The intent of this network is to inform interested parties of new pesticide uses, impending pesticide use cancellations, tolerance revocations, and other items of agricultural interest. Questions and comments may be directed to your State Liaison Representative (on our web page) for the Pesticide Impact Assessment Program (PIAP) or Kent Smith at 202-720-3186, fax 202-720-3191, email ksmith@ars.usda.gov, or consult our homepage for OPMP and PIAP at http://ipmwww.ncsu.edu/opmppiap/.

PRELIMINARY RISK ASSESSMENTS ON 16 ORGANOPHOSPHATES

EPA has announced the availability of preliminary risk assessments on 16 organophophates (OPs). Two of these documents are the preliminary human health risk assessments for chlorethoxyfos (Fortress) and tetrachlorvinphos (stirophos or Rabon) and four are preliminary ecological risk assessments for azinphos methyl (Guthion), ethoprop (Mocap), temephos (Abate), and terbufos (Counter). The remaining documents cover both the preliminary human health and ecological risk assessments for ten other OPs: acephate (Orthene), disulfoton (Di-Syston), ethyl parathion (know also as parathion), methamidophos (Monitor), methidathion (Supracide), methyl parathion, oxydemeton methyl (Metasystox-R), phosmet (Imidan), pirimiphos-methyl (Actellic) and propetamphos (Safrotin). EPA is seeking to strengthen stakeholder involvement and help ensure that their decisions under the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) are transparent and based on the best available information.

These documents reflect only the work and analysis conducted as of the time they were produced and it is appropriate that, as new information becomes available and/or additional analyses are performed, the conclusions they contain may change.

These assessments can be viewed and downloaded from the EPA website at: . To obtain a hard copy of any of the preliminary risk assessments and related documents, call 703-305-5805. The Docket staff will inform callers as to which of the documents can be sent directly from the docket and which need to be requested from the Freedom of Information Act Office due to their bulk.

Written comments on these assessments should be submitted by 2/16/99 for ethoprop (submission docket number OPP-34144A), methyl parathion (OPP-34161), temephos (OPP-34147A), and terbufos (OPP-34139A); by 3/9/99 for acephate (OPP-34164), disulfoton (OPP-34165), methamidophos (OPP-34166), oxydemeton methyl (OPP-34167), and pirimiphos-methyl (OPP-34168); and by 3/16/99 for azinphos methyl (OPP-34131A), chlorethoxyfos (OPP-34170), ethyl parathion (OPP-34171), methidathion (OPP-34172), phosmet (OPP- 34173), propetamphos (OPP-34174), and tetrachlorvinphos (OPP-34175). Comments may be electronically submitted to opp-docket@epa.gov.

For further information, contact:

Ms. Karen Angulo, EPA, Special Review and Reregistration Division, 702-308-8004, angulo.karen@epa.gov

Sources:

Federal Register 63:70126-70127 12/18/98
Federal Register 64:1199-1200 1/8/99
Federal Register 64:2644-2646 1/15/99

ENDOCRINE DISRUPTOR SCREENING PROGRAM

EPA is providing details and an opportunity for public comment on its Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program (EDSP). The EDSP program is required by the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) enacted in August of 1996. This program is expected to affect anyone who produces, manufactures or imports pesticides as well as other chemical substances. The EPA notice listed below under sources describes in great detail the major elements of EPA's EDSP, as well as its planned implementation.

EPA will use a tiered approach for determining whether a substance may have an effect in humans that is similar to an effect produced by naturally occurring estrogen, androgen, and thyroid hormone systems (EAT). This tiered approach will involve sorting, priority setting, and screening more than 87,000 chemical substances, including pesticide chemicals, commercial chemicals, ingredients in cosmetics, food additives, nutritional supplements, and certain mixtures.

For general information or copies of their final report, contact:

TSCA Hotline, EPA, Environmental Assistance Division, 202-554-1404, TSCA-Hotline@epa.gov

For technical information, contact:

Mr. Anthony Maciorowski, EPA, 202-260-3048, maciorowski.anthony@epa.gov or Mr. Gary Timm, EPA, 202-260-1859, timm.gary@epa.gov

Sources:

Federal Register 63:71541-71568 12/28/98
EPA Press Release R-1 1/8/99

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: USDA BIOTECHNOLOGY RISK ASSESSMENT RESEARCH GRANTS

Applications are invited for competitive grant awards under the Biotechnology Risk Assessment Research Grants Program for fiscal year 1999 administered by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) of USDA.

