IN THIS EPA UPDATE

Click Here to Add Comment

Previous Current Articles Next

        Subject:     IN THIS EPA UPDATE
            Date:     Sun, 19 Jan 2003 14:03:31 -0500
           From:     Stephen Tvedten <steve@getipm.com>
Organization:     Get Set Inc. (www.getipm.com)

To:     Paul Helliker <phelliker@cdpr.ca.gov>
          Director, State of California, Department of Pesticide Regulation 

cc:    Christine Whitman whitman.christine@epa.gov

IN THIS EPA UPDATE:

1)    FY 2003 Environmental Education Grant Program

2)    Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Grant Program

3)    Pesticide Federal Register Items for the Week of January 13-17, 2003

**************************************

1)    FY 2003 Environmental Education Grant Program

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is accepting applications for grants that can be used to fund innovative ways to educate the public about the environment. EPA funds environmental education projects that focus on educating teachers, students or the general public about human health problems from environmental pollution; improving teaching skills for educators, typically through workshops; building state or local capability to develop and deliver environmental education programs; or promoting environmental careers among students. The program also encourages projects that educate members of a community through a community-based organization, or educate the general public through print, film, broadcast, or other media to be more environmentally conscious and make environmentally more responsible decisions. Schools, universities, not-for-profit organizations, tribal education agencies, and state and local governments are all eligible to apply for the grants. Applications fall into two categories: nationally significant projects costing more than $25,000, and local efforts costing less than $25,000. Grants for the larger amounts are issued by EPA headquarters, while the smaller grants are issued by EPA's regional offices. The EPA gives special encouragement to local efforts, according to Sally Hanft of EPA's regional environmental education program in Seattle. "Often the catalyst for learning about the environment occurs at the community level," said Hanft. "Teachers, environmental professionals, and even scout leaders often have wonderful ideas to raise awareness about environmental issues. With a little community support and some funding from EPA, they turn those ideas into an educational experience." Awarding of the grants is contingent on securing the necessary funding from Congress. Because the fiscal year 2003 budget has not been completed, EPA is not sure how many grants it will be able to issue. Applications for the next round of grants must be postmarked by February 14. More information about the grant program and application forms are available at: http://www.epa.gov/enviroed/grants.html

**************************************

2)    Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Grant Program

The National Foundation for Integrated Pest Management Education (NFIPME) has announced the call for proposals for FY 2003 PESP grants. Proposals must be received at the NFIPME offices by January 31, 2003. The review and selection timing is dependent upon when funds are made available to the National Foundation for IPM PESP Grant Program. Projects must have measurable goals and outcomes and should focus on one of the following areas:

  1. outreach, communications, technology transfer, and information networks to promote use of reduced-risk pest control methods, etc;
  2. promoting use of bio-pesticides and reduced-risk pesticides;
  3. IPM in schools; and
  4. development of measurements to enhance the ability of IPM practitioners to measure the effectiveness of reduced risk-pest management techniques.

Grants will reimburse up to $40,000 of project costs.

A minimum of $266,000 is expected to be available. EPA provides funding to NFIPME through a cooperative agreement, and NFIPME awards and manages PESP grants. More information about the grant program and application forms are available at: www.ipm-education.org/grantinfomenunew.htm

*************************************

3)    Pesticide Federal Register Items for the Week of January 13-17, 2003

The Office of Pesticide Programs published the following eight items in the Federal Register during the past week:

[No items are scheduled for publication on January 17th.)

