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The news releases, reports, and other documents listed below have been selected by the Ag Center because they are of direct importance to the environmental compliance efforts of the agricultural community. The items are in chronological order, with the most recent listed first.

May 14, 2012
Pesticide News Story: Comment Period Open on National Marine Fisheries Service's Draft Measures to Protect Threatened and Endangered Pacific Salmon from Thiobencarb
The EPA is seeking comments by June 12, 2012, on draft Reasonable and Prudent Measures (RPMs) and Alternatives (RPAs) included in a draft Biological Opinion received from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). This draft Biological Opinion addresses the potential effects from the pesticide thiobencarb on Pacific salmon and steelhead listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act. A second pesticide, molinate, is also included in this Biological Opinion; however at the request of the registrants all uses were cancelled effective July 30, 2008, and the last use date was August 31, 2009. For additional information on the cancellation of molinate, visit http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/reregistration/molinate/.

May 12, 2012
BioEnergy Webinar Series 2012
Learn about application of the latest technologies for generating energy from biomass feedstocks and solar photovoltaics. Topics may cover subjects of ethanol, biodiesel, biochar, anaerobic digestion, and solar technologies.

These bioenergy web seminars are held the last Friday of each month. Each seminar has a different bioenergy focus presented by experts from throughout the country. There will be a question and answer period. Web seminars are free and there is no need to preregister.
Here are the upcoming web seminars for the first half of 2012. Future seminars will be announced as they are planned. See connection details or previous seminars from this series. 

Friday May 25th         10:00 ‐ 11:00 AM  CST
 Thermochemical Conversion to Biomass to Fuel, Dr. Robert Brown - Iowa State University- Bioeconomy Institute. Dr. Brown has published two textbooks on conversion of biomass to fuel. His expertise in conversion helped form the Bioeconomy Institute at Iowa State University. He will discuss the opportunities and challenges of biomass conversion.

Friday June 29th        10:00 ‐ 11:00 AM  CST
​Thermal conversion with detail on Torrifaction.

May 9, 2012
Students Recognized For Protecting Drinking Water Sources
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recognized three elementary and middle schools and one college in the Schuylkill River Watershed today for their environmental projects which help educate the public about the value of protecting sources of drinking water. 

MEDIA ADVISORY: EPA seeks project proposals to reduce marine debris / $280,000 available to reduce the source of land-based marine debris
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is seeking project proposals to reduce land-based trash at the source, thus preventing trash from entering coastal runoff and becoming marine debri

EPA Provides More Than $20,000 in an Environmental Education Grant to Plant the Seeds of Future Forestry Careers
The Up With Trees organization in Tulsa, Oklahoma, will receive $23,666 to enable high school aged participants to intern in a six-week Youth Citizen Forestry Program. The students will learn about planting and preserving trees, forestry and horticultural careers and sustainable forestry practices. 

Highlights
Through its DFE program, EPA released a final alternatives assessment (PDF) (27pp, 397K) identifying eight safer alternatives to nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPE), surfactants widely used in industry and commonly found in consumer products, such as laundry detergents. When released into the environment, NPEs can be persistent and highly toxic to aquatic organisms.Read more about NPE.  Read the press release.

May 8, 2012
Syngenta Crop Protection to Pay $102,000 Penalty for Sale or Distribution of Misbranded Pesticides in Nebraska and Missouri
Syngenta Crop Protection LLC, of Greensboro, N.C., has agreed to pay a $102,000 civil penalty to the United States to settle a series of environmental violations related to the sale or distribution of misbranded pesticides through its facility in Omaha, Neb., and through a farm supply retailer in Savannah, Mo.

May 2012 Newsletter Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center
The "Apple-converted-space" is chock full of environmental goodness! Check out the May and June webcasts, give us your "Best Guess" and stand by for an exciting announcementfrom the LPELC. The busy air quality team continues to churn out great "stuff" on regulations and Take a virtual tour of an anaerobic digester and more. Check out some great resources on greenhouse gases, water quality standards, air emissions methodologies derived from the NAEMS study, new FDA antibiotic resistance guidance, and a slug of reports hammering agriculture for its environmental impact. Many great state programs are highlighted as well!