The purpose of the Program is to assist Federal regulatory agencies in making science-based decisions about the effects of introducing into the environment genetically modified organisms, including plants, microorganisms, fungi, bacteria, viruses, arthropods, fish, birds, mammals and other animals excluding humans. Investigations of effects on both managed and natural environments are relevant. The anticipated funding for the 1999 program is $1.5 million.

Proposals may be submitted by any United States public or private research or educational institution or organization. Proposals are due by March 24, 1999.

A complete description of the program, an application kit, as well as past funded research are available on the program's website at: . Paper copies may be obtained by contacting: Proposal Services Unit, Office of Extramural Programs, CSREES, USDA, STOP 2245, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-2245. Contact them by mail, by phone (202-401-5048), or by e-mail . All materials will be mailed to you, so include your address.

For further information on this program, contact:

Dr. Robert M. Faust, USDA/ARS, 301-504-6918, rmf@ars.usda.gov, or Dr. Deborah Sheely, USDA/CSREES, 202-401-1924, dsheely@reeusda.gov, or Dr. Edward K. Kaleikau, USDA/CSREES, 202-401-1901, ekaleikau@reeusda.gov.

Source: Federal Register 63:69985-69989 12/17/98

IPRODIONE (ROVRAL) RED

EPA has announced the availability of the Reregistration Eligibility Decision Document (RED) for iprodione. This fungicide is used to control a wide variety of fungal diseases on fruit, vegetable, field, and ornamental crops. This document presents the EPA's formal regulatory assessment of the health and environmental database on iprodione and presents the determination regarding which pesticidal uses are eligible for reregistration.

The registrant, Rhone-Poulenc Ag Co., of iprodione (Rovral) has proposed mitigation measures to lessen the human health risk and ecological effects which were determined by EPA. They include:

1. Cancellation of all residential uses of iprodione,
2. On strawberries, increase the pre-harvest interval from 0 to up to but not after first flower,
3. On stone fruit (apricots, cherries, nectarines, plums, and prunes), increase the pre-harvest interval from 7-days to up to but not after petal fall (45-90 day PHI),
4. On table grapes, reduce the application rate from 4 times per season to one application per season at early to mid-bloom,
5. On turf and ornamental trees, limit the maximum number of applications from unlimited to 6 per year (max. 24 lb ai/acre/year),
6. On herbaceous ornamental seed, cancel all uses.

Labels with these new mitigation measures are expected in February of this year. According to the RED, for 12 months, the registrant may distribute and sell iprodione products bearing old labels. Persons other than the registrant may distribute and sell products with old labels until such stocks are exhausted. In other words, existing stocks can be used according to current label directions for this season and may be available for up to 12 months from today. To accommodate growers using iprodione as applied per the old label, the existing tolerances for iprodione on strawberries and all stone fruit will change 30 months from the date of the new label.

Switch, a new fungicide for which IR-4 is seeking registrations for many of the lost iprodione uses, may be registered in the near future. To allow a "reasonable transition for agriculture" you may wish to request that EPA allow the use of iprodione for some of the lost use patterns until Switch or some other reasonable alternative is registered.

This RED can be viewed and downloaded from the EPA website at: . To obtain a paper copy of the RED and related documents, call the OPP Pesticide Docket at 703-305-5805. The Docket staff will inform callers as to which of the documents can be sent directly from the docket and which need to be requested from the Freedom of Information Act Office due to their bulk.

Written comments on the RED decision should be submitted, mentioning the document control number of OPP-34154, by 2/2/99. Electronically these comments can be submitted to opp-docket@epamail.epa.gov.

For technical questions on the RED document, contact:

Mr. Dennis Deziel, EPA, 703-308-8173, Deziel.Dennis@epamail.epa.gov

Source: Federal Register 63:67066-67067 12/4/98

DICOFOL (KELTHANE) RED

EPA has announced the availability of the Reregistration Eligibility Decision Document (RED) for dicofol. Dicofol is a miticide used on many fruit, vegetable, field, and ornamental crops. This document presents the EPA's formal regulatory assessment of the health and environmental database on dicofol and presents the determination regarding which pesticidal uses are eligible for reregistration.

The registrants of dicofol have committed to significant risk mitigation measures to be implemented immediately which address risk concerns while additional data are being developed and analyzed. The interim mitigation measures are the following:

1. All residential uses have been eliminated from labels and will be voluntarily canceled,
2. All mixers/loaders/applicators must wear additional personal protective equipment and use enclosed cabs and cockpits,
3. All WP formulations produced after 12/31/98, must be in water soluble packaging,
4. All application with handheld equipment is eliminated for liquid formulations,
5. All liquid formulations produced after 12/31/98 must bear labeling requiring closed mixing systems for dry beans,
6. A revised REI will be set based on data to be evaluated,
7. All applications are limited to one per year,
8. On citrus, applications will not exceed 8 lb ai/acre/year,
9. On strawberries, applications will not exceed 2 lb ai/acre/year,
10. A spray drift and runoff caution is being added to labels as well as a statement prohibiting application directly to water.

