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List of Critical Uses
The following are critical uses of methyl bromide. Critical uses must meet the location limitations (Column B) and limiting critical conditions (Column C).
This table is found in Appendix L to 40 CFR Part 82, Subpart A. Any information published in the Federal Register takes precedence over information on this page.
The critical uses of methyl bromide are adjusted every year based on decisions of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol and rulemakings by EPA. Since the critical use exemption was first established, many critical users have transitioned to alternatives and a variety of sectors that were once critical uses no longer are. These uses include ginger, golfcourses and turf production, tobacco, cocoa beans, and pistachios.
| Column A | Column B | Column C |
|---|---|---|
| Approved Critical Uses | Approved Critical User and Location of Use | Limiting Critical Conditions that either exist, or that the approved critical user reasonably expects could arise without methyl bromide fumigation: |
PRE-PLANT USES | ||
| Cucurbits | (a) Michigan growers | Moderate to severe soilborne disease infestation A need for methyl bromide for research purposes |
| (b) Southeastern U.S. limited to growing locations in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia | Moderate to severe yellow or purple nutsedge infestation Moderate to severe soilborne disease infestation Moderate to severe root knot nematode infestation A need for methyl bromide for research purposes | |
| (c) Georgia growers | Moderate to severe yellow or purple nutsedge infestation Moderate to severe soilborne disease infestation Moderate to severe root knot nematode infestation A need for methyl bromide for research purposes | |
| Eggplant | (a) Florida growers | Moderate to severe yellow or purple nutsedge infestation Moderate to severe soilborne disease infestation Restrictions on alternatives due to karst topographical features and soils not supporting seepage irrigation A need for methyl bromide for research purposes |
| (b) Georgia growers | Moderate to severe yellow or purple nutsedge infestation Moderate to severe nematode infestation Moderate to severe pythium collar, crown and root rot Moderate to severe southern blight infestation Restrictions on alternatives due to karst topographical features A need for methyl bromide for research purposes | |
| (c) Michigan growers | Moderate to severe soilborne disease infestation A need for methyl bromide for research purposes | |
| Forest Nursury Seedlings | (a) Growers in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia | Moderate to severe yellow or purple nutsedge infestation Moderate to severe soilborne disease infestation Moderate to severe nematode infestation |
| (b) International Paper and its subsidiaries limited to growing locations in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, South Carolina, and Texas | Moderate to severe yellow or purple nutsedge infestation | |
| (c) Public (government-owned) seedling nurseries in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Wisconsin | Moderate to severe weed infestation including purple and yellow nutsedge infestation Moderate to severe Canada thistle infestation Moderate to severe nematode infestation Moderate to severe soilborne disease infestation | |
| (d) Weyerhaeuser Company and its subsidiaries limited to growing locations in Alabama, Arkansas, North Carolina, and South Carolina | Moderate to severe yellow or purple nutsedge infestation Moderate to severe soilborne disease infestation Moderate to severe nematode or worm infestation | |
| (e) Weyerhaeuser Company and its subsidiaries limited to growing locations in Oregon and Washington | Moderate to severe yellow nutsedge infestation Moderate to severe soilborne disease infestation | |
| (f) Michigan growers | Moderate to severe soilborne disease infestation Moderate to severe Canada thistle infestation Moderate to severe nutsedge infestation Moderate to severe nematode infestation | |
| Orchard Nursury Seedlings | (a) Members of the Western Raspberry Nursery Consortium limited to growing locations in Washington | Moderate to severe nematode infestation Presence of medium to heavy clay soils Prohibition on use of 1,3-dichloropropene products because local township limits on use of this alternative have been reached A need for methyl bromide for research purposes |
| (b) Members of the California Association of Nursery and Garden Centers representing Deciduous Tree Fruit Growers | Moderate to severe nematode infestation Presence of medium to heavy clay soils Prohibition on use of 1,3-dichloropropene products because local township limits on use of this alternative have been reached A need for methyl bromide for research purposes | |
| (c) California rose nurseries | Moderate to severe nematode infestation Prohibition on use of 1,3-dichloropropene products because local township limits on use of this alternative have been reached A need for methyl bromide for research purposes | |
| Strawberry Nurseries | (a) California growers | Moderate to severe soilborne disease infestation Moderate to severe yellow or purple nutsedge infestation Moderate to severe nematode infestation A need for methyl bromide for research purposes |
| (b) North Carolina and Tennessee growers | Moderate to severe black root rot Moderate to severe root-knot nematode infestation Moderate to severe yellow and purple nutsedge infestation A need for methyl bromide for research purposes | |
| Orchard Replant | (a) California stone fruit growers | Moderate to severe nematode infestation Moderate to severe soilborne disease infestation Replanted (non-virgin) orchard soils to prevent orchard replant disease Presence of medium to heavy soils Prohibition on use of 1,3-dichloropropene products because local township limits on use of this alternative have been reached |
| (b) | Moderate to severe nematode infestation Moderate to severe soilborne disease infestation Replanted (non-virgin) orchard soils to prevent orchard replant disease Medium to heavy soils Prohibition on use of 1,3-dichloropropene products because local township limits for this alternative have been reached | |
