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News Archive: April 2006

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This information is provided for reference. Over time, links to news items may become unavailable, in these cases the item will remain listed, but no link will be provided. Also, please be aware that the information in any particular article may be outdated or superseded by additional information.

April 26
 2-(Thiocyanomethylthio)benzothiazole Risk Assessment Available for Comment
EPA has released its risk assessments, preliminary risk reduction options, and related documents for the pesticide 2-(Thiocyanomethylthio)benzothiazole (TCMTB). The public is invited to suggest risk management ideas or proposals to address the risks identified. EPA is developing a Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) for the pesticide 2-(Thiocyanomethylthio)benzothiazole (TCMTB) through a modified four-phase public participation process. Comments, identified by docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2006-0320, must be received on or before June 26, 2006.

2-Phenylphenol and Salts Risk Assessments Available for Comment
EPA has released its risk assessments, preliminary risk reduction options, and related documents for the pesticide 2-phenylphenol (orthophenylphenol) and salts. The public is invited to suggest risk management ideas or proposals to address the risks identified. EPA is developing a Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) for orthophenylphenol and salts through a modified four-phase public participation process. Comments, identified by docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2006-0154, must be received on or before June 26, 2006.

Chlorine Dioxide Draft Risk Assessments Available for Comment
EPA has released its risk assessments, preliminary risk reduction options, and related documents for the pesticides chlorine dioxide, sodium chlorite and sodium chlorate (antimicrobial uses). The public is invited to suggest risk management ideas or proposals to address the risks identified. EPA is developing a Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) for chlorine dioxide through a modified four-phase public participation process. Comments, identified by docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2006-0328, must be received on or before June 26, 2006.

Didecyl Dimethyl Ammonium Chloride Risk Assessments and Preliminary Risk Reduction Options Available for Comment
EPA has released its risk assessments, preliminary risk reduction options, and related documents for the Group 1 Quat Cluster pesticide didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride. The public is invited to suggest risk management ideas or proposals to address the risks identified. EPA is developing a Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) for didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride through a modified four-phase public participation process. Comments, identified by docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2006-0338, must be received on or before June 26, 2006.

Sabadilla Alkaloids; Reregistration Eligibility Decision for Low Risk Pesticide Available for Comment
EPA has released its Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) for the pesticide sabadilla alkaloids. EPA has reviewed the low risk pesticide sabadilla alkaloids through a modified, streamlined version of the public participation process that the Agency uses to involve the public in developing pesticide reregistration and tolerance reassessment decisions. Comments, identified by docket identification (ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2006-0293, must be received on or before June 26, 2006.

April 21
 EPA’s Environmental Appeals Board (EAB) Approves Additional 702 Air Compliance Agreements for Animal Feeding Operations (AFOs)
EPA’s Environmental Appeals Board (EAB) approved an additional 702 Air Compliance Agreements for animal feeding operations (AFOs). The approval of these Agreements is another important step forward towards implementing a nationwide study of air emissions from AFOs. EPA expects that the monitoring study will begin later this year. Approximately 2,700 AFOs signed up to participate in the voluntary agreement. These operations represent more than 6,700 farms in 42 states. EPA is reviewing the remaining Agreements and plans to submit the qualifying Agreements to the EAB for review over the next few months. This second group of 702 Agreements consists of 48 farm operations that raise egg-laying birds, which represents 333 farms, and 654 for swine-raising operations, which represents 2,143 farms.

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Pesticide Registration Requests, Actions, and Tolerance Updates

April 19
 Alkylbenzene Sulfonates Risk Assessment and Preliminary Risk Reduction Options Available for Comment
EPA has released its risk assessments, preliminary risk reduction options and related documents for the pesticide alkylbenzene sulfonates, which encompasses sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate; dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid; and benzenesulfonic acid, C10-C16 alkyl derivatives. The public is invited to suggest risk management ideas or proposals to address the risks identified. EPA is developing a Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) for alkylbenzene sulfonates through a modified four-phase public participation process. Comments, identified by docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2006-0156, must be received on or before June 19, 2006.

