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CONTENTS FOR 7/18/03 NATIONAL NEWS VOLUNTARY CANCELLATIONS/AMENDMENTS (1) SYNGENTA DIAZINON AND NON-AGRICULTURAL MAKHTESHIM-AGAN DIAZINON
(2) FENTHION
(4) PROPANIL (5) FENVALERATE
OTHER PESTICIDE REGISTRATION ACTIONS
(7) REGISTERED: ASPERGILLUS FLAVUS AF36 TO REDUCE AFLATOXIN
(8) IMAZALIL: RISK ASSESSMENT
(10) PYRETHROID REVIEW BEGINS STOP SALES (11) UNREGISTERED PESTICIDE PURPORTING TO CONTROL TOXIC MOLD (12) UNREGISTERED "SARS" PESTICIDE
NATIONAL POLICIES
(14) MOSQUITO CONTROL WILL NOT NEED A CWA PERMIT REPORTS (15) HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS PESTICIDE INITIATIVE (16) EPA DRAFT REPORT ON THE ENVIRONMENT (17) ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN HEALTH, INC. FINDINGS ON LAWN-CARE THE LOCAL SCENE (18) PESTICIDE CONTAINER RECYCLING DATES IN DELAWARE ************************************************************************************ Mailing address for all listed EPA staff: Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460 ************************************************************************************ (1)
VOLUNTARILY CANCELLATION OF SYNGENTA DIAZINON AND NON-AGRICULTURAL MAKHTESHIM-AGAN
DIAZINON
http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/2003/May/Day-30/p13436.htm Contact:
Stephanie Plummer, Special Review and Reregistration Division
On
Friday, July 11, EPA published in the Federal Register a notice announcing
the receipt of requests to cancel certain products containing diazinon.
Drexel Chemical Co. and Makhteshim Chemical Works, Ltd. requested to voluntarily
cancel all of their outdoor non-agriculturaldiazinon
technical product registrations. Walla Walla Environmental, Inc. has requested
to voluntarily cancel its residential
end-use product containing diazinon. EPA is providing a public comment
period before taking action on the requested cancellations. Comments on
the requested cancellations, identified by docket ID number OPP-2003-0189,
must be received by August 11, 2003.
In a 2000 Memorandum of Agreement (MOA),
the diazinon technical registrants agreed to cancel registrations for all
of their technical products permitting formulation for residential use,
effective June 30, 2003. The cancellation of the residential technical
products referenced in this notice will be effective after the 30-day comment
period and upon issuance of the cancellation order, if there are no significant
comments. Walla Walla will be allowed to sell and distribute their end-use
product until August 31, 2003.
Diazinon has been one of the most widely
used insecticides in the U.S. for residential as well as agricultural pest
control. A December 2000 agreement with the technical registrants is phasing
out and canceling all indoor and outdoor residential uses in order to reduce
risks to children and others. EPA's July 31, 2002, Diazinon Interim Reregistration
Eligibility Decision (IRED) includes further measures to reduce risks to
agricultural workers and the environment.
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/op/diazinon/summary.htm The
Federal Register notice for Drexel, Makhteshim and Walla Walla Environmental
is
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EPA is issuing a notice of receipt of request by Bayer Environmental Science to voluntarily cancel the registrations for all of their productscontaining O,O-dimethyl O-(4-methylthio)-m-tolyl)phosphorothioate (fenthion, a contact insecticide used on a variety of crops.) EPA intends to grant this request. The effective date of the cancellation order, as requested by Bayer, will be June 30, 2004. Any distribution or sale of products listed in this notice will be prohibited as of June 30, 2004, except for return of unused portions to Bayer or for proper disposal. EPA expects use of products listed in this notice will be permitted until November 30, 2004. Any such use must be in accordance with the label. Bayer has submitted, and EPA intends to approve, label amendments intended to further mitigate the risks of fenthion. The notice can be found at: http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/2003/May/Day-30/p13561.htm Comments:
Comments must be submitted to Office of Pesticide Programs, EPA, 1200 Pennsylvania
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460 and identified by docket ID number OPP-2003-0122.
Comments must be received on or before July 29, 2003.
