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News Archive: July 2004

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 Also, please be aware that the information in any particular article may be outdated or superseded by additional information.

July 29
EPA Agreement With Minnesota Company Includes Fine, Immediate Sale Stoppage
EPA recently reached agreement with Greener Pastures Development Corp., Oakdale, Minnesota. Under the agreement, the company will pay a $25,000 penalty for illegally selling and distributing four unregistered pesticides: two for use in controlling algae in ponds and two for killing weeds in lawns. EPA ordered Greener Pastures to stop selling, distributing, or using all unregistered pesticides, including, but not limited to, “Tiger-by-the-Tail,” “Nature’s Weed & Feed 7-0-7,” “Nature’s Weed Control for Ponds,” and “Clarify.” In addition to the fine and stop-sale order, Greener Pastures must remove all pesticidal claims from its Web sites, advertising, labeling, and other communications.

EPA Cites National Liquidators and Odd-Job for Selling Illegal Household Pesticides
EPA has cited National Wholesale Liquidators and Odd-Job Stores, Inc. for illegally selling misbranded household pesticide products from Canada in the United States. The Agency is seeking more than $500,000 in combined penalties for numerous violations of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). The complaints against these two large retail outlets are based on the findings of EPA and state investigations conducted in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut.

Pesticide Registration Requests, Actions, and Tolerance Updates

July 28 
Risk Assessments for 2,4-DB and 2,4-DB-DMAS Available for Comment
EPA has issued human health and environmental fate and effects risk assessments and related documents for the pesticides 2,4-DB (4-2,4-dichlorophenoxy) butyric acid and 2,4-DB-DMAS (Dimethylamine 4-2,4-dichlorophenoxy) butyrate. There will be a 60-day public comment period. Comments, identified by the docket identification (ID) number OPP-2004-0220, must be received on or before September 27, 2004.

July 27
District of Columbia and Ohio Implement New NAFTA Exam for Pesticide Applicators
As of May 2004, the District of Columbia's Pesticide Program and the Ohio State Department of Agriculture are the first in the nation to use the NAFTA core exam for pesticide applicators. Army and Navy training centers are expected to begin using the exam shortly. The NAFTA core exam project, chaired by EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs and Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency, is a tool to measure the minimum competency of a new pesticide applicator candidate on basic or "core" principles common to all pesticide applicators.

eRulemaking Initiative Public Forums Scheduled
A series of public forums on the eRulemaking Initiative will be held August 2-12, 2004 in Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., sponsored by the eRulemaking Program Office and EPA’s Office of Environmental Information. The forums will give citizens an opportunity to learn about the eRulemaking Initiative and provide input on its major projects. The eRulemaking Program Office is soliciting feedback on the usability and features of  the electronic system currently available to the public, the Regulations.gov Web site, and the planned government-wide electronic federal docket management system.  In addition to the public meetings, Harvard University, in partnership with the eRulemaking Initiative, will be hosting an online dialogue during August 2004. Details on the online dialogue will be released shortly.

Dimethoate Scientific Advisory Meeting Canceled
EPA has canceled the July 29-30 FIFRA Scientific Advisory Panel meeting. This meeting was planned to review and consider dimethoate issues related to the hazard and dose-response assessment. 

FIFRA Scientific Advisory Panel Sets Public Meetings on Fumigant Bystander Exposure Models
The FIFRA Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP) will hold three separate two-day meetings in Arlington, Virginia, to consider and review three fumigant bystander exposure models. The three models to be discussed, and the dates for the meetings, are:

Final Rule Revokes 58 Pesticide Tolerances
EPA published a final rule in the Federal Register on July 23, 2004, announcing the revocation of 58 tolerances and tolerance exemptions for residues of insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and plant regulators. The final rule, entitled "Bitertanol, Chlorpropham, Cloprop, Combustion Product Gas, Cyanazine, et. al.; Tolerance Actions" (OPP-2004-0088), revokes these specific tolerances because they are either no longer needed or are associated with food uses that are no longer current or registered in the United States. Also, EPA is modifying certain ethion tolerances before they expire. In consideration of comments received, EPA is not revoking specific tolerances for the fungicide bitertanol or the fungicide-insecticide dinocap at this time. Objections and hearing requests related to this action, identified by the docket control number OPP-2004-0088, must be received on or before September 21, 2004.

Pesticide Registration Requests, Actions, and Tolerance Updates

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July 21
Comments Invited on Reregistration Eligibility Decision Documents for Ziram
This notice announces availability of Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) documents for the pesticide active ingredient ziram and starts a 60-day public comment period. The RED represents EPA's formal regulatory assessment of the health and environmental database of ziram and presents the Agency's determination regarding which pesticidal uses are eligible for reregistration. Comments, identified by docket identification (ID) number OPP-2004-0194, must be received on or before September 20, 2004.

July 19
EPA Identifies Watersheds Eligible for Share of $15 Million Grant Program
EPA Administrator Mike Leavitt announced 14 watersheds – representing 17 states – eligible for $15 million from EPA’s Targeted Watersheds Grant Program. The selected areas represent more than 20,000 square miles of rivers, lakes, and streams across the United States. Watersheds qualifying for the program stretch from Cape Fear on the Atlantic Coast, through much of the Mississippi River Basin, all the way to Dungeness River in Washington State and the Kenai River in Alaska. Since 2003, more than $30 million has been provided through the Targeted Watersheds Grant Program.