Existing stocks of dicofol products bearing old labels may be distributed and sold by the registrants for 26 months from the date of this RED. Persons other than the registrants may generally distribute and sell existing stocks of dicofol products for 50 months from the date of the the issuance of this RED. Existing stocks in the hands of users will generally be allowed to be used until such stocks are exhausted.

This RED can be viewed and downloaded from the EPA website at: . To obtain a paper copy of the RED and related documents, call the OPP Pesticide Docket at 703-305-5805. The Docket staff will inform callers as to which of the documents can be sent directly from the docket and which need to be requested from the Freedom of Information Act Office due to their bulk.

Written comments on the RED decision should be submitted, mentioning the document control number of OPP-34156, by 2/16/99. Electronically these comments can be submitted to opp-docket@epamail.epa.gov.

For technical questions on the RED document, contact:

Mr. Phil Budig, EPA, 703-308-8029, budig.phil@epa.gov

Source: Federal Register 63:69282-69284 12/16/98

PHOSPHINE FUMIGANTS (ALUMINUM & MAGNESIUM PHOSPHIDE) RED AND STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS

EPA has announced the availability of the Reregistration Eligibility Decision Document (RED) for aluminum and magnesium phosphide. These fumigants are used primarily to control insects and rodents in facilities where grains and other food commodities are stored. This RED contains a listing of possible mitigation measures that the EPA is considering for these chemicals. This notice also announces stakeholder meetings planned for Kansas City, Missouri, and Sacramento, California. USDA has convened a Phosphine Task Force of experts on pest management in stored commodities to consult with EPA on this matter. The Task Force is described in greater detail in the last issue of the RNN - Vol 8, No 12 issued on 12/16/98. The Phosphine Task Force will help refine the proposed risk mitigation measures, examine implementation issues, and suggest alternative measures.

Summary of risk mitigation measures proposed for aluminum and magnesium phosphide products by EPA:

1. Notification of authorities and on-site workers at least 24 hours in advance of beginning operation,
2. Requirement of certified applicators or at least their supervision of activity within 50 feet of the operation,
3. Prohibit aeration of railcars, railroad boxcars, other vehicles, and containers en-route,
4. Placarding fumigated structures, containers, and vehicles,
5. Establish an incident reporting program,
6. Require personal protective equipment including respiratory protection,
7. Require two-man operation for any activity that would involve entry into a fumigated structure,
8. Establish 500 foot buffer zone and restricted area around all fumigated structures,
9. Institute more thorough monitoring around the commodity,
10. Require seal/leak testing for fumigated structures,
11. Establish a minimum distance from residences for burrow use,
12. Notification of local residents,
13. Requirement for improved training for certified applicators,
14. Monitoring methods to minimize exposure, and
15. Establish and define applicable exposure limits for the label.

These mitigation measures will be discussed at stakeholder meetings that will be held in Kansas City, Missouri, and Sacramento, California within 9 months from the issuance of this RED. EPA is requesting input by 1/22/99 on whether there is a need for additional meetings at other locations.

This RED can be viewed and downloaded from the EPA website at: . To obtain a paper copy of the RED and related documents, call the OPP Pesticide Docket at 703-305-5805. The Docket staff will inform callers as to which of the documents can be sent directly from the docket and which need to be requested from the Freedom of Information Act Office due to their bulk.

Written comments on the RED decision should be submitted, mentioning the document control number of OPP-34159, by 3/23/99. Electronically these comments can be submitted to opp-docket@epamail.epa.gov.

For technical questions on the RED document or stakeholder meetings, contact:

Mr. Mark Hartman, EPA, 703-308-0734, Hartman.Mark@epamail.epa.gov

For comments about the USDA Phosphine Task Force, contact:

Mr. Ted Rogers, USDA Office of Pest Management Policy, 202-720-3846, trogers@ars.usda.gov

Sources:

Federal Register 63:71123-71126 12/23/98
EPA Press Release R-168 12/18/98

The Reregistration Notification Network is a cooperative effort of OPMP-PIAP, Interregional Project No. 4 (IR-4), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the American Crop Protection Association (ACPA).
Last Modified January 22, 1999