Arkansas Agricultural Chemical Ground-Water Management Plan

The Arkansas Agricultural Chemical Ground-Water Management Plan (SMP) is based on the Draft State Pesticide Ground- Water Management Plan Guidance and The Pesticides and Ground-Water Protection Strategy prepared by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The need for a plan to protect ground water from contamination by agricultural chemicals and agents arises from evidence nationwide that using these chemicals can, in some instances, lead to contamination. In February 1988, EPA proposed a strategy to regulate certain pesticides by prohibiting their use in areas vulnerable to leaching unless a state develops and implements an acceptable management plan. The advantage of a state plan as opposed to a federal plan is that a state plan can provide protection for ground-water resources without unnecessarily restricting pesticide use. State plans can be more sensitive to local conditions such as soil types, farming practices and hydrogeological considerations