May 3, 2012
Celebration of EPA's Wetlands Month to Include Students, Watershed Association
EPA Region 7 staff, St. Regis Catholic School students and Blue River Watershed Association staff will participate in an outdoor classroom wetland event May 8 at Swope Park in Kansas City, Mo.

Pesticide Registration Requests, Actions, and Tolerance Updates

April 26, 2012
Jerome dairy processing facility failed to publicly disclose chemical use and disposal
 “Communities have a right to know what chemicals companies are using and potentially releasing into the environment,” said Kelly Huynh, manager of the TRI program at EPA in Seattle. “Accurate and timely numbers from companies are the foundation of these rules so citizens have access to the most current information.”
Idaho Milk Products processes tens of millions of pounds of milk annually at its facility in Jerome.

Petersen-Bubke, LLP, Beef Feedlot in Monona County, Iowa, to Pay $10,000 Penalty for Illegal Discharges into Rush Creek
Petersen-Bubke, LLP, a beef cattle feedlot in Monona County, Iowa, has agreed to pay a $10,000 civil penalty to the United States for violations of the federal Clean Water Act related to discharges of pollutants into Rush Creek and its tributaries.

April 25, 2012
Pesticide News Story: Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee to Meet May 3-4, 2012
EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) will hold a public meeting of the Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee (PPDC) on Thursday, May 3, from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm, and Friday, May 4, from 9:00 am to 12:15 pm. The meeting will be held in EPA’s first floor conference center at One Potomac Yard, 2777 South Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA 22202. Information on the location of EPA’s building and how to reach it by public transportation or car is available at http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/contacts/officelocation.htm.

Pesticide News Story: Now Online: Results of OPP’s Consumer Survey on Insect Repellent Product Labeling
The Office of Pesticide Programs conducted a national survey about insect repellents in 2011 to better understand how we might improve label information for these consumer products. The first part of the survey was used to understand why and how consumers purchase and use insect repellents, and what information consumers look for and understand on insect repellent labels. OPP then tested the usefulness of four potential marks that could be placed on the front of insect repellent labels as part of an effort to improve public health information on insect repellent labels. The marks showed how long a repellent may protect them from public health pests such as mosquitoes or ticks. The results of that survey are now available, and we invite you to check out the results of the consumer survey here. These results may help inform our future decisions and policies affecting labeling of insect repellents.

April 20, 2012
Pesticide News Story: EPA Provides Guidance to Pesticide Companies to Clarify EPA’s Pesticide Labeling Requirements in Light of OSHA’s Newly Revised Hazard Communication Standard
The Environmental Protection Agency has published a notice in the Federal Register announcing the availability of Pesticide Registration Notice 2012-1, titled Material Safety Data Sheets as Pesticide Labeling. This notice updates and clarifies PR Notice 92-4, titled Material Safety Data Sheets as Pesticide Labeling and is available at http://www.epa.gov/PR_Notices/.

Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center Webcast Series Exit EPA
The Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center offers a free monthly webcast on a variety of issues related to animal manure management.
The next live webcast will discuss Nitrates in Groundwater and will be held on May 18, 2012. Nitrate issues from a regional perspective will be discussed in this webcast. Recent findings in California and the proposed solutions will be presented, as will nitrate issues in the Southeast, Midwest, and Intermountain West.

April 10, 2012
EPA Unveils New Permit for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations to Protect Water Quality in Idaho
A new water discharge permit for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) will help protect Idaho’s rivers, lakes and streams from animal waste, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Boise, Idaho. The new EPA "General Permit” regulates discharges to surface waters from most Idaho CAFOs, including those on tribal lands. The permit covers a wide array of Idaho livestock operations, not only beef cattle and dairy cows, but also horses, sheep, pigs and poultry.

Pesticide News Story: New Restrictions on Rozol Use in Six States to Protect Threatened or Endangered Species
To address the potential effects from Rozol Prairie Dog Bait to wildlife listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act, the EPA is publishing Endangered Species Protection Bulletins for Rozol Prairie Dog Bait on its Bulletins Live! website.