Ethylene Oxide (ETO) Revised Risk Assessments; Extension of Comment Period
EPA issued a notice in the Federal Register of February 22, 2006, concerning the availability of revised risk assessments and the solicitation of risk reduction options for ethylene oxide. This document is extending the comment period for 30 days, from April 24, 2006, to May 19, 2006. Comments, identified by docket identification (ID) number EPA- HQ-OPP-2005-0203, must be received on or before May 19, 2006.

April 17
 New Pesticide Registration Notice Gives Official Instructions for Transmitting Information to OPP's New Location
OPP will be moving to a new location during the first week of May 2006. OPP has updated and is reissuing, in the form of a Pesticide Registration (PR) Notice, its guidance for registrants to ensure the efficient and timely processing and routing of mail received by OPP. Earlier PR Notices on this subject, identified as 2000-4 and 2004-1, provided instructions for submitting various types of applications or other submissions. The new PR Notice, 2006-1 (PDF) (5 pp, 48K), updates the guidance for sending or delivering mail to OPP at its new location, and cautions against transmitting Confidential Business Information (CBI) on facsimile (fax) machines. This Notice supersedes the previous Notices.

Pesticide Registration Requests, Actions, and Tolerance Updates

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April 11
 EPA Signs Settlement Agreement Regarding Endangered Species
EPA has signed a Settlement Agreement that resolves a lawsuit brought against the EPA by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). The Settlement Agreement establishes a series of deadlines for the Agency to make “effects determinations” for the pesticide atrazine to determine its potential effect on any of 21 named endangered or threatened species, or their designated critical habitat. The Agency will make “effects determinations” to determine whether its action: (1) has no effect on any of the named species; (2) may affect but is not likely to adversely affect any of the named species; or (3) may affect and is likely to adversely affect any of the named species. EPA requested public comment on the proposed Settlement Agreement and considered the comments received prior to signing this agreement.

EPA Approves Pennsylvania and Virginia State Plans for Certification of Applicators of Restricted Use Pesticides
In the Federal Register of October 28, 2005, EPA issued a notice of intent to approve amended Pennsylvania and Virginia Plans for the certification of applicators of restricted use pesticides. In this notice EPA solicited comments from the public on the proposed action to approve the amended Pennsylvania and Virginia Plans. The amended Certification Plans Pennsylvania and Virginia submitted to EPA contained several statutory, regulatory, and programmatic changes to their current Certification Plans. The proposed amendments establish new commercial categories for vertebrate pest control. One public comment was received that had no specific information relevant to the issues presented; therefore, no changes were made based on this comment. EPA hereby approves the amended Pennsylvania and Virginia Plans.

April 7
 Southern California Firm to Pay $5,200 for Distributing Unregistered Pesticide Over Internet
Under the terms of a recent settlement with EPA, Restore4, Inc. of Northridge, Calif. will pay $5,200 for allegedly distributing an unregistered pesticide over the Internet, a violation of federal law. Responding to a tip, EPA investigators determined that Restore4, Inc. had sold and distributed “Restore4" – a kitchen/bathroom cleaner over the Internet – claiming it “kills pathogenic bacteria.” Restore4 was not registered as a pesticide with the EPA, a violation of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act which regulates the sale, distribution, and use of pesticides within the United States.

April 6
 Utah Company Cited for Violating Federal Pesticide Laws in Nevada
EPA cited Intermountain Farmers Association $5,200 for improperly distributing and selling a restricted use pesticide to a non-certified applicator, a violation of federal pesticide law. EPA cited the Salt Lake City-based association for allegedly distributing and selling Fort Dodge Gopher Bait to a non-certified applicator in Yerington, Nev. Fort Dodge Gopher Bait, a restricted use pesticide, is used to control pocket gophers underground in rangeland, pastures, and nonagricultural areas.

