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WHAT'S NEW
IN THIS UPDATE: June 2010
EPA Seeks Input on NMFS' Draft Measures to Protect Endangered Pacific
Salmon from 12 Pesticides
June 17, 2010
EPA is seeking comments from pesticide users, registrants, and other interested parties
on draft Reasonable and Prudent Measures (RPMs) and Alternatives (RPAs) included in a
draft Biological Opinion received from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) on
June 16, 2010. This draft Biological Opinion addresses the potential effects from 12
pesticides to Pacific salmon and steelhead listed as endangered or threatened under the
Endangered Species Act. The 12 pesticides are: Azinphos Methyl, Bensulide, Dimethoate,
Disulfoton, Ethoprop, Fenamiphos, Methidathion, Methamidophos, Methyl Parathion, Naled,
Phorate, and Phosmet.
EPA is also encouraging input from State, Tribal, and local governments on the draft
RPMs and RPAs to determine whether the alternatives or measures can be reasonably
implemented and whether there are different measures that may provide adequate protection
but result in less impact to pesticide users.
The draft Biological Opinion is included in the docket (EPA-HQ-OPP-2008-0654)
and posted to EPA’s Web site. Comments on the draft
RPMs and RPAs must be submitted within 30 days of the date the Biological Opinion was
included in the docket in order for EPA to consider these comments in its response to the
draft Biological Opinion. Comments received by EPA on other aspects of the draft
Biological Opinion will be forwarded to the Service for their consideration. No extensions
to this comment period will be provided because NMFS has a legal deadline to issue the
final Biological Opinion by August 31, 2010.
Submit your comments, identified by the docket identification (ID) number
EPA-HQ-OPP-2008-0654 and the pesticides to which the Biological Opinion pertains, by one
of the following methods:
- Federal eRulemaking Portal: Regulations.gov. Follow the on-line
instructions for submitting comments.
- Mail: Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) Regulatory Public Docket
(7502P), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC
20460-0001.
- Delivery: OPP Regulatory Public Docket (7502P), Environmental
Protection Agency, Rm. S-4400, One Potomac Yard (South Bldg.), 2777 S. Crystal Dr.,
Arlington, VA. Deliveries are only accepted during the Docket's normal hours of operation
(8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays). The Docket
Facility telephone number is (703) 305-5805.
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Comment Period to Open for Proposed Guidance on False or
Misleading Pesticide Product Brand Names
EPA is seeking public comment on a revised draft Pesticide Registration Notice (PRN) that
proposes guidance on pesticide product brand names that may be false or misleading, either
by themselves or in association with particular company names or trademarks.
The Agency believes that additional guidance is needed so that registrants can better
understand the circumstances under which product brand names are potentially false or
misleading and what kinds of corrective actions are needed for registered products already
bearing such brand names. For example, one significant issue that continues to arise has
been product brand names that involve safety-related claims such as "safe" or
"natural," and may often include specific statements, claims, logos, pictures or
other aspects of the label. A previous draft of this guidance was issued on March 28, 2002
for public comment (see Docket ID# EPA-HQ-OPP-2002-0084).
Overall, the intent of EPA's proposed guidance is to bring all product names, which may
include trademarked company names or brand names, into compliance with FIFRA and its
regulations. Ensuring that pesticide product names are not false or misleading will help
protect consumers who may consider product names as part of their purchase
decision-making. This proposed guidance would also protect competitors that "play by
the rules" with respect to product names. Comments on the revised draft PRN will be
accepted until June 18, 2010.
The revised draft PRN and responses to previous public comments can be found at
www.regulations.gov in Docket ID # EPA-HQ-OPP-2010-0282.
The Federal Register Notice of this action was published on May 19, 2010, and is available
at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-11977.htm
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Imidacloprid; Pesticide Tolerances
Date of publication: April 28, 2010
Citation: Volume 75, Number 81; Page 22245-22252
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-9761.htm
Purpose: This regulation establishes tolerances for combined residues of imidacloprid in
or on vegetables, bulb, group 3; cereal grains, group 15 and cereal grains, forage, fodder
and straw, group 16. This regulation also deletes tolerances for various commodities and
tolerances from direct/ inadvertent residues on cereal grains, group 15 and cereal grains,
forage, fodder and straw, group 16, as they will be superseded by group tolerances. Bayer
CropScience requested these tolerances under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
Chemical(s): Imidacloprid
Comments: EPA has established a docket for this action under docket identification number
EPA-HQ-OPP-2008-0866. This regulation is effective April 28, 2010. Objections and requests
for hearings must be received on or before June 28, 2010, and must be filed in accordance
with the instructions provided in 40 CFR part 178.