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(3) VOLUNTARILY CANCELLATION OF TECHNICAL AND FORMULATION INTERMEDIATE PESTICIDE REGISTRATIONS OF 2,4-DICHLORPROP AND MECOPROP EPA
is issuing a notice of receipt of requests by Bayer Cropscience, BASF Corporation,
All three registrants have elected to waive the 180-day comment period usually associated with a public notice of voluntary cancellation. Unless a request is withdrawn by the registrants by August 8, 2003, for EPA Registration Numbers: 264-706, 264-707, 264- 708, 264-709, 264-710, 264-711, 264-712, 264-713, 264-714, 264-715, 7969-116, 7969-127, 15440-12, 15440-14, 15440-16, and 15440-17, orders will be issued canceling these registrations. Contact:
Mark Howard, Special Review and Reregistration Division
To read the Federal Register notice, go to: http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/2003/July/Day-09/p17211.htm RETURN TO TOP
(4) AMENDMENTS/ CANCELLATIONS OF PROPANIL EPA
is issuing a notice of receipt of written requests by Agriliance, LLC,
Dow AgroSciences, LLC, and RiceCo, LLC to voluntarily cancel/amend several
registrations to terminate small grain uses
(spring (hard red) wheat, oats, spring barley and durum wheat) of certain
end-use and technical products for the active ingredient propanil,
a contact herbicide. EPA requests
public comment on the voluntary cancellation and use deletion requests.
The full text of this action can be found at:
Unless
a request is withdrawn, EPA will approve these product and use cancellations/
amendments and they will become effective on July
28, 2003. To make comments, use the docket ID number OPP-2003-0069.
Directions for making comments are found at the above web site.
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(5)
VOLUNTARILY CANCELLATION OF FENVALERATE
Comments:
The docket ID number is OPP-2003-0183. Comments must be received by August
11, 2003. Unless the Agency receives any substantive comments
within the comment period that would merit its further review of these
requests, or the requests have been withdrawn by August 11, 2003, EPA intends
to issue orders canceling these registrations at theclose
of the comment period.
For the Federal Register notice, go to: http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/2003/July/Day-11/p17509.htm RETURN TO TOP
(6)
RISK MANAGEMENT COMMENTS REQUESTED FOR MGK REPELLENT 326
The 60-day comment period closes July 22, 2003. Later this year, EPA plans to complete a Reregistration Eligibility Decision that will identify risk mitigation measures necessary for reregistration of MGK Repellent 326. The MGK Repellent 326 risk assessments and related documents are available at: http://cascade.epa.gov/RightSite/dk-public-home.htm (search for docket number OPP-2003-0123). The Federal Register notice is available at: http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/2003/May/Day-23/p13006.htm.
This notice provides information on submitting comments.
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(7) EPA REGISTERS MICROBIAL FUNGICIDE ASPERGILLUS FLAVUS AF36 TO REDUCE AFLATOXIN EPA has conditionally registered Aspergillus flavus AF36 to reduceaflatoxin contamination. This registration is only on cotton. Aspergillus flavus is a common fungus that is most often found where certain crops such as cottonseed, corn and peanuts are grown under stressful conditions such as drought. Aflatoxin is a naturally occurring toxic metabolite from the growth of some strains of Aspergillus flavus. Aflatoxin contamination of cottonseed causes significant economic losses annually because cottonseed is a preferred feed for dairy cows. Aflatoxin in contaminated seed can be transferred to milk, and milk that exceeds the FDA-acceptable limits of aflatoxin is typically discarded, and the dairy quarantined. There are no chemical alternatives registered specifically for control of aflatoxin producing strains of A. flavus. Since 1996, this microbial fungicide has been used successfully in research trials in Arizona and Texas under an Experimental Use Permit (EUP). Concurrently with the conditional registration, a permanent tolerance exemption for residues of Aspergillus flavus AF36 on cotton and its byproducts will be established based on evaluation of data submissions and the temporary exemption established under the EUP. (8)
RISK ASSESSMENT FOR IMAZALIL
Contact:
Cecelia Watson, Special Review and Reregistration Division
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(9) COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF WIDELY-USED INSECTICIDE CARBARYL COMPLETED On June 30, EPA completed a thorough assessment of the pesticidecarbaryl, one of the most widely-used insecticides in agriculture. Stemming from the Agency's evaluation, EPA is requiring new measures to ensure protection for homeowners, agricultural workers and the environment. EPA's actions will reduce potential exposures of residential users and children to this pesticide by eliminating most pet care and aerosol products, as well as liquid lawn care applications. Exposures to people who apply carbaryl in agriculture and those who enter treated areas will be reduced in the following ways: cancelling some uses and application methods; reducing maximum application rates; eliminating aerial application for certain crops; requiring more personal protective equipment and engineering controls; and extending restricted entry intervals for many crops. The current 12-hour REI may be extended to two or three days. Carbaryl
can pose risks to honey bees, aquatic invertebrates and other aquatic animals.
