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News Archive: May 2006

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 Also, please be aware that the information in any particular article may be outdated or superseded by additional information.

May 31
EPA Settles for $42,120 Against a Huntington Harbour Chemical Company for Pesticide Violations
EPA has fined a Huntington Harbour, Calif. chemical company $42,120 for the alleged sale and distribution of two antimicrobial disinfectants in violation of federal pesticide law after the two products failed effectiveness testing. EPA cited Sunshine Makers, located at 15922 Pacific Coast Highway, for selling and distributing “Simple Green D” and “Simple Green Antibacterial Disinfectant,” pesticidal disinfectants designed for use in hospitals and medical facilities to eliminate potentially harmful bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylcoccus aureus. EPA’s testing of the effectiveness of these two pesticides determined that, contrary to the claims on their labels, Simple Green D was ineffective against P. aeruginosa and Simple Green Antibacterial Disinfectant was ineffective against S. aureus. Due to these testing failures, neither pesticide can meet its claim of being a broad spectrum disinfectant suitable for hospital use.

May 26
EPA Signs MOU with Edison Electric and Federal Agencies to Reduce Pesticide Use on Rights-of-Way
EPA has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Edison Electric Institute and five federal agencies to establish sound Integrated Vegetation Management practices in order to reduce adverse impacts to the environment and the public while ensuring reliable electrical service. Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM) practices reduce the need for pesticides, promote healthy ecosystems, and provide measurable results, such as greater natural species diversity along rights-of-ways and better control of invasive species. IVM also prevents wildfires around utility rights-of-way and improves power line safety and electric utility worker safety.

Pesticide Registration Requests, Actions, and Tolerance Updates

May 24
AAPCO/SFIREG To Meet June 19-20
The Association of American Pesticide Control Officials (AAPCO)/State-FIFRA Issues Research and Evaluation Group (SFIREG) will hold a 2-day meeting June 19-20, 2006.

May 23
California Firm Pays $52,000 for Distributing Unregistered Japanese Pesticides
Under the terms of a recent settlement with EPA, the Marukai Corporation of Gardena, California, will pay $52,000 for allegedly selling and distributing unregistered, imported Japanese pesticides, a violation of federal law. Based on an inspection conducted by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation in 2004, EPA investigators determined that Marukai Corporation had sold and distributed 11 unregistered products from Japan, including Cabitori Haitah, Cabi-Killer, BasuCabi, Cabitori Look, Gokichiru-Z, and Mrs. Lloyd Insecticide. The products claimed to be ant and roach killers, moth repellents, and mold removers.

May 18
Illinois Farm Cited for Filling in Wetlands Without Permit
EPA Region 5 has issued an administrative complaint to Heser Farms of Centralia, Illinois, for allegedly depositing about 3,000 cubic yards of material into 2 acres of forested wetlands without first obtaining a required permit. The wetlands are in Marion County, Illinois, next to Martin Branch, a stream that flows through Lake Centralia. Heser Farms failed to comply with a January 2005 EPA order to restore the wetlands. EPA proposes to assess a $120,000 penalty.

Pesticide Registration Requests, Actions, and Tolerance Updates

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May 17
Aldicarb Health Effects Risk Assessment Available for Comment
EPA has released its health effects risk assessment and related documents for the carbamate pesticide aldicarb, and has opened a public comment period on these documents. The environmental risk assessment for aldicarb was released for comment earlier. The public is encouraged to suggest risk management ideas or proposals to address the risks identified. Aldicarb, formulated only as a granular pesticide, is registered for use as a systemic insecticide, acaricide, and nematicide on a variety of  agricultural crops. EPA is developing a Reregistration Eligibility Decision for aldicarb through a modified, four-phase public participation process. Comments, identified by docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2005-0163, must be received on or before July 17, 2006.

May 16
Regulatory Changes Requested on Pest Strip, Other DDVP Products
As a result of EPA's evaluation to ensure that all pesticides meet current health and safety standards, the manufacturer of insect pest strips containing the organophosphate pesticide DDVP (or dichlorvos) has asked EPA to remove certain uses and further restrict where the pest strips can be used in homes. As part of the standard regulatory process, EPA will publish the proposed changes and its revised risk assessment for DDVP for public comment before issuing a final decision. During the transition to the more restrictive labeling, existing products can continue to be used until the phase-out is complete. Additionally, the manufacturer is voluntarily deleting other uses of DDVP, including mushroom house, greenhouse, and warehouse hand-held fogger uses; total-release fogger, lawn, turf/ornamental, and crack/crevice uses. The company has also requested label amendments to increase worker protection for the mushroom and greenhouse uses.

May 11
National Water Program Guidance for FY 07 Finalized
The National Water Program has finalized the National Water Program Guidance for fiscal year 2007. The guidance describes priorities for the 2007 National Water Program, outlines the strategy for accomplishing specific environmental goals in the coming year, and identifies measures to be used to assess progress. EPA regions will use the guidance in working with states and tribes to develop workplans and related materials.    

May 10
Restaurants Composting Food Waste for Fertilizer Under EPA-Funded Pilot Project
EPA Region 9 recently gave $50,000 to the city of Modesto, California, to work with local restaurants to collect and compost food scraps and then sell the fertilizer to local landscapers, farmers, and the general public. With the help of an EPA Resource Conservation Challenge grant, the city plans to start the pilot program this summer with about 30 of the city’s estimated 1,000 restaurants to recycle waste that would have otherwise been thrown away. Organic materials, such as food waste and yard debris, comprise approximately 30 percent of the 40 million tons of municipal solid waste generated in California each year. Modesto officials estimate that its restaurants produce roughly 15,000 tons of food waste annually. As of 2004 the city of Modesto is recycling or composting 51 percent of their waste. The city hopes to increase that rate and expect the pilot project to reuse 1,000 tons of waste per year.

