Publisher of Consumer Reports

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Mary Kelly, TCPS, 512-474-0811;

April 20, 1999 Reggie James, CU, 512-477-4431; or Sparky

Anderson, TCWA, 512-474-0605

 

PESTICIDE USE STUDY BILL STALLED

BY TEXAS FARM BUREAU OPPOSITION

 

AUSTIN, TX -- A bill that would direct state agencies to determine whether Texas needs a better system for collecting data on pesticide use is stalled in the House Natural Resource Committee, due to opposition from the Texas Farm Bureau.

 

HB 1378, sponsored by Austin representative Elliott Naishtat, would direct the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission and the Texas Department of Agriculture to examine how Texas can collect better information on pesticide use to help protect drinking water and public health.

 

Unlike several other states, Texas currently does not have accurate information on where, when and how much pesticides are used in specific locations in the state. The lack of this basic information impairs programs to protect drinking water by making it almost impossible to determine the source of pesticide contamination such as the herbicide atrazine that has been found in tap water supplied by over 60 public water supply systems in Texas.

 

"Due to the Texas Farm Bureau’s opposition to including agricultural pesticide use in this feasibility study, Rep. Naishtat has agreed to limit the study to non-agricultural uses, such as schools, parks, playgrounds, golf courses and highway, utility or other right-of-way," said Mary Kelly, director of the Texas Center for Policy Studies. The concession does not seem to have assuaged the Texas Farm Bureau, however, as the organization is now demanding that "right-of-way" spraying be taken out of the bill.

 

Rep. Naishtat and supporters of the study, including Consumers Union, the Texas Center for Policy Studies and Texas Clean Water Fund, believe that good information is lacking on both agricultural and non-agricultural uses. "While non-agricultural uses is an important first step, right-of-way spraying with herbicides is a significant non-agricultural use and its exclusion would severely handicap the bill," said Reggie James, director of the Southwest Regional Office of Consumers Union.

 

Added Kelly: "It is a mystery why the Texas Farm Bureau, which represents farmers, has an interest in whether or not the state examines pesticide use on highway, railroad or utility right-of-way." The revised bill has, however, yet to be brought up for a vote due apparently to this opposition.

 

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