Contact: Kable Bo Davis, Registration Division (7505P), Office of Pesticide Programs,
telephone number: (703) 306-0415; e-mail address: davis.kable@epa.gov.
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Garlic Oil and Capsaicin; Registration Review
Proposed Decisions; Notice of Availability
Date of publication: April 30, 2010
Citation: Volume 75, Number 83; Page 22788-22790
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-9985.htm
Purpose: This notice announces the availability of EPA's proposed registration review
decisions for the pesticides listed in the table in Unit II.A. and opens a public comment
period on the proposed decisions. Registration review is EPA's periodic review of
pesticide registrations to ensure that each pesticide continues to satisfy the statutory
standard for registration, that is, that the pesticide can perform its intended function
without unreasonable adverse effects on human health or the environment. Through this
program, EPA is ensuring that each pesticide's registration is based on current scientific
and other knowledge, including its effects on human health and the environment.
Chemical(s): Garlic Oil and Capsaicin**
Comments: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification number for the
specific pesticide of interest provided in the table in Unit II.A., by one of the methods
listed in the Federal Register Notice. Comments must be received on or before June 29,
2010.
Contact: For pesticide specific information, contact: The Chemical Review Manager for the
pesticide of interest identified in the table in Unit II.A. For general information on the
registration review program, contact: Kevin Costello, Pesticide Re-evaluation Division
(7508P), Office of Pesticide Programs, telephone number: (703) 305-5026; fax number: (703)
308-8090; e-mail address: costello.kevin@epa.gov.
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EPA Takes Action to Establish New Bug Bomb Labeling Requirements
to Improve Safety and Reduce Risk
Today, EPA is taking action to improve residential safety and reduce risks associated with
bug bombs, or total release foggers (TRFs). The Agency is calling for significant changes
to their labeling to address the most common causes of exposure incidents associated with
TRFs.
EPA is requiring manufacturers to make a number of labeling changes by September 30, 2011.
Since the largest proportion of incidents is attributable to failure to follow label
instructions, the changes are targeted at minimizing those incidents. To draw attention to
critical information, future bug bomb labels must be written in plain language with clear
headings. To further enhance clarity and risk understanding, the new labels will also
incorporate pictograms, which can be more effective than text in communicating certain
information, including explosion hazards and the amount of time that a residence must be
vacated after releasing the fogger. The changes also strengthen instructions to vacate
upon use and air out upon return by requiring greater label prominence. A new provision is
that door hang-tags must be provided to inform others to stay out of treated areas.
In addition to these labeling improvements, EPA is continuing to work with registrants on
developing non-labeling improvements, including transitioning to smaller foggers,
time-delayed release, and nonflammable propellants.
The number of foggers used is estimated at roughly 50 million units per year. Although the
available evidence suggests that bug bomb incidents are infrequent relative to use of the
devices, incidents of serious injury have been reported. EPA's new bug bomb labeling
improvements are consistent with the recommendations of two 2008 state reports and are
intended to address concerns raised by the New York City Department of Health.
EPA will continue to monitor these products closely to ensure that these new public health
protections are effective and evaluate whether additional actions are needed.
For more information on the new labeling requirements, the petition, and EPA's analysis
and response, please see the fogger section of EPA's pyrethroid and pyrethrins fact sheet
at http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/reevaluation/pyrethroids-pyrethrins.html#related
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WASHINGTON - "Children Act Fast...So Do Poisons" is the message
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is sending in conjunction with the Poison
Prevention Week Council to keep poisonous substances out of the hands of children. In
observance of National Poison Prevention Week (March 14-20), EPA recommends that locking
household cleaners, disinfectants, solvents and other materials is the best way to reduce
accidental poisoning among children.
"Proper and safe storage, use and supervision of all household products can
substantially reduce exposures in the home," said Steve Owens, assistant
administrator of EPA's Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances. "Poison
Prevention Week serves as a reminder for everyone to keep pesticides away from children,
and to read and follow all labels to minimize the potential dangers from pesticides."
EPA promotes poison prevention each year to increase public awareness of the potential
danger to children from pesticides and other household products. In 2008, the American
Association of Poison Control Centers reported that more than half of the 2 million
poisoning incidents each year involve children younger than six years old. Leading causes
of poisoning include cosmetics such as perfume and nail polish, deodorant and soap,
household cleaning products and medications.