April 9, 2012
Top EPA and USDA Officials to Tour Farm in Mississippi Where Water Pollution Reduction Strategies Are Being Implemented/Tour is Part of Meeting in Memphis to Discuss National Agency Priorities
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency acting Assistant Administrator for Water Nancy Stoner and U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Undersecretary for Natural Resources and Environment Ann Mills, along with various state officials and farmers, will tour Stovall Farm in Clarksdale, Miss., to see projects that are benefitting farmers and reducing water pollution in the Mississippi Delta.

EPA Denies Petition on 2,4-D Pesticide
FR Notice Published - April 18, 2012
In a petition filed on November 6, 2008, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) requested that EPA cancel all product registrations and revoke all tolerances (legal residue limits in food) for the pesticide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, or 2,4-D. After considering public comment received on the petition and all the available studies, EPA is denying the request to revoke all tolerances and the request to cancel all registrations.

April 5, 2012
April 2012 Newsletter Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center Exit EPA
A new part of the April issue is an enhancement to the "National Resources" section. In that issue we added a rundown of several state programs. This issue also includes the popular "Best Guess" contest and links to some new air quality resources on animal diet and atmospheric ammonia. As usual, the webcast series is front and center with offerings on adaptive management, nitrate leaching, and greenhouse gases heading up the schedule. Some other resources to check out include the US EPA nutrient pollution website and a nice video by NRCS on how water moves through soil. UC Davis recently released a report that shows agriculture shoulders a large part of the blame for nitrate issues in groundwater, and the Dairy Innovation Center recognized several farms in their Dairy Sustainability Awards.

April 3, 2012
EPA Settles Lawsuit Against North Georgia Landowner for Violations of the Clean Water Act
The Duvall Development Co., Inc., Duvall & Son Livestock, Inc. and the president of both companies, Jeffrey H. Duvall, will pay a $30,000 penalty and have purchased five acres of forested land that was donated to the Chattahoochee National Forest in order to resolve federal Clean Water Act (CWA) violations.
“This enforcement action sends a strong message about the importance of protecting headwater streams in the Southeast,” said EPA Region 4 Administrator Gwen Keyes Fleming. “These streams serve as habitat for critical fish and wildlife, control flooding, recharge groundwater, capture pollutants and cycle nutrients—helping provide the clean, safe water that is essential for the health of families and our communities.

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March, 2012
March 2012 Newsletter, Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center Exit EPA
The March newsletter includes a four month look at the webcast schedule. It also features the return of the "Best Guess" contest and more new (and excellent) publications from the air quality team. Check out new reports on feed management, world livestock 2011, and phosphorus in groundwater. The newsletter also spotlights Wisconsin's "manure advisory" system, a study on roads & manure application equipment. Chesapeake action plan comments are being accepted and the Agronomy Journal includes a study on nutrient management plans. As always, we also feature "Manure in the News" and events and announcements

March 30, 2012
EPA Opens Comment Period on National Marine Fisheries Service’s Draft Measures to Protect Endangered Pacific Salmon from Three Pesticides
The EPA is seeking comments by April 30, 2012, on draft Reasonable and Prudent Measures (RPMs) and Alternatives (RPAs) included in a draft Biological Opinion (1047 pp, 20.49MB, about PDF) received from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) on March 30, 2012. This draft Biological Opinion addresses the potential effects from three pesticides on Pacific salmon and steelhead listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The three pesticides are: oryzalin, pendimethalin, and trifluralin.

March 28, 2012
Pesticide News Story: EPA Recognizes Environmental Innovation in Pest Management with 2012 PestWise Awards
Every year, EPA honors organizations that have made outstanding contributions to improving human health and the environment through their extraordinary commitment to Integrated Pest Management (IPM), an effective and environmentally sensitive approach to pest management. EPA’s 2012 PestWise Awards were presented at the 7th International IPM Symposium on March 27, in Memphis, Tennessee to the following honorees:

March 26, 2012
EPA Orders Foster Poultry Farms to Stop Discharging Pollutants Into Louisiana Waters
On January 26, 2012, the EPA inspected the hatchery and found unauthorized discharges of pollutants from its process wastewater lagoon to an unnamed tributary of Leatherman Creek. Leatherman Creek drains into Black Creek Bayou and it in turn drains into the Red River.