| (c) California wine grape growers | Moderate to severe nematode infestation Moderate to severe soilborne disease infestation Replanted (non-virgin) orchard soils to prevent orchard replant disease Medium to heavy soils Prohibition on use of 1,3-dichloropropene products because local township limits for this alternative have been reached | |
| (d) California walnut growers | Moderate to severe nematode infestation | |
| (e) California almond growers | Moderate to severe nematode infestation Moderate to severe soilborne disease infestation Replanted (non-virgin) orchard soils to prevent orchard replant disease Medium to heavy soils Prohibition on use of 1,3-dichloropropene products because local township limits for this alternative have been reached | |
| Ornamentals | (a) California growers | Moderate to severe soilborne disease infestation Moderate to severe nematode infestation Prohibition on use of 1,3-dichloropropene products because local township limits for this alternative have been reached A need for methyl bromide for research purposes |
| (b) Florida growers | Moderate to severe weed infestation | |
| (c) Michigan herbaceous perennials growers | Moderate to severe nematode infestation Moderate to severe soilborne disease infestation Moderate to severe yellow nutsedge and other weed infestation | |
| Peppers | (a) Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia growers | Moderate to severe yellow or purple nutsedge infestation Moderate to severe nematode infestation Moderate to severe pythium root, collar, crown and root rots A need for methyl bromide for research purposes |
| (b) Florida growers | Moderate to severe yellow or purple nutsedge infestation Moderate to severe soilborne disease infestation Moderate to severe nematode infestation Restrictions on alternatives due to karst topographical features and soils not supporting seepage irrigation A need for methyl bromide for research purposes | |
| (c) Georgia growers | Moderate to severe yellow or purple nutsedge infestation Moderate to severe nematode infestation, or moderate to severe pythium root and collar rots Moderate to severe southern blight infestation, crown or root rot A need for methyl bromide for research purposes | |
| (d) Michigan growers | Moderate to severe soilborne disease infestation | |
| Strawberry Fruit | (a) California growers | Moderate to severe black root rot or crown rot Moderate to severe yellow or purple nutsedge infestation Moderate to severe nematode infestation Prohibition on use of 1,3-dichloropropene products because local township limits for this alternative have been reached Time to transition to an alternative A need for methyl bromide for research purposes |
| (b) Florida growers | Moderate to severe yellow or purple nutsedge infestation Moderate to severe nematode infestation Moderate to severe soilborne disease infestation Carolina geranium or cut-leaf evening primrose infestation Restrictions on alternatives due to karst topographical features and soils not supporting seepage irrigation A need for methyl bromide for research purposes | |
| (c) Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia growers | Moderate to severe yellow or purple nutsedge infestation Moderate to severe nematode infestation Moderate to severe black root and crown rot A need for methyl bromide for research purposes | |
| Sweet Potato Slips | (a) California growers | Prohibition on use of 1,3-dichloropropene products because local township limits for this alternative have been reached |
| Tomatoes | (a) Michigan growers | Moderate to severe soilborne disease infestation Moderate to severe fungal pathogen infestation A need for methyl bromide for research purposes |
| (b) Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia growers | Moderate to severe yellow or purple nutsedge infestation Moderate to severe soilborne disease infestation Moderate to severe nematodes Restrictions on alternatives due to karst topographical features, and in Florida, soils not supporting seepage irrigation A need for methyl bromide for research purposes | |
POST-HARVEST USES | ||
| Food Processing | (a) Rice millers in all locations in the U.S. who are members of the USA Rice Millers Association. | Moderate to severe infestation of beetles, weevils, or moths Presence of sensitive electronic equipment subject to corrosion Time to transition to an alternative |
| (b) Pet food manufacturing facilities in the U.S. who are active members of the Pet Food Institute (for this rule, “pet food” refers to domestic dog and cat food). | Moderate to severe infestation or beetles, moths, or cockroaches Presence of sensitive electronic equipment subject to corrosion Time to transition to an alternative | |
| (c) Bakeries in the U.S. | Presence of sensitive electronic equipment subject to corrosion Time to transition to an alternative | |
| (d) Members of the North American Millers’ Association in the U.S. | Moderate to severe beetle infestation Presence of sensitive electronic equipment subject to corrosion Time to transition to an alternative | |
| (e) Members of the National Pest Management Association treating cocoa beans in storage and associated spaces and equipment and processed food, cheese, herbs, spices and spaces and equipment in associated processing facilities. | Moderate to severe beetle or moth infestation Presence of sensitive electronic equipment subject to corrosion Time to transition to an alternative | |
| Commodities | (a) California entities storing walnuts, beans, dried plums, figs, raisins, and dates (in Riverside county only) in California | Rapid fumigation is required to meet a critical market window, such as during the holiday season, rapid fumigation is required when a buyer provides short (2 working days or less) notification for a purchase or there is a short period after harvest in which to fumigate and there is limited silo availability for using alternatives A need for methyl bromide for research purposes |
| Dry Cured Pork Products | (a) Members of the National Country Ham Association | Red legged ham beetle infestation Cheese/ham skipper infestation Dermested beetle infestation Ham mite infestation |
| (b) Members of the American Association of Meat Processors | Red legged ham beetle infestation Cheese/ham skipper infestation Dermested beetle infestation Ham mite infestation | |
| (c) Nahunta Pork Center (North Carolina) | Red legged ham beetle infestation | |
| (d) Gwaltney of Smithfield Ltd. | Red legged ham beetle infestation Cheese/ham skipper infestation Dermested beetle infestation Ham mite infestation | |