New Hispanic Environmental Health Web Page Focuses on Pesticides
EPA announced a new Hispanic environmental health page on pesticides in its Spanish-language portal. The new page discusses health and environmental issues associated with the proper use of pesticides and informational resources in Spanish and English. This Hispanic Web site is part of the agency's continuing expansion of outreach to the Hispanic community in the United States and Puerto Rico. The Hispanic environmental health page, "El medio ambiente y su salud," focuses on the agency's overall efforts to educate Hispanics, researchers, and health care providers on how environmental health issues affect the different Hispanic communities. The page is updated regularly with new information on developments and policy. Since its launch last year, this popular page has covered issues such as asthma, mold and carbon monoxide. This segment of EPA's Spanish-language portal will feature other environmental issues such as green technology and drinking water in the near future.

Import Tolerance Data Requirements Detailed in NAFTA Guidance
EPA has announced the availability of detailed guidance on data requirements in the U.S. and Canada for establishing import tolerances, or maximum pesticide residue levels allowed in or on food or feed commodities imported from other countries. The guidance is consistent with the goals of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and does not change U.S. data requirements for obtaining import tolerances in this country. Import tolerances must meet the same food safety standards as other tolerances established in the U.S. This common approach to the establishment of import tolerances/Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) is expected to promote trade between North America and the rest of the world and maintain North American high standards for food safety. The common set of data requirements presented in the guidance document typically results in a harmonized data set, as well as a more efficient and cost effective review process for obtaining import tolerances in North America.

April 5
 Water Quality and Pesticide Disposal Public Meeting
The Association of American Pesticide Control Officials (AAPCO)/State FIFRA Issues Research and Evaluation Group (SFIREG) Working Committee on Water Quality and Pesticide Disposal (WC/WQ&PD) will hold a two-day meeting, beginning on April 24, 2006 and ending April 25, 2006. This notice announces the location and times for the meeting and sets forth the tentative agenda topics.

Organic Arsenic Herbicides Risk Assessments Available for Comment
EPA has released its risk assessments and related documents for the pesticides monosodium methanearsonate (MSMA), disodium methanearsonate (DSMA), calcium acid methanearsonate (CAMA), and cacodylic acid, collectively referred to as the ``organic arsenic herbicides.'' The public is invited to suggest risk management ideas or proposals to address the risks identified. EPA is developing a Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) for the organic arsenic herbicides through a modified four-phase public participation process. Comments, identified by docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2006-0201, must be received on or before June 5, 2006.

EPA Issues Addendum to Ethoprop Interim Reregistration Eligibility Decision
EPA has released an Addendum to the Interim Reregistration Eligibility Decision (IRED) for the organophosphate pesticide, ethoprop. The 2001 IRED for ethoprop described the Agency's interim reregistration decision on granular formulated products. A decision on the emulsifiable concentrate (EC) formulation was deferred until the registrant submitted additional exposure data. EPA has reviewed ethoprop through the public participation process that the Agency uses to involve the public in developing pesticide reregistration and tolerance reassessment decisions.

April 3
 EPA Cites Leola, Pennsylvania, Facility for Violating Federal Pesticide Law
EPA announced that it has cited Fisher & Thompson Inc. (F&T) for violating federal pesticide regulations at its facility in Leola, Pa. F&T owns and operates a milking equipment and supply facility at 15 Newport Road in Leola, Pa. EPA cited F&T for violating the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), a federal law regulating the production, distribution, and use of pesticide products. The regulations include products promoted as anti-bacterial or anti-viral agents. According to EPA, a February 13, 2004, inspection of this facility by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture documented several FIFRA violations related to an equipment sanitizing product. EPA alleges that F&T purchased an EPA-registered pesticide product called ECOLAB Equipment Sanitizer from a Charlotte, N.C. company. F&T then allegedly removed the original EPA-approved label, and re-labeled and resold over 300 containers of this product as Fisher & Thompson Liquid Chlorinated Sanitizer. The re-labeled product, which F&T did not register under FIFRA, included false and misleading EPA product and facility registration numbers.

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