Updates on the Bush Administration's environmental record, delivered straight to your inbox.
Privacy policy

December 18, 2006
EPA Exempts Pesticides from Clean Water Act

November 17, 2006
EPA’s New Air Quality Standards Endanger Public Health

November 02, 2006
Bush Names Exxon Chief to Chart America’s Energy Future

See Articles By Category

Enter keyword(s) to search through back issues:

Mother Jones Feature
In the most recent issue of Mother Jones the growing consequences of pollution and environmental toxins for the region are highlighted in Dozens of Words for Snow, None for Pollution by Marla Cone. The article is free of charge to readers of BushGreenwatch.org.
 
Exxpose Exxon
A coalition of environmental and public interest groups spotlighting ExxonMobil’s efforts to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, prevent action on global warming, and encourage America’s oil dependence.
 
Gristmill
Grist Magazine's new blog is the place for continuous commentary from a stable of smarty-pants writers the likes of which the environmental world has never seen.
 
REP America
View the website for the "environmental conscience of the GOP." This site includes the Campaign for Change: Action Plan for a Green GOP Century.
 
Environmental Health News
Sign up to receive daily news summaries of environmental health coverage from around the world, in your inbox by 9 am ET.


>E-mail this story
>Print this page
>Send BushGreenwatch to a friend

December 18, 2006 | Back Issues « previous | next »
EPA Exempts Pesticides from Clean Water Act

Environmental groups are very concerned about the Environmental Protection Agency’s recent decision to allow the application of pesticides on waterways. Before this exemption, a permit under the Clean Water Act was required for pesticides applied on or near waterways.

“More protection is needed from pesticides, not less,” said Jay Feldman of Beyond Pesticides, a consumer watchdog group in a statement. Feldman noted that the Clean Water Act requires a health-based standard to protect waterways whereas the new standards are less stringent and fail to regulate water quality or protect aquatic ecosystems.

Under the new rule, if the pesticide will be used to control aquatic weeds, mosquitoes or other pests, no permit is needed and pesticides can be sprayed directly on a body of water or near it.

There are many unintended consequences to pesticide spraying. According to Environmental Defense, some mosquito control pesticides are toxic to both bees and fish.

With this decision, the EPA has abdicated responsibility for the health of our nation’s lakes and streams.





E-mail this story | Print this page | Send BushGreenwatch to a friend