March 16, 2012
EPA Orders Kevin Basham Farm to Stop Discharging Pollutants Into Louisiana Waters
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a cease and desist administrative order to the Kevin Basham Farm in Lincoln Parish, Louisiana, for unauthorized discharges of chicken litter into a tributary of the Dugdemona River.

Pesticide News Story: Final Harmonized Product Performance Test Guidelines for Public Health Uses of Antimicrobial Pesticide Products
EPA has issued a Federal Register Notice of Availability for four guidelines for the Series 810 – Product Performance Test Guidelines for Public Health Uses of Antimicrobial Agents. These test guidelines represent an Agency effort to harmonize the test guidelines within the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP), as well as to harmonize the OCSPP test guidelines with those of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The process for developing and amending the test guidelines, which began in 1991, includes public participation and extensive involvement of the scientific community.

Poisoning is a Major Cause of Death from Injury in the U.S. / US Government raising awareness of accidental exposures during National Poison Prevention Week
Environmental Protection Agency is joining forces with its federal partners to raise awareness of the dangers of poisoning, especially to children, during National Poison Prevention Week, March 18-24. In just the past year, America’s 57 poison control centers fielded 4 million calls, treating 2.4 million human poison exposures and handling 1.6 million information calls.

Pesticide News Story: Calendex Software Available for Evaluation on EPA Website
In an effort to increase the transparency of how pesticide exposures are evaluated in the regulatory decision-making process, the EPA is making an evaluation version of Calendex software available to the public for testing, review, and evaluation. EPA uses Calendex to estimate risk by evaluating combined exposures and incorporates the probability of simultaneous exposures to pesticides across multiple pathways. These assessments help provide more precise exposure assessments to inform EPA’s pesticide regulatory decisions. This version is not intended to be used for regulatory decisions at this time.

Pesticide News Story: New Pesticides and Consumers Resource Directory on epa.gov
EPA has a new resource directory about pesticides for consumers at www.epa.gov/safepestcontrol. The new resource directory pulls from existing consumer information about pesticides currently at www.epa.gov/pesticides.

March 13, 2012
EPA Orders Votran to Stop the Application of an Antimicrobial Pesticide to Fog Its Vehicles
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a Stop Sale, Use, or Removal Order (SSURO) to the Volusia County Public Transportation System (Votran), located in South Daytona, Fla. for alleged violations of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Votran is a service of the Volusia County government that provides transportation to all urban areas of the county with a fleet of buses, trolleys, and paratransit vehicles.

March 6, 2012
Pesticide News Story: We are Changing the Way We Send Pesticide Updates; New Features Available
We are changing the way we send our pesticide program updates and adding new features. You will begin to receive emails from govdelivery.com instead of epa.gov.

March 5, 2012
Massachusetts Cranberry Farmers Agree to Restore 26 Acres of Wetlands and Pay $75,000 Penalty
Carver, Mass. cranberry farmers Charles Johnson, Francis “Van” Johnson and a family-owned partnership have agreed to restore 26 acres of wetlands and a stream, and to pay a $75,000 penalty to resolve claims against them for violation of the Clean Water Act at two sites at their farm, the Justice Department and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today. A settlement was recently filed in federal district court in Massachusetts.

March 2, 2012
Pesticide News Story: Pesticide Docket to be Available Online or By Appointment Only
Effective March 8, 2012, the OPP Public Docket office location in Arlington, VA, will only be open to the public by appointment. Publicly available docket materials are available either in the electronic docket at http://www.regulations.gov, or, if only available in hard copy, by appointment at One Potomac Yard South, 2777 S. Crystal Dr., Arlington, VA, between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. To schedule an appointment, call (703) 305-5805.