No concerns were identified related to dietary exposure to residues of
carbaryl. EPA will also conduct a cumulative risk assessment for carbamate
pesticides, and when this is completed, the Agency will evaluate whether
further risk mitigation may be needed for carbaryl. A Federal Register
notice announcing the beginning of a public comment period on the decisions
contained in this action will be published shortly. The "Interim Re-registration
Eligibility Decision" for carbaryl, and related documents including EPA
risk assessments and a summary of this decision, will be available at:http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/REDs/carbaryl_ired.pdfand
at:
(10) EPA BEGINS PYRETHROID REVIEW PROCESS EPA has begun review of pyrethroids. The first two will be theinsecticides Permethrin and Cypermethrin. Zeta-cypermethrin will not be included in the Cypermethrin analysis. Stay tuned. RETURN TO TOP
(11) EPA ORDERS 'STOP SALE' OF UNREGISTERED PESTICIDE PRODUCT PURPORTING TO CONTROL TOXIC MOLD On July 9, the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency ordered ParPac Inc. of Swanzey, N.H. to stop selling its unregistered pesticide "Dry Pac Wall SystemTM," which the company claims controls fungus and toxic molds such as Stachybotrys, also known as Black Mold. The stop sale order further requires Par Pac Inc. to remove all pesticide claims from their advertising and labeling and to notify EPA of the steps they have taken to do so within 30 days. EPA will be monitoring compliance with this stop sale order and will continue to monitor the Internet for illegal pesticide sales. "Dry Pac Wall SystemTM" is a cellulose insulation product used in building construction. (12)
EPA HALTS SALE OF UNREGISTERED "SARS" PESTICIDE PRODUCT
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(13) MAKING SECTION 18 REQUESTS MIGHT GET EASIER EPA is announcing and seeking comment on a pilot program limited to exemption applications for which the requested chemical is a pesticide previously identified by EPA as a reduced-risk pesticide. Under this limited pilot, EPA will allow applicants for certain exemptions to re-certify that the emergency conditions which initially qualified for an exemption continue to exist in the second and third years, and will allow for a new tiered approach to be used for documenting a "significant economic loss." This limited pilot is the result of extensive stakeholder involvement and an effort to streamline the emergency exemption process. The complete information and directions for making comments can be found at: http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/2003/April/Day-24/p10169.htm (14) MOSQUITO CONTROL WILL NOT NEED A CLEAN WATER ACT PERMIT: EPA ISSUES INTERIM GUIDANCE ON CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH NPDES PERMIT NOT REQUIRED TO APPLY PESTICIDE TO WATER In a July 11, 2003 memorandum, EPA issued interim guidance and its interpretation of the Clean Water Act (CWA) to resolve jurisdictional issues pertaining to pesticides regulated under FIFRA and applied to waters of the United States. The statement and guidance address two sets of circumstances for which EPA believes that the application of a pesticide to waters of the United States consistent with relevant requirements of FIFRA does not constitute the discharge of a pollutant that requires a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit under the Clean Water Act: (1) The application of pesticides directly to waters of the United States in order to control pests (for example mosquito larvae or aquatic weeds that are present in the water) and (2) the application of pesticides to control pests that are present over waters of the United States that result in a portion of the pesticide being deposited to water bodies (for example when insecticides are aerially applied to a forest canopy where water may be present below the canopy or when insecticides are applied for control of adult mosquitoes). EPA will solicit comment on this interim statement and guidance through the Federal Register prior to determining a final Agency position. However, until that position is made final, the application of pesticides in compliance with relevant FIFRA requirements is not subject to NPDES permitting requirements, as described in the Memorandum. The Memorandum has been issued, in part, in response to a statement by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit in Altman v. Town of Amherst that EPA needs to articulate a clear interpretation of whether NPDES permits are required for applications of pesticides that comply with FIFRA. The memorandum is available at:http://www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/pesticide_interim_guidance.pdf RETURN TO TOP
REPORTS (15)
EPA LAUNCHES HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS PESTICIDE INITIATIVE AT NATIONAL FORUM
(16) EPA ANNOUNCES UNPRECEDENTED FIRST "DRAFT REPORT ON THE ENVIRONMENT" EPA
has released the "Draft Report on the Environment" – an unprecedented
effort by EPA to present the first-ever national picture of U.S. environmental
quality and human health. EPA says that the Draft Report on the Environment
documents real gains in providing a cleaner, healthier and safer environment.
The report uses available scientific data, gathered from more than 30 other
federal agencies, departments, states, tribes and non-governmental organizations,
to answer questions that the EPA and its collaborators have identified
as indicators of the nation's environmental quality and human health. It
establishes scientific, consensus-based benchmarks to measure EPA's progress.
The report shows that:
Our air is cleaner. Air pollution has declined
25% over the past 30 years, and it declined while we experienced large
increases in the U.S. population, gross domestic product and vehicle miles
traveled.
