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2006 Highlights
November 16, 2006
Azinphos-Methyl Phaseout -- EPA is issuing its final decision to phase out 10 remaining uses of the organophosphate insecticide azinphos-methyl (AZM) over the next few years. This phase-out will encourage and facilitate transition to safer alternatives and reduce risks to farm workers, pesticide applicators, and aquatic ecosystems.
October 18, 2006
EPA Launches Collaborative Effort to Design, Develop New Stewardship Program -- Today EPA sent letters to more than 500 organizations and individuals inviting participation in the design and development of a stewardship program. Through open dialogue, public engagement and sound science, EPA can establish the appropriate oversight for nanoscale materials and ensure public confidence in its safety.
September 18-24, 2006
National Pollution Prevention Week -- Reducing pollution before it ever gets to the environment is one of the most important ways to protect the environment. This year, National Pollution Prevention Week is September 18-24. Learn ways individuals, families, and companies can prevent pollution and conserve resources.
August 23, 2006
Asbestos Guidance for Automotive Workers -- A brochure, available for public comment, contains draft information for automotive professionals and home mechanics on work practices for avoiding asbestos exposure. Asbestos exposure has been associated with serious health problems such as asbestosis or lung cancer. Mas en espaņol
August 3, 2006
U.S. Continues to Set the Bar on Pesticide Safety Through Proposed Cancelation of Carbofuran -- EPA is proposing to cancel all uses of the pesticide carbofuran and to revoke the associated tolerances (legal residue limits on food). The agency announced today its conclusion that there are considerable risks associated with carbofuran in food and drinking water, risks to pesticide applicators and risks to birds that are exposed in treated fields.
August 2, 2006
Strengthened Pesticide Standards Protect Food -- EPA is completing a 10-year review of 231 food use pesticides that has resulted or will bring about changes to how these chemicals are regulated in this country. Stronger standards mean changes in pesticide uses include outright elimination of unsafe uses, stricter labeling provisions and safer food tolerances. Under the Food Quality Protection Act, EPA is responsible for regulating 1,105 pesticides used in the United States.
July 24, 2006
Greener Computers Will Soon Hit the Market -- Manufacturers such as Dell, HP, and others are releasing products with less lead, mercury, and other substances for large-volume purchasers. Products meeting the Electronic Products Environmental Assessment Tool standard will help prevent release of millions of pounds of waste.
July 5, 2006
Roadmap Highlights EPA Accomplishments and Charts Future Actions to Reduce Risks from Mercury -- EPA's Roadmap for Mercury describes EPA's progress and outlines the Agency's major ongoing and planned actions to reduce mercury in the environment, both domestically and internationally.
June 26, 2006
2006 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Winners -- Leading researchers received awards for finding ways to reduce pollution, waste or both in a manufacturing process. Over the past 11 years, winners efforts have helped protect the environment by eliminating use of 750 million pounds of hazardous chemicals, and other significant achievements.
June 9, 2006
Proposed Phaseout of Azinphos-Methyl and Longer Restricted Entry Intervals for Phosmet -- EPA is proposing to phase out azinphos-methyl (AZM) and to lengthen the Restricted Entry Intervals (REIs) for phosmet uses. Comments are due by August 8, 2006.
May 10, 2006
New Voluntary Standard Will Help Purchasers Buy Environmentally Preferable Computers -- At the International Symposium on Electronics and the Environment, EPA and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) announced the public availability of a new voluntary environmental performance standard to help purchasers reduce the environmental impact of the computers they buy, use and discard. This new standard will help institutional purchasers improve the environment while meeting their IT needs.
March 2, 2006
Companies Commit to PFOA Stewardship Program -- EPA has launched a global stewardship program where companies have committed to reduce PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic acid) releases and its presence in products by 95 percent by no later than 2010 and to work toward eliminating these sources of exposure five years after that but no later than 2015.
January 26, 2006
Safeguards for Human Research Finalized -- EPA has finalized a rule that establishes stringent enforceable ethical safeguards governing the conduct of third-party intentional dosing human studies intended for submission to EPA under the pesticide laws. Among other things, EPA is prohibiting all new third-party intentional dosing research on pesticides with children and pregnant women intended for submission to EPA, and to prohibit EPA's conduct or support on any intentional dosing human studies involving pregnant women or children.
January 25, 2006
EPA Seeking PFOA Reductions -- EPA is launching a global stewardship program inviting companies to reduce PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic acid) releases and its presence in products by 95 percent by no later than 2010 and to work toward eliminating these sources of exposure five years after that but no later than 2015.