May 9
Gardena Firm Pays $52,000 for Distributing Unregistered Japanese Pesticides
Under the terms of a recent settlement with EPA, the Marukai Corporation of Gardena, California, will pay $52,000 for allegedly selling and distributing unregistered, imported Japanese pesticides. Based on an inspection conducted by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation in 2004, EPA investigators determined that the Marukai Corporation had sold and distributed 11 unregistered products from Japan, including Cabitori Haitah, Cabi-Killer, BasuCabi, Cabitori Look, Gokichiru-Z, and Mrs. Lloyd Insecticide. The products claimed to be ant and roach killers, moth repellents, and mold removers. Since these Japanese products were not registered as pesticides with EPA, their alleged sale and distribution is a violation of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act.

May 8
EPA Seeks Fines Against Nevada Hardware Stores for Selling Cancelled Pesticides
EPA is seeking nearly $5,000 in fines against two northern Nevada True Value stores for selling residential pesticides that contain chlorpyrifos, a chemical that has been federally restricted since 2001. EPA seeks a fine of $4,400 from North Valleys True Value of Reno alleging that in March, 2004, the store offered for sale Greenthumb Flea & Tick Killer, a pesticide designed for residential use that contains chlorpyrifos. In a separate settlement, Shellys True Value of Sparks has agreed to pay a penalty of $500 for allegedly selling True Value Greenthumb Borer Spray II, which is also a pesticide designed for residential use that contains chlorpyrifos.

Pesticide Applicator Pays $8,320 for Misusing Pesticides
EPA fined a Farmington, New Mexico, commercial applicator $8,320 for improperly using registered pesticides. Four Corners Weed Control, Inc. allegedly misused the registered herbicides Krovar I DF and Razor Pro at an oil and gas well site located within the Navajo Nation. During an application to control weeds, a company employee failed to follow label directions by not wearing proper protective equipment and by entering treated areas before the pesticides had dried. By failing to follow use directions, the employee increased his risk of illness due to pesticide exposure and violated the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act.

Alkyl Dimethyl Ammonium Chloride Risk Assessments, Preliminary Risk Reduction Options Available for Comment
EPA has released its risk assessments, preliminary risk reduction options, and related documents for the Group II Quat Cluster of structurally similar quaternary ammonium compounds known as alkyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (ADBAC), and has opened a public comment period on these documents. The public also is encouraged to suggest risk management ideas or proposals to address the risks identified. This chemical is an antimicrobial pesticide used in agricultural, food handling, commercial, institutional/industrial, residential, public access, and medical settings. EPA is developing a Reregistration Eligibility Decision for ADBAC through a modified, four-phase public participation process. Comments, identified by docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2006-0339, must be received on or before June 26, 2006.

July 10 Is Deadline for Methyl Bromide Critical Use Exemption Applications
EPA is soliciting applications for critical use exemptions from the phaseout of methyl bromide for 2009 and beyond. In addition, applicants who missed last year's deadline to apply for an exemption for 2008 may file a supplemental application. This is an annual exemption. All entities interested in obtaining such an exemption must provide EPA with technical and economic information to support a "critical use" claim, and must do so by the deadline even if they have previously applied for an exemption. Interested parties are also invited to provide EPA with new data on the technical and economic feasibility of methyl bromide alternatives. Applications for the critical use exemption must be postmarked on or before July 10, 2006.

Pesticide Registration Requests, Actions, and Tolerance Updates

May 3
EPA Proposes To Revoke Tolerance Exemptions for Some Inert Ingredients
EPA proposes to revoke existing exemptions from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of certain inert ingredients. In some cases, there are insufficient data to make the determination of safety required by the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) section 408(b)(2). In other cases, the tolerances are redundant and, therefore, not necessary. In addition, EPA has identified substances within certain of these tolerance exemptions that meet the definition of low-risk polymers and is proposing to establish new tolerance exemptions for them. The revocation actions proposed in this document contribute towards the Agency's tolerance reassessment requirements under FFDCA section 408(q), as amended by the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996. Comments, identified by docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2006-0230, must be received on or before July 3, 2006.

Public Meetings Scheduled on Pesticide Inert Ingredient Tolerance Exemptions With Insufficient Data for Reassessment
EPA will hold two identical public meetings in Arlington, Virginia, on Tuesday, May 23, 2006, concerning the Agency's proposed action on pesticide inert ingredient tolerance exemptions that lack sufficient toxicity data to make a determination of safety for human health. During the public meetings, EPA will review its reassessment progress for inert ingredients, describe the Agency's data finding efforts, discuss data needs and the screening level studies that may suffice, and other topics that may prove useful to those who are considering developing data in support of these inert ingredients.

EPA Proposes To Revoke Tolerance Exemptions for Ethylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether and Methylene Blue
EPA is proposing to revoke two inert ingredient exemptions from the requirement of a tolerance because these substances are no longer contained in active Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act pesticide product registrations. These ingredients are subject to reassessment by August 2006. Comments, identified by docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2006-0307, must be received on or before July 3, 2006.

Pesticide Registration Requests, Actions, and Tolerance Updates

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