Volume 9, Number 2
February 10, 1999
Volume 9, Number 2
February 10, 1999
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/.
EPA is soliciting comments on four draft science policy papers. They hope to assure the public that EPA science policies related to implementing the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) are transparent and open to public participation. The titles of the science policy papers are:
A. A user's guide to available OPP information on assessing
dietary (food) exposure to pesticides,
B. Dietary (drinking water) exposure estimates,
C. Standard operating procedures (SOPs) for residential exposure
assessment, and
D. Framework for assessing non-occupational, non-dietary
(residential) exposure to pesticides.
EPA will not be codifying these policies in the Code of Federal regulations. These policy documents are intended to provide guidance to EPA personnel and decision-makers, and to the public. As guidance documents and not rules, these policies are not binding on either EPA or any outside parties.
A detailed summary and list of suggested questions/issues for comment pertaining to each paper are included in the 1/4/99 Federal Register (FR) notice. The FR notice and papers can be viewed and downloaded from EPA's webpage at: <http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/trac/>. Look under January 4, 1999, on that site.
Written comments on these papers should be submitted by 3/5/99. Consult the FR notice listed here for the requirements for commenting.
For questions on paper A. above, contact:
Ms. Kathleen Martin, EPA, Office of Pesticide Programs, voice 703-308-2857, fax 703-305-5147, martin.kathleen@epa.gov
For questions on paper B. above, contact:
Ms. Denise Keehner, EPA, voice 703-305-7695, fax 703-305-6309, keehner.denise@epa.gov
For questions on papers C. and D. above, contact:
Mr. William Wooge, EPA, Office of Pesticide Programs, voice 703-308-8794, fax 703-305-5147, wooge.william@epa.gov Source: Federal Register 64:162-166 1/4/99
USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has released its pesticide data summary titled, "Pesticide data program: Annual summary, calendar year 1997." The program provides statistically reliable data on pesticide residues detected in selected foods.
EPA uses information from this program to assess dietary exposure to pesticide residues. EPA analyzes exposure to infants and children as well as other sensitive populations as required by FQPA. PDP data are also used to reevaluate tolerances to support the new FQPA pesticide reregistration requirements. The USDA uses PDP data to support the export of American products in an expanding competitive global market and to review good agricultural practices with respect to pest management issues.
In 1997, PDP analyzed a total of 8,177 samples. PDP provides the most comprehensive database available on actual residue levels of pesticides found in the U.S. food supply.
For copies of the 1997 PDP report, contact:
PDP staff, voice 703-330-2300, fax 703-369-0678, or access the PDP website at: <http://www.ams.usda.gov/science/pdp/index.htm>
For more information, contact:
Mr. William Franks, Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA, voice 202-720-5231, fax 202-720-6496, William_J_Franks@usda.gov or,
Mr. Robert L. Epstein, Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA, voice 202-720-2158, fax 202-720-1484, Robert_L_Epstein@usda.gov
By final rule and order, EPA withdraws the revocation of tolerances for residues of cryolite (fluorine compounds) on apricots, blackberries, boysenberries, dewberries, kale, loganberries, nectarines, and youngberries, effective 1/25/99. EPA is withdrawing the revocation of those specific tolerances made on October 26, 1998 (63 FR 57067) because comments from Gowan Company made to the proposed rule (63 FR 5907, 2/5/98) concerning cryolite were inadvertently not addressed. Gowan Company's comment letter on the proposed changes to the cryolite tolerances did not note the docket control number, as the proposed rule instructed, and consequently the letter was not inserted into the docket.
Gowan Company supports the apricot, kale, and nectarine tolerances. The interregional Research Project No. 4 (IR-4 Project) supports cryolite use on blackberry, boysenberry, dewberry, loganberry, and youngberry via the crop group approach. Had EPA seen these comments, they would not have revoked the cryolite tolerances in question.
However, tolerance revocations for cryolite use on apples, beans, beet tops, carrots, corn, mustard greens, okra, peanuts, pears, peas, quinces, radish tops, rutabaga tops, and turnip tops remain and become effectively revoked as of 1/25/99 (63 FR 57067).
For technical information, contact:
Dr. Joseph Nevola, Special Review Branch of EPA, 703-308-8037, nevola.joseph@epa.gov
Source: Federal Register 64:4308-4311 1/28/99
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) has announced that it and companies registering and selling the vast majority of Bt-improved corn hybrids have reached an agreement-in-principle on corn insect resistance management (IRM) for the year 2000. The goal is to present a consistent, unified program to preserve the technology that is practical for growers.
The five key elements of the program are:
1) One single protective and practical corn refuge requirement for
the primary corn-growing region (20%) and one corn refuge
requirement for the primary cotton-growing region (50%).
2) A clear and consistent IRM grower agreement.
3) Effective grower education programs.
4) Appropriate surveys to track grower adoption.
5) Continued insect susceptibility monitoring.
The companies involved are Monsanto, Dekalb, Dow AgroSciences, Mycogen Seeds, Novartis Seeds and Pioneer Hi-Bred International. Details of the plan have yet to be finalized through discussion with NCGA, EPA and other stakeholders.
For further information, contact:
NCGA at Source: National Corn Growers Association News Release 1/28/99
EPA is proposing, at the request of Bayer Corporation, to phase-out
and cancel isofenphos (Oftanol), an organophosphate insecticide
with limited remaining uses on lawns and turf. Bayer is the sole
U.S. registrant of isofenphos. The company's request to cancel all
existing registrations was based on economic reasons and is
expected to have little impact on users because suitable
alternatives are thought to be available.
A final cancellation notice will be published on or about 3/16/99
in the Federal Register unless this request is withdrawn or adverse
comments are received.
Existing stocks will be allowed to be sold, distributed, and used
if the cancellations take effect. It is likely that the effective
date of cancellation for isofenphos products will be 9/30/99.
Bayer will be allowed to sell any existing inventory until
9/30/2000. And existing stocks will be allowed to be sold and used
until they are exhausted.
Comments are due by 3/16/99 and may be submitted electronically to
EPA at For further information, contact:
Mr. Philip Poli, EPA Special Review and Reregistration Division,
703-308-8038, poli.philip@epamail.epa.gov
Sources:
Federal Register 64:2642-2644 1/15/99 EPA has amended the terms and conditions of the cyanazine
registrations held by DuPont and Griffin. EPA will allow a maximum
use rate of 3.0 lb/acre in 1999, instead of 1.0 lb/acre, as
currently required. EPA is granting this request because it is a
proper response to special weather conditions and it will not
disturb the original cancellation order that phases out cyanazine
use by 2002.
Cyanazine (Bladex) is an herbicide used for preemergence and
postemergence weed control in corn and cotton.
In August 1995, DuPont and Griffin agreed with EPA to amend their
cyanazine registrations to effectively phase-out all use of
cyanazine products by December 31, 2002. EPA believes that
DuPont's request for a change in use rate for the 1999 growing
season will not disturb the EPA's conclusion that risks associated
with the voluntary phase-out and cancellation are outweighed by its
benefits.
For further information, contact:
Ms. Loan Phan, EPA Office of Pesticide Programs, 703-308-8008,
phan.loan@epamail.epa.gov
Source: Federal Register 64:3511-3513 1/22/99
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).
ISOFENPHOS (OFTANOL) PROPOSED FOR CANCELLATION
EPA Press Release R-2 1/15/99
CYANAZINE (BLADEX): AMENDMENT OF TERMS OF PHASE-OUT
Last Modified February 11, 1999