Pesticide News Story: FY 2011 Annual Report on Implementing the Pesticide Registration Improvement Renewal Act Available
The 2011 annual report required by the Pesticide Registration Improvement Renewal Act (PRIA 2) is now available. This detailed report describes the EPA’s activities and accomplishments during Fiscal Year 2011 in implementing PRIA 2 and includes:

March 1, 2012
EPA ensures Oregon distributor properly labels pesticides
Wilbur-Ellis Company, an international distributor of agricultural products located in Hood River, Oregon violated federal pesticide laws by repeatedly omitting important manufacturing information on product labels, according to a settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

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February 29, 2012
Pesticide News Story: Petitioners Request EPA Demonstrate Endocrine Disruptor ScreeningProgram Compliance with Paperwork Reduction Act; EPA Requests Public Comment
EPA is seeking public comment on a December 7, 2011 petition from the Chemical Producers & Distributors Association, the Halogenated Solvents Industry Alliance, Inc., and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. The petition requests that the Agency abide by the Paperwork Reduction Act and Office of Management and Budget Terms of Clearance for the approved Information Collection Request for the first list of 67 chemicals to receive orders under the Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program by demonstrating that the information being sought has practical utility and is not duplicative before proceeding with Tier 1 screening orders for additional chemicals. EPA is requesting comment on the petition during a 90-day period ending May 29, 2012. After considering comments received, the Agency will respond to the comments and the petition. For further information, please see EPA’s February 29, 2012 Federal Register notice and the petition in docket EPA-HQ-OPP-2012-0061 at Regulations.gov.

February 28, 2012
EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, Testimony Before the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittees on Energy and Power, Environment and the Economy
As prepared for delivery.
Thank you for inviting me to testify on the President's Fiscal Year 2013 budget for the Environmental Protection Agency. I'm joined by the Agency's Chief Financial Officer, Barbara Bennett.
EPA's budget request of $8.344 billion focuses on fulfilling EPA's core mission of protecting public health and the environment, while making the sacrifices and tough decisions that Americans across the country are making every day.

February 17, 2012
February 2012 Newsletter Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center Exit EPA
The February newsletter includes several new air quality publications and a video about a young Colorado rancher and his commitment to stewardship. The newsletter also includes links to resources on beef carbon footprint, a manure value calculator, EPA permit writer's manure, and manure to energy spotlight stories.

February 13, 2012
EPA’s FY 2013 Budget Proposal Focuses on Core Environmental and Human Health Protections / EPA budget supports President Obama’s vision of an America that is built to last
Today the Obama Administration proposed a FY 2013 budget of $8.344 billion for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This budget reflects a government-wide effort to reduce spending and find cost-savings, and is $105 million below the EPA’s enacted level for FY 2012. The FY 2013 budget is the result of EPA’s ongoing efforts to carefully consider potential cost savings and reductions while continuing its commitment to core environmental and health protections -- safeguarding Americans from pollution in the air they breathe, the water they drink and the land where they build their communities.

February 9, 2012
Maryland Company Settles Pesticides Violations
PAMEX Foods, Inc. of Forestville, Md., has agreed to pay a $158,880 civil penalty to settle alleged violations of federal pesticide regulations, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today.
EPA cited PAMEX for violating the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), a federal law requiring the registration of pesticide products and pesticide-production facilities, and the proper labeling of pesticides.

February 3, 2012
Pesticide News Story: Antimicrobial Pesticide Registrants Get Time-limited Opportunity to Review Toxicity Reference Database – Webinar Planned
EPA has recently entered toxicology data for antimicrobial pesticides into the Toxicity Reference Database. The ToxRefDB, which was developed as part of EPA’s ToxCastTM research program, is a structured and searchable relational database capable of storing chemical toxicity data from animal studies. To make sure that all data in ToxRefDB are accurate, the agency is offering data submitters time to review toxicity data records based on their submissions and offer corrections. Only the submitters of data will be able to review their own records. Toxicity data submitters can check whether their chemicals are in the ToxRefDB by reviewing the chemical list at http://actor.epa.gov/toxrefdb/faces/Home.jsp.

February 1, 2012
Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Agriculture; Memorandum of Understanding Regarding Genetically Engineered Plants
This notice announces that pesticide-related information submitted to EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) pursuant to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), including information that may have been claimed as Confidential Business Information (CBI) by submitters in accordance with 40 CFR 2.309(c) and 2.308(h)(2) will be shared with the Department of Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). HHS's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will perform work for OPP under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

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January 25, 2012
EPA Releases Recovery Potential Screening Website to Assist Restoration Planners
EPA announced the release of a new technical assistance tool for surface water quality protection and restoration programs: the Recovery Potential Screening website. Recovery Potential Screening is a user-driven, flexible approach for comparing relative differences in restorability among impaired waters. The website provides step-by-step screening directions, time-saving tools for calculating indices and displaying results, summaries of over 120 ecological, stressor and social indicators, a recovery literature database, and several case studies.

