It has long been the contention of those of us in the business of applying pesticides professionally that those who oppose what we do base their arguments on misleading claims and emotion.

The news article and letter to the editor in Tuesday’s Press Herald on the subject of L.D. 1505 (“An Act To Create Consistency in the Regulation of Pesticides”) inadvertently prove my point.

Let’s set the record straight: The governor submitted this bill at the request of someone whose livelihood is at risk because of one of the local pesticide ordinances that is coming into effect.

Nearly all of those who testified in support of L.D. 1505 before the State and Local Government Committee last week are licensed professional applicators in Maine. We are not looking to be relieved of established federal and state regulations; we are only looking for the state to take sole responsibility for the regulation of pesticides in Maine, just as it is done in 43 other states.

There is absolutely nothing controversial about this proposed legislation; it is in conformity with exactly how the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, the overarching law that regulates pesticides in the United States, is meant to function. We simply wish to operate within this long-established framework.

Contrary to what has been claimed, there are no plans to diminish Environmental Protection Agency oversight of pesticides. The EPA’s enforcement of the federal pesticide law works very well. Pesticide registration and licensure administered by the state of Maine works very well. I’ve seen these folks in action, and they’re excellent at what they do.

In this age of bitter political division, pesticides are effectively regulated based upon sound science at the state level in 43 other states. Doesn’t that tell you something? It’s time for Maine to step up and pass L.D. 1505.

Bob Mann

Lawn Dawg, Inc.

Nashua, New Hampshire

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