EPA Pesticide Program Updates

from EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs 05/25/04

http://www.epa.gov/pesticides
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  IN THIS UPDATE:
EPA RESPONDS TO NRDC OBJECTIONS TO IMIDACLOPRID TOLERANCE
On May 26, 2004 EPA published a Federal Register Notice that responds to

  objections filed in 2002 by the Natural Resources Defense Council

  (NRDC), along with several other parties. NRDC filed multiple

  objections related to the establishment of over 70 tolerances associated

  with 14 pesticides. The current Notice responds to objections relating

  to a tolerance for imidacloprid on blueberries. EPA will issue a

  response to the other objections filed when it has completed reviewing

  additional information submitted by NRDC in June 2003.
On December 31, 2003 one of the tolerances to which NRDC had objected

  (imidacloprid on blueberries) expired, making an Agency response to

  their objections moot. In response to an on- going need and a petition

  from IR-4Ca Rutgers University based research consortium that addresses

  pest issues related to smaller scale crops such as blueberriesCthe

  Agency has renewed the tolerance for imidacloprid on blueberries. In

  keeping with the Agency's policy of addressing all submitted comments,

  EPA is responding to NRDC's 2002 objections as though they were

  submitted as comments on the current petition.
Although the NRDC objections raise numerous pesticide-specific issues,

  they generally focus on potential risks that pesticides may pose to farm

  children. Under the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996, EPA must

  consider the potential risks of pesticides to sensitive sub-populations,

  such as pregnant women and children. Accordingly, in the course of

  conducting its risk assessment on imidacloprid, EPA reviewed all

  available data, including extensive exposure and neurotoxicity data

  related to use of imidacloprid. The Agency also reviewed all studies

  and supplemental materials provided by NRDC. In conclusion EPA believes

  that the decision to reestablish a tolerance for the use of

  imidaclorprid on blueberries is protective of human health and meets all

  statutory safety requirements.
The details and explanation of the Agency's response to NRDC's

  objections are available on the Internet at the following URL:

  http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/2004/May/Day-26/p11779.htm.
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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 website 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
--------------------------

  Darrell Hensley

  University of Tennessee

  2431 Joe Johnson Drive, 205 PSB

  Knoxville, TN 37996-4560

  Phone (865) 974-7958

  Fax (865) 974-8868

  email = dhensley@utk.edu