New EPA PCB TMDL Handbook Released(PDF)
EPA has issued a technical document titled Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Handbook, which provides EPA regions, states, and other stakeholders with updated information for addressing Clean Water Act (CWA) section 303(d) waters impaired by PCBs. PCBs rank sixth among the national causes of water quality impairment in the country, and of the 71,000 waterbody-pollutant combinations listed nationally, over 5,000 (eight percent) are PCB-related. This handbook identifies various approaches to developing PCB TMDLs and provides examples of TMDLs from around the country, complete with online references. It aims to help states complete more PCB TMDLs and ultimately restore those waters impaired by PCBs.

EPA and Partners Release Climate Change Handbook for Regional Watershed Planning to Assist Water Managers Plan for Climate Change
Developed cooperatively by the U.S.EPA, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, California Department of Water Resources, and the Resources Legacy Fund, the "Climate Change Handbook for Regional Watershed Planning" provides a framework for considering climate change in water management planning. Key decision considerations, resources, tools, and decision options are presented that will guide resource managers and planners as they develop means of adapting their programs to a changing climate. The handbook uses the California Department of Water Resources' Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) planning framework as a model into which analysis of climate change impacts and planning for adaptation and mitigation can be integrated. In addition, the handbook provides a checklist for identifying and prioritizing the vulnerability of local watersheds. The checklist includes questions about water demand and supply, wildlife and habitat, sea level rise, critical infrastructure, and hydropower.

January 23, 2012
EPA Environmental Justice Grant to Help Farm Workers Reduce Pesticide Risks
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is providing a $25,000 grant to the Comite de Apoyo a los Trabajadores Agrícolas (CATA) to reduce exposure to pesticides for farm workers in southern New Jersey. CATA, a Latino-led nonprofit organization, will educate migrant farm workers throughout the counties of Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem, New Jersey about the risks of pesticide exposure and how to protect their health during field work.

EPA Environmental Justice Grant to Help Ironbound Community Promote Sustainable Practices through Urban Gardening and Environmental Education
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is providing $25,000 to the Ironbound Community Corporation to enhance a community garden and promote environmental education in the Ironbound section of Newark, New Jersey. The wide variety of pollutants that affect the Ironbound, from existing and former chemical plants, waste industries, and trucks, airplanes and ships, has made the area a focus of EPA efforts to reduce pollution in low income neighborhoods.

January 20, 2012
Pesticide News Story: Checklists for EPA’s pesticide registration application content review on website
EPA uses checklists to determine if all necessary data (studies) are submitted for some of the applications subject to a registration service fee under the Pesticide Registration Improvement Renewal Act (PRIA). These checklists are now available to applicants for pesticide registration, who will find them helpful in reviewing their application. EPA is providing the checklists to help pesticide registration applicants pass the 21-day initial content review.

MONDAY: EPA Acting Water Chief to Highlight Successful Water Projects in Henry County and West Atlanta
On Monday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Acting Assistant Administrator for Water, Nancy Stoner, will be in Atlanta to highlight successful water-related projects in Henry County and West Atlanta. The projects are helping protect people’s health and the environment, and also support local job growth.

EPA Regions 7 and 8 Meet State Agriculture Directors in Kansas City, Kan.
Officials from EPA Regions 7 and 8 today hosted a meeting with the directors of state agriculture departments of Iowa, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming. The meeting, held at EPA’s Region 7 building in Kansas City, Kan., provided a forum for dialogue on EPA programs and regulations as well as specific issues, interests and concerns of the agriculture sector.

January 18, 2012
Pesticide News Story: EPA Seeks Input on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Draft Measures to Protect Endangered Wildlife from Rozol Prairie Dog Bait
EPA is seeking comments from a wide range of stakeholders on draft Reasonable and Prudent Measures (RPMs) included in a draft Biological Opinion received from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) on January 17, 2012.

