Skip to main content
HR 3174 100th Congress House

Ground Water Safety Act of 1987

Official title: A bill to prevent ground water contamination by pesticides.

Introduced: November 4, 1987 See on congress.gov
Environmental Protection Agriculture and Rural AffairsFederal aid to water pollution controlGovernment paperworkGovernment records, documents, and information
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
GroundwaterInformation servicesManagementPest controlPesticide pollutionPesticide regulationPesticide residuesPotable waterResearchResearch and developmentStandardsState financeStatesWater and Water Resources DevelopmentWater pollution controlWater supply
This bill died when the 100th Congress ended
It never became law before the 100th Congress (1987–1988) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 8 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Sep 9, 1987
Referred to Subcommittee on Health and the Environment.
Aug 26, 1987
Referred to Subcommittee on Department Operations, Research, and Foreign Agriculture.
Aug 20, 1987
Referred to Subcommittee on Water Resources.
Aug 6, 1987
Referred to House Committee on Public Works and Transportation.
Aug 6, 1987
Referred to House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Aug 6, 1987
See H.R.791.
Aug 6, 1987
Referred to House Committee on Agriculture.
Aug 6, 1987
Introduced in House
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Latest action September 9, 1987

Referred to Subcommittee on Health and the Environment.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Ground Water Safety Act of 1987 - Amends the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) to require a pesticide registrant or reregistrant to submit information to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding the pesticide's potential for groundwater leaching. Directs the Administrator, upon such registration, to determine a pesticide's leaching potential.

Requires registrants, in the case of a positive leaching potential, to: (1) develop management practices to minimize such leaching; (2) disseminate such management information to applicators; and (3) conduct groundwater monitoring.

Requires a registrant, upon detection of groundwater contamination, to notify EPA, the State, the owner of the property, and any other person(s) relying on the underground source for drinking water or household needs.

States that if such contamination reaches or is likely to reach 25 percent of the EPA-established groundwater residue guidance level, the Administrator shall amend the registration to impose further restrictions on the pesticide's use.

States that if contamination reaches 50 percent of the groundwater residue guidance level, the Administrator shall notify and provide relevant information to the affected State(s). Directs the Administrator, if an affected State fails to act, to prohibit the pesticide's use in the vicinity of the underground source of drinking water.

Directs the Administrator to: (1) collect and make available to the public information on groundwater pesticide contamination; (2) provide technical assistance to States for groundwater protection programs; (3) conduct research activities to monitor the presence of pesticides in the unsaturated zone; and (4) enter into agreements with the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, and the Interior to develop information systems for State and local officials, farmers, and applicators regarding soil, climate, and hydrology at specific pesticide use sites.

Authorizes FY 1988 through 1992 appropriations.

Requires States to develop and submit for EPA approval pesticide water pollution prevention programs. Authorizes: (1) the Administrator to provide financial assistance; and (2) FY 1988 through 1992 appropriations.

Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Administrator to issue groundwater residue guidance levels for FIFRA-registered pesticides.

Amends the Clean Water Act to authorize FY 1988 through 1992 appropriations for EPA research in developing management practices to control pesticide contamination of surface and groundwaters.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Committees of jurisdiction 6
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 3174: Ground Water Safety Act of 1987. 100th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-3174/
MLA
"H.R. 3174: Ground Water Safety Act of 1987." 100th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-3174/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 3174, 100th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-3174/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 3174: Ground Water Safety Act of 1987](https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-3174/)
Report a problem