Whitman Hoping to Develop Relationship with Pesticide Applicators

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Christie Todd Whitman encouraged pesticide applicators to expand their roles as environmental stewards during her speech at the National Pest Management Association’s (NPMA) Legislative Day on Feb. 26.

Whitman's appearance at this meeting represents a more cooperative attitude than the one displayed by her predessor, Carol Browner. During Browner's term, the EPA aggressively pursued the elimination of several key lawn care products, such as Dursban.

Whitman told Legislative Day attendees that although the environment has actually improved in the last 30 years, environmental challenges of the 21st century are going to require a new set of solutions. Whitman said industry associations are going to have to play more of a role than they have in the past in finding environmental solutions.

“Working with organizations is how we accomplish goals like making the air cleaner, the water purer and the land better protected,” Whitman said.

Whitman said she wants EPA to place less emphasis on racking up fines and more on promoting compliance and results.

“Somebody once said, ‘environmental regulations are like cockroaches — for every one you see there are 12 you don’t,’” Whitman said.

Whitman added that she wants to develop a constructive relationship with pesticide applicators.

“Your work helps makes homes, workplaces, schools safe and healthy and when we talk about environmental protection we are talking about improving the quality of life of fellow citizens,” Whitman said.

Whitman also spoke about other new EPA initiatives including legislation to improve air quality, water quality and legislation to encourage the development of “brownfields.” Brownfields are abandoned, idled, or under-used industrial and commercial facilities where expansion, redevelopment, or reuse is complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination.