and 14 percent of all wet pesticides used in the state are
applied on Long Island, according to the plan.
The DEC's proposal does nothing to protect the public, said Adrienne Esposito, executive director of
Citizens Campaign for the Environment. "It's a plan designed to continue pesticide use in full force," she
said.
Public comment will be accepted for 90 days, after which the DEC will decide whether the plan should
be modified. The plan can be found at www.dec.ny.gov. Public comments are accepted until April 30 by
fax at 518-402-9024, email at LongIslandStrategy@gw.dec.state.ny.us or mail to Scott Menrathcq, NYS
DEC, Division of Materials Management, 625 Broadway, Albany, N.Y. 12233-7254.
Link to original article