Anyone who has been exposed to a pesticide or other toxic substance and may be
experiencing non-life-threatening symptoms should call the National Poison Center hotline
at 1-800-222-1222 and should call 911 in case of more serious exposures. In addition, EPA
urges the public also to report all exposures to the product manufacturer (including the
registration number found on the product label of all pesticide products registered by
EPA). Registered manufacturers are required to report these incidents to EPA, and the
agency uses the data to decide whether additional regulatory action is needed.
For more information on poison prevention: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/health/poisonprevention.htm
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New Policy Reduces Pesticide Pollution and Waste
Under an interim policy announced today, retailers and distributors of pesticide products
may be allowed to repair minor damage to pesticide containers. EPA developed the interim
policy to ensure that such repairs are consistent with federal requirements for pesticide
registration, production, and labeling. By allowing minor repairs to containers, the
policy would enable products to be used as intended rather than being disposed of.
According to one source, approximately five million pounds of consumer pesticide products
may become waste each year in the United States due to damage to pesticide containers
before the products can be sold by retailers. Sources indicate that the most commonly
damaged pesticide containers are large plastic bags, such as those containing
fertilizer/pesticide mixtures. By allowing damaged bags of pesticides to be patched, this
new policy contributes to EPA's long-standing policies of waste minimization and pollution
prevention.
The interim policy has very specific requirements, including an application and review
process. Each applicant's "minor repair program" must receive specific approval
from EPA for that individual proposal. For more information on the interim policy, please
see
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/regulating/containers.htm#container
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New Pyrethrins and Pyrethroid Information Available Three new items
on EPA's Web site will enhance the public's access to information about pesticides in the
pyrethrin/ pyrethroid class of insecticides. These items are 1) a new consolidated Web
page on these chemicals, 2) a paper and related fact sheet on the Agency's analysis of
whether an association exists between pyrethrin/ pyrethroid exposure and asthma and
allergies, and 3) a description of new environmental hazard and general labeling for
non-agricultural outdoor use pyrethroid products, including tips for consumers to use in
reducing the potential for pesticide runoff and drift. The new items are described further
below. EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) has launched a new Web site on pyrethrins
and pyrethroids. On this site, you can access information about EPA's reevaluation of
these pesticides, assessment of pyrethrin and pyrethroid incidents, and other related
topics and issues. Pyrethrins and pyrethroids are insecticides included in over 3,500
registered products, many of which are used widely in and around households, including on
pets, in mosquito control, and in agriculture. The use of pyrethrins and pyrethroids has
increased during the past decade with the declining use of organophosphate pesticides,
which are more acutely toxic to birds and mammals than the pyrethroids. This new Web site
is available at
http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/reevaluation/pyrethroids-pyrethrins.html . Included on
this Web site is a new paper on pyrethrin/pyrethroid products and asthma/allergy effects.
Differing from previous reviews, this review uses a "weight of the evidence
approach" to determine whether there is a clear and consistent association between
pyrethrins/pyrethroid exposure and asthma and allergies. From this analysis, the Agency
has concluded that there is no clear evidence of an association. For more information on
this paper, visit http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/reevaluation/paw-factsheet.html
. Also included on the new Web site is a page on Environmental Hazard and General Labeling
for Pyrethroid Non-Agricultural Outdoor Products. This page describes the revised
"Environmental Hazard Statements" and general "Directions for Use"
language for pyrethroid pesticide products used in non-agricultural outdoor settings,
which affects over 2,000 end-use pyrethroid pesticides. The revised label language will
reduce the potential for pesticide runoff and drift of pyrethroid pesticides, ultimately
providing better protection to aquatic habitats and the environment. Consumers can begin
using these improved practices to protect water resources. Visit http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/reevaluation/environmental-hazard-statment.html
to find out more information on this labeling initiative.
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Pesticide Issues in the Works Explores Emerging Issues EPA has a new
Web page, Pesticide Issues in the Works. The fact sheets on this page are designed to
provide information about issues that are under consideration within the pesticide program
but that may be early in the development process or for which information is currently
limited. We want to let the public know we are involved in these issues and to provide
what information we can. The first two issues are colony collapse disorder and pesticide
volatilization. Subsequent topics will be added as they become available. The Web page is
available at http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/about/intheworks/.
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For additional
information regarding the Alaska Pest Management Program please contact:
UAF -
Cooperative Extension Service
43961 K-Beach Road, Suite A
Soldotna, AK 99669
Phone:(907) 262-5824
Fax:(907) 262-3939
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