July 16
EPA Offers Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program Grants
EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs, in coordination with the EPA Regional Offices, is soliciting proposals for the Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program (PESP). Under this program, cooperative agreement awards will provide financial assistance to eligible applicants to carry out projects that reduce the risks associated with pesticide use in agricultural and nonagricultural settings. Total funding available for award in fiscal year 2004 is expected to be approximately $500,000, with a maximum funding level of $40,000 per project. Applications must be received by EPA Regional Offices on or before August 30, 2004.

Pesticide Registration Requests, Actions, and Tolerance Updates

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July 14
EPA Announces Innovative Approaches To Reduce Waste and Improve Emergency Preparedness
EPA has funded seven innovative projects aimed at making the Agency's waste programs more effective. A total of $465,490 will fund projects ranging from reducing NOx emissions from biodiesel production, to applying an emerging technology to emergency response, and reducing waste while deconstructing old residential rowhouses. Projects of particular interest to agriculture are:

New Hampshire Meat Processing Plant Faces Civil Penalties for Inadequate Risk Management Planning
An enforcement action has been filed by EPA against Tyson Foods, Inc., for violations of the Clean Air Act at a meat processing facility in Manchester, New Hampshire. EPA is seeking a civil penalty of $35,387. Tyson Foods has owned the Manchester facility since September 2001. The facility, which Tyson Foods closed in February 2004, used anhydrous ammonia as a refrigerant in its meat processing systems. Anhydrous ammonia is a regulated toxic substance under various federal environmental statutes and is considered extremely hazardous under the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act.

July 13
EPA Seeks Public Input on Re-evaluation of Water Quality Criteria for Ammonia
EPA has announced its intention to re-evaluate current water quality criteria for ammonia to determine whether the criteria should be revised to reflect new toxicity data. The Agency also seeks additional data on the acute or chronic toxicity of ammonia to aquatic life, and scientific views on the interpretation of data that might help with the re-evaluation. Scientific information should be submitted before August 9, 2004.

July 8
EPA Fines Arizona Company $4,400 for Pesticide Violations
EPA has fined Gowan Milling of Yuma, Arizona, $4,400 for allegedly failing to submit 2003 pesticide reports, a violation of the federal pesticide law. Under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, companies must annually report pesticide production to EPA by March 1. Production records provide information on the quantities of pesticides produced and distributed.

EPA Fines Two Southern California Pesticide Companies
EPA has fined two California businesses a total of $9,900 for allegedly failing to submit 2003 pesticide reports, a violation of the federal pesticide law. Dunhill Chemical Company of Azusa was fined $4,400. OPI Products of North Hollywood was fined $5,500. "Companies must report their pesticide production in a timely manner," said Enrique Manzanilla, EPA's Cross Media Division director for the Pacific Southwest region. "The EPA uses these reports to track pesticides and ensure safe management and distribution."

Pesticide Registration Requests, Actions, and Tolerance Updates

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July 7
EPA Modifies Terms of Chlorpyrifos-methyl Cancellation
EPA is modifying the terms of the voluntary cancellation notice published in the Federal Register on April 24, 2002, for three pesticide products containing the active ingredient chlorpyrifos-methyl, based on data received from the registrants and comments and information received from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). EPA proposes to extend the effective cancellation for two products (Gustafson Reldan 4E Insecticide, registration number 7501-41, and Reldan 4E, registration number 62719-43) to December 31, 2004. The technical registration Reldan F Insecticidal, registration number 62719-42, will be maintained. The cancellations are effective on December 31, 2004, unless the Agency receives a written withdrawal request on or before January 3, 2005. The Agency will consider withdrawal requests postmarked no later than January 3, 2005. Users of these products who desire continued use should contact the applicable registrant on or before January 3, 2005.

July 2
EPA Invites Comments on Revised Risk Assessments for Thiram
This notice announces the availability of human health and environmental risk assessments and related documents for the pesticide thiram. This notice also starts a 60-day public comment period during which the public is encouraged to submit comments on EPA's preliminary assessment of benefits of thiram and risk management ideas or proposals for thiram. Comments, identified by docket ID number OPP-2004-0183, must be received on or before August 31, 2004.

July 1
New Regulations Finalized To Improve Water Quality at Fish Farms
On June 30, EPA finalized a new rule establishing regulations for concentrated aquatic animal production (CAAP), or farm-raised fish facilities. The regulation will apply to approximately 245 facilities that generate wastewater from their operations and discharge that wastewater directly into waters of the United States. This rule will help reduce discharges of conventional pollutants, primarily total suspended solids. It will also help reduce non-conventional pollutants such as nutrients. In January 1992, EPA agreed to a settlement with the Natural Resources Defense Council and others in a consent decree that established a schedule by which EPA would consider regulations for 19 industrial categories. EPA selected the CAAP industry for one of those rules. Issuance of this rule completes all regulations addressed under the settlement agreement.

Pesticide Registration Requests, Actions, and Tolerance Updates

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