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News Archive: January 2002

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 Also, please be aware that the information in any particular article may be outdated or superseded by additional information.

January 31
EPA Achieves Significant Compliance and Enforcement Progress in 2001
EPA released data on its enforcement and compliance assurance results for FY 2001, which included record-setting expenditures of $4.3 billion by violators for pollution controls and environmental cleanup. The program also secured commitments for an estimated reduction of more than 660 million pounds of harmful pollutants and the treatment and safe management of an estimated record 1.84 billion pounds of pollutants.

EPA Expands the Water Quality Standards Database
The January update to the Water Quality Standards Database (WQSDB) includes new or revised information for eight states, bringing the total to 18. Eleven additional states, tribes, and territories are currently being worked on.

January 28
Draft Particulate Matter Risk Analysis Methodology Document Available for Public Comment
The Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS) of EPA has released for public review and comment a draft document, Proposed Methodology for Particulate Matter Risk Analyses for Selected Urban Areas (hereafter, draft PM Risk Analysis Methodology). Comments on the Draft PM Risk Analysis Methodology document should be submitted on or before February 27, 2002.

January 24
Terbufos Interim Risk Management Decision Issued
EPA has completed an interim risk management decision document for the organophosphorus pesticide terbufos. EPA has worked with affected parties to reach the decisions presented in this document. Actions to reduce risks associated with use of terbufos include establishing limitations on sales of terbufos, requiring buffers between treated areas and surface water or drain pipes in certain situations, and changing certain methods of application of the pesticide, as well as changes related to protecting workers.

January 23
Environmental Laboratories, Inc. and Termarid, LLC Settle Pesticide Violations
EPA announced that two Maryland companies have settled alleged federal pesticide violations related to the manufacture and sale of a mulch product treated with a termiticide.

Draft Guidance for Pesticide Registrants on New Labeling Statements for Spray and Dust Drift Mitigation; Extension of Comment Period
On August 22, 2001, the Agency announced the availability of, and sought public comment on, the draft PR Notice titled "Spray and Dust Drift Label Statements for Pesticide Products.'' On November 14, 2001, EPA published a notice extending the due date for comments until January 19, 2002. The Agency has received several requests to extend the public comment period further to allow commenters more time to prepare their responses to the PR Notice. The Agency believes that additional time is appropriate and would be beneficial; therefore, this notice extends the comment due date until March 31, 2002.

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January 22
Disulfoton and Naled Cancellations and Use Deletions Proposed
As announced in a Federal Register notice published on January 10, 2002, EPA has received requests from three registrants to cancel certain products and delete several uses of disulfoton and naled. The Agency is assessing and mitigating the individual and cumulative risks of these and other organophosphate (OP) pesticides in determining whether they meet current standards for reregistration and tolerance reassessment.

Cancellation and Use Modifications Proposed for Dimethoate
EPA has received requests from the companies that distribute technical dimethoate to amend their manufacturing-use product registrations. In addition, the companies holding end-use registrations have asked EPA to cancel or amend their registrations for end-use products containing dimethoate to delete all uses with possible residential exposures.

Pesticide Registration Requests, Actions, and Tolerance Updates

January 18
Consumer Pesticide Hotline Changes Name; Service Continues
A nationwide pesticide information service for consumers, the National Pesticide Telecommunications Network, recently changed its name to the National Pesticide Information Center. The service, funded by EPA, will continue unaltered. The National Pesticide Information Center provides comprehensive information to the public on specific pesticide chemicals, including toxicological and medical information, via a telephone helpline and a website. A toll-free telephone number, 800-858-7378, is available to the public daily from 9:30am - 7:30pm (EST).

January 17
Biosolids Rule: Technical Support Documents, External Peer Review Comments, and Analytical Data Sheets
These technical support documents and external peer review comments will support the development of a final EPA action on the land application of sewage sludge regarding dioxins. A Notice of Data Availability will be posted in the Federal Register in April 2002.

Revised Guidance on Pesticide Cumulative Risk Assessment Available
EPA has released "Guidance on Cumulative Risk Assessments of Pesticide Chemicals That Have a Common Mechanism of Toxicity." This guidance, a revised version of guidance published for public comment in June 2000, describes the methods EPA is using in conducting cumulative assessments. It takes into account the knowledge and methods available now for assessing cumulative risk and provides flexibility for completing risk assessments with various amounts and types of data.

Tolerance Revocations Proposed for Nicotine
On January 16, 2002, EPA published a proposed rule to revoke 66 specific tolerances for residues of the insecticide nicotine. This pesticide is in the second priority group for tolerance reassessment. The 66 tolerances are proposed for revocation because all registrations for these pesticide uses have been canceled. The only remaining food uses for nicotine are cucumbers, lettuce, and tomatoes.  Comments on these proposed tolerance revocations will be accepted until March 18, 2002.

January 16
New EPA Water Quality Model: Allocating Loads and Wasteloads for Watersheds and Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDLs)
EPA releases a new water quality model to help develop TMDLs for impaired waters.

January 10
EPA Completes Tolerance Revocations And Modifications For Six Pesticides
EPA has published a final rule establishing, modifying, and revoking specific tolerances for residues of the herbicides dichlobenil, metribuzin, pendimethalin, and terbacil; the plant growth regulator diphenylamine, and the insecticide sulprofos. EPA is revoking certain tolerances because EPA has canceled the food uses associated with them. This final rule revokes 29 tolerances, one of which (sulprofos) is counted toward the August 2002 deadline to reassess 66% of the existing tolerances. The tolerances associated with the other 28 revocations were reassessed and counted previously through the Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) process. This regulation is effective March 5, 2002. 

Milestone Report On NAFTA Pesticide Workgroup Available
The North American Free Trade Agreement Technical Working Group on Pesticides is committed to ensuring that farmers throughout North America have access to effective, low-risk pest-management tools. The successes of the working group to date are detailed in a new report, The North American Initiative Milestone Report. The report chronicles how this working group, which includes officials from Canada, Mexico, and the United States, is building a North American market for pesticides.

Pesticide Registration Requests, Actions, and Tolerance Updates

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