January 16, 2012
January 2012 Newsletter Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center Exit EPA
The January edition of the National Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center (LPELC) newsletter is now available. Topics include: January Webcast: Developing A Playbook for Emergency Management; What's Going On In the LPELC?
Wet Scrubbers, Dust Video, Best Guess; Spotlight On
New Oklahoma Publications. Journal GHG Edition, Digestate Utilization, Vermicompost; MUN & Ammonia, Regulation Fact Sheet, ASABE Standard.

January 13, 2012
Pesticide News Story: EPA Approves Soil Fumigant Phase 2 Labels
EPA has completed review and approval of nearly all soil fumigant product labels incorporating the second phase of mitigation measures required by the 2009 Reregistration Eligibility Decisions (REDs) for the soil fumigants methyl bromide, chloropicrin, metam sodium/metam potassium, and dazomet.

Pesticide News Story: New Enable the Label On-line Discussion Forum Topic: LRM Chapter 13: Unique Product Storage and Disposal
EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs has posted an update to Enable the Label, our online discussion forum that helps improve the clarity and usefulness of the Label Review Manual. The discussion topic for January is Chapter 13, which provides guidance on storage and disposal instructions for pesticides and pesticide containers. After the discussion thread closes at the end of January, we will review comments received and incorporate useful ones into future revisions of the Label Review Manual. As a reminder, for discussions focusing on the Label Review Manual, the Agency is not asking for general discussions on pesticide policy issues.

January 11, 2012
Administrator Jackson, Secretary Vilsack Sign Historic Agreement With State of Minnesota to Help Farmers Protect Rivers, Streams and Lakes
ST. PAUL, Minn. (Jan, 17, 2012) – U.S. EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that EPA and USDA have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the state of Minnesota to develop a new state program for farmers designed to increase the voluntary adoption of conservation practices that protect local rivers, streams and other waters by reducing fertilizer run-off and soil erosion. Through this partnership, producers who undertake a substantial level of conservation activities to reduce nutrient run-off and erosion will receive assurance from the state that their farms will meet Minnesota’s water quality standards and goals during the life of the agreement.

2010 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Data from Large Facilities Now Available / First release of data through the national GHG reporting program
For the first time, comprehensive greenhouse gas (GHG) data reported directly from large facilities and suppliers across the country are now easily accessible to the public through EPA’s GHG Reporting Program. The 2010 GHG data released today includes public information from facilities in nine industry groups that directly emit large quantities of GHGs, as well as suppliers of certain fossil fuels.

January 10, 2012
EPA to Hold Webinar to Showcase a New Tool to Access 2010 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Data from Large Facilities
For the first time, comprehensive greenhouse gas (GHG) data reported directly from large facilities and suppliers across the country are now easily accessible to the public through EPA’s GHG Reporting Program. The 2010 GHG data to be released includes public information from facilities in nine industry groups that directly emit large quantities of GHGs, as well as suppliers of certain fossil fuels and high global warming gases.

January 6, 2012
Pesticide News Story: Guidance for Data Submission for Pesticide Registration
Effective immediately, Pesticide Registration Notice (PR) 86-5 has been updated and replaced by PR 2011-3. This notice contains recommended procedures for submitting data to EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs. Registrants have the option of submitting data on CD/DVD in place of paper in support of some types of regulatory actions. Other aspects of the data-formatting guidance have also been updated to bring the notice in line with current regulations and data processing practices.

January 5, 2012
EPA Releases 2010 Toxics Release Inventory National Analysis
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is releasing its annual national analysis of the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI), providing all Americans with vital information about their communities. The TRI program publishes information on toxic chemical disposals and other releases into the air, land and water, as well as information on waste management and pollution prevention activities in neighborhoods across the country. Total releases including disposals for the latest reporting year, 2010, are higher than the previous two years but lower than 2007 and prior year totals. Many of the releases from TRI facilities are regulated under various EPA programs and requirements designed to limit human and environmental harm.

January 3, 2012
EPA Announces 2011 Environmental Justice Grants
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced four environmental justice grants totaling $100,000 to non-profit and tribal organizations in the Great Lakes region.

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