I am a resident of Willis Wharf and have witnessed erosion of many types to our agricultural lands.  I am familiar with the tidal creeks of the Shore and have seen the effects of man's existence.  I have read and am familiar with this NOIRA.

My partner, Bill Neal, and I are owners/operators of Hermitage Farms Nursery and practice good stewardship of the land and water.  We go to great efforts to preserve and protect what we use every day beyond any requirements other than our own.  In recognition of this, we were awarded the 2007 Ground Water Award by the Eastern Shore of Virginia Ground Water Committee. 

We are not too sure that more government regulations and more monitoring by a government agency in relation to a broadly defined term, plasticulture, is the answer to this challenge.

Designing regulations to make 'one law that catches all'  is usually the method implemented to solve whatever the challenge may be.  What would be the definition of plasticulture as it pertains to agriculture and how many different ag businesses would be affected by a broad catch-all law?  The public comments that have come in so far show a wide variance of knowledge about plastic use in general agriculture production.  We also know by experience that leaving interpretations of a particular law with the responsible government agency in charge can be very inefficient and frustrating.

It is our opinion that creating another law protecting the environment should be done so as a last resort.  Good stewardship of the land starts with the owners of the land and is benficial to all, short and long term.  We would hope that good stewardship of the land could be attained by mutual agreement of all interested parties.