EPA Pesticide Program Update from EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs 01/24/02
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides
********************************************
IN THIS UPDATE:
1)BENOMYL CANCELLATION NOTICE AND PROPOSED TOLERANCE REVOCATIONS
2)TERBUFOS INTERIM RISK MANAGEMENT DECISION ISSUED
********************************************
1)BENOMYL CANCELLATION NOTICE AND PROPOSED TOLERANCE REVOCATIONS
On January 15, 2002, EPA published two Federal Register
notices related to the pesticide benomyl. One notice is a final
cancellation order, effective January 15, 2002, for products
made by six companies. This order follows up on an October
12, 2001 publication of notice of receipt of cancellation requests
from these companies. EPA received no public comments on
this notice. Existing stocks may be sold by persons other than
the registrants until December 31, 2002.
In another notice, EPA proposed to revoke all tolerances
(pesticide residues allowed to remain in food) for residues
of the fungicide benomyl, because this pesticide is no longer
registered for use in the U.S. EPA must receive any comments
on this proposal by March 18, 2002, identified by docket
number OPP-301201. If EPA receives comments expressing
interest in retaining any of these tolerances, EPA will not im-
mediately revoke that tolerance but will provide an opportunity
for the parties to commit to submitting data to support the
tolerance. EPA is proposing expiration dates for the tolerances
to take into account the time needed for legally treated
commodities to pass through the channels of trade, based on
the expectation that stocks will be exhausted by December 31,
2003 and the typical storage, processing, and distribution
activities associated with each commodity.
These Federal Register notices are on EPA's web site at
http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPAFR-CONTENTS/2002/
January/Day-15/contents.htm
******************************************
2) TERBUFOS INTERIM RISK MANAGEMENT
DECISION ISSUED
EPA has completed an interim risk management decision docu-
ment for the organophosphorus pesticide terbufos. EPA has
worked with affected parties to reach the decisions presented in
this document. Actions to reduce risks associated with use of
terbufos include establishing limitations on sales of terbufos,
requiring buffers between treated areas and surface water or
drain pipes in certain situations, and changing certain methods
of application of the pesticide, as well as changes related to
protecting workers.
Presuming that the risk mitigation measures are adopted, terbufos
fits into its own risk cup. Terbufos is used on corn sorghum, and
sugar beets. There are no residential uses. However, final risk
decisions must include consideration of cumulative risks of the
organophosphorus pesticides. This interim decision was made
through the organophosphorus pesticide pilot publication process.
This process, developed in consultation with the USDA-EPA
Tolerance Reassessment Advisory Committee, is intended to
increase transparency of decision making and maximize
stakeholder involvement.
EPA is accepting comments on this document until March 18,
2002. The docket number for submission of comments is OPP-
341399D. The Federal Register notice is available on EPA's
web site (http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPAFR-CONTENTS/
2002/January/Day-16/contents.htm), as are the documents
associated with this pesticide
(www.epa.gov/pesticides/reregistration/status.htm).
***********************************************
EPA distributes its Pesticide Program Updates to external
stakeholders and citizens who have expressed an interest
in O.P. activities and decisions. We have established
an electronic list serve for people who want to keep abreast of
pesticide issues and decisions. This update service is part
of EPA's continuing effort to improve public access to
Federal pesticide information.
For general questions on pesticides and pesticide
poisoning prevention, contact the National Pesticide
Information Center (NPIC), toll-free, at:
1-800-858-7378, by e-mail at npic@ace.orst.edu,
or by visiting their Web site at:
http://npic.orst.edu
For information about ongoing activities in the
Office of Pesticide Programs, visit our homepage
at: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides
Or call or write us directly at:
Communication Services Branch
Office of Pesticide Programs (7506C)
US Environmental Protection Agency
Ariel Rios Building
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20004-2403
703-305-5017