Our drinking water is purer. In 2002, 94
percent of Americans were served by drinking water systems that meet our
health-based standards -- an increase of 15 percent in the last decade.
Our land is better-protected. Releases
of toxic chemicals have declined by 48% since 1988, and we have significantly
improved the way we manage our wastes.
The health of the American public is generally
good and improving. People are living longer than ever before. Infant mortality
has dropped to the lowest level ever recorded in the United States. The
report can be found at: RETURN TO TOP
(17)
ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN HEALTH, INC. RELEASES FINDINGS ON LAWN-CARE PESTICIDES.
EHHI’s report claims that the scientific community clearly supports the conclusion that pesticides pose a special risk to fetuses, infants, and children. The report recommends immediate changes in laws at the federal, state and local levels of government. It also recommends precautionary measures that may be taken immediately by stores and consumers to limit health and environmental hazards. "Pesticides, including insecticides and herbicides, are intentionally toxic substances," said John Wargo, Ph.D., professor of Risk Analysis and Public Policy at Yale University, member of EHHI and principal author of the project. "There is broad scientific consensus that children are especially vulnerable to the adverse effects of pesticides. Children’s low body weight and rapidly growing organ systems combine to make them more susceptible to many toxic substances, including pesticides." "There is growing evidence of links between pesticide exposures and the risk of human cancers, including acute childhood leukemia with home pesticide use and non-Hodgins lymphoma with exposures to herbicides," said D. Barry Boyd, M.D., an oncologist at Greenwich Hospital and board member of EHHI. "As well, some recent studies show increased rates of prostate cancer among farm populations that have been occupationally exposed to a variety of pesticides. Of increasing concern is the potential role of pesticide exposure in low doses, as well as in combinations, to exert endocrine disrupting effects causing endocrine-related cancers. The long-term risks of these exposures is a worry in vulnerable populations such as children and pregnant mothers." "The two primary federal strategies to manage pesticide risks are the use of consumer warning labels and effective packaging. Our findings demonstrate that there are significant defects in both the labeling and packaging," said Wargo. Under current federal and state law, it is legal for lawn-care chemicals to be sold in bags that commonly break and spill, endangering consumers and workers. Current legal labeling practices confuse the consumer with highly technical language that is printed in minute type. "At present, no federal or state laws regulate where lawn-care pesticides may be sold and little is done to safeguard either customers or workers in stores from lawn-care pesticide exposures," said Nancy Alderman, MES, president of Environment and Human Health, Inc. "These are hazardous materials and yet they are allowed to be sold next to food and produce without any regulations protecting the public." EHHI surveyed many large retail outlets in Connecticut in May, June and July of 2002. They found that many of these stores had broken bags of lawn-care pesticides, many stores had these products piled up next to check-out counters and some stores had them piled up near food products. "The lawn-care industry has cultivated the impression that the chemicals it sells are necessary for healthy and aesthetically pleasing lawns," Wargo said. "The price of aesthetics is often human exposure to chemicals recognized by the EPA to carry the risk of nervous system damage, hormonal effects, and cancer. Home applications also threaten water quality, fish, birds, and wildlife." Susan Addiss, MPH, MUrS, a past commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Health and board member of EHHI, explained, "For years, we have protected our children from drugs by requiring packaging in child-proof containers and yet we allow our children to be exposed to toxic lawn-care pesticides, which are packaged in plastic bags that easily rip and spill. Adding to this risk is the fact that when the bags do break, the spilled pesticides are often swept up and thrown in the trash, further adding to contamination and human exposures." Robert LaCamera, M.D., a pediatrician and board member of EHHI, said, "We must better protect our children from these chemical exposures. Many families take their children into stores where these products are sold and they have no idea that they could be putting their children at risk from these products." Alderman concluded by saying, "We need better state and federal laws to protect the public from harmful lawn-care pesticide exposures. At the federal level we need child-proof packaging that will be both unbreakable and non-porous, and we need better labeling that will include the long-term health effects of the lawn-care pesticides so that the public can better understand the health risks involved when using these products." EHHI recommends that stores that sell food as well lawn-care pesticides only be allowed to sell their lawn-care pesticides in outside facilities that are covered and have non-porous floors. EHHI also recommends that individuals reduce their uses of lawn-care pesticides to protect themselves and their families from pesticide exposures. THE LOCAL SCENE (18) PESTICIDE CONTAINER RECYCLING DATES IN DELAWARE August 21, 2003 and September 18, 2003. Collection hours are from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm. For details on the chipper program, go to: http://www.state.de.us/deptagri/pesticides/calend.htm 
UD HOME PAGE DR. SUSAN P. WHITNEY swhitney@udel.edu |