Title: Exemption from the Requirement of a Tolerance for Propanoic Acid, and its Calcium and Sodium Salts
Date of publication: January 13, 2003
Citation: Volume 68, Number 8, Page 1575-1580 [http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/2003/January/Day-13/p615.htm]
Purpose: This document proposes to establish an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of propanoic acid and its calcium and sodium salts when used as either an inert or active ingredient in pesticide formulations that are applied to growing crops or raw agricultural commodities (RAC) before or after harvest, and for pesticide formulations that are applied to animals. This document also proposes to reorganize the existing tolerance exemptions for propanoic acid and its salts.
Chemical(s): Propanoic Acid, and its Calcium and Sodium Salts
Comments: Comments, identified by docket ID number OPP-2002-0346, must be received on or before March 14, 2003.
Contact: Treva Alston, Registration Division (7505C); telephone number: (703) 308-8373 and e-mail address: alston.treva@epa.gov.*

Title: Pesticide Petition Filed to Establish a Tolerance for Modified Acrylic Polymer in or on Food
Date of publication: January 14, 2003
Citation: Volume 68, Number 9, Page 1846-1849 [http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/2003/January/Day-14/p739.htm]
Purpose: EPA has received a pesticide petition from Alco Chemical, 909 Mueller Drive, Chattanooga, TN 37406-0401, proposing to revise an existing exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for modified acrylic polymers located in 40 CFR 180.960.
Chemical(s): Modified Acrylic Polymer
Comments: Comments, identified by docket ID number OPP-2002-0359, must be received on or before February 13, 2003.
Contact: Treva C. Alston, Registration Division (7505C); telephone number: (703) 308-8373; e-mail address: alston.treva@epa.gov.*

Title: Pesticide Petition Filed to Establish a Tolerance for Fluroxypyr in or on Food
Date of publication: January 15, 2003
Citation: Volume 68, Number 10, Page 2027-2032 [http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/2003/January/Day-15/p848.htm]
Purpose: EPA has received a pesticide petition from Dow AgroSciences, 9330 Zionsville Road, Indianapolis, IN 46268, proposing to amend 40 CFR part 180 by establishing tolerances for combined residues of fluroxypyr 1-methylheptyl ester [1-methylheptyl ((4-amino-3,5-dicloro-6-fluoro-2-pyridinyl)oxy)acetate or fluroxypyr MHE] and its metabolite fluroxypyr [((4-amino-3,5-dichloro-6-fluoro-2-pyridinyl)oxy)acetic acid], free and conjugated, all expressed as fluroxypyr, in or on the following raw agricultural commodities at 0.02 parts per million (ppm) for kernels plus cob with husk removed, and 1.0 ppm for forage. Tolerances for residues of fluroxypyr MHE in or on field corn are being proposed as follows: grain, 0.02 ppm; forage, 1.0 ppm; and stover, 0.5 ppm. Tolerances for residues of fluroxypyr MHE in or on sorghum as follows: sorghum grain, 0.02 ppm; sorghum forage, 2.0 ppm; sorghum stover, 4.0 ppm. Tolerances for residues of fluroxypyr MHE in or on grasses as follows: grass forage, 120 ppm; grass hay, 160 ppm; and grass silage, 100 ppm. Based on the above tolerances and an animal feeding study, increased tolerances are also proposed for fluroxypyr MHE and fluroxypyr, expressed as combined residues of total fluroxypyr, in or on the following animal commodities: milk of cattle, goats, hogs, horses and sheep, 0.3 ppm; and kidney of cattle, goats, hogs, horses and sheep, 1.5 ppm.
Chemical(s): Fluroxypyr
Comments: Comments, identified by docket ID number OPP-2002-0339, must be received on or before February 14, 2003.
Contact: Joanne I. Miller, Registration Division (7505C), Office of Pesticide Programs, telephone number: (703) 305-6224; e-mail address: miller.joanne@epa.gov.*

Title: Pesticide Petition Filed to Establish a Tolerance for Bifenazate in or on Food
Date of publication: January 15, 2003 Citation: Volume 68, Number 10, Page 2032-2036 [http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/2003/January/Day-15/p850.htm]
Purpose: EPA has received a pesticide petition (3E6517) from the Interregional Research Project Number (IR-4), 681 U.S. Hwy. #1 South, North Brunswick, NJ 08902 proposing to amend 40 CFR 180.572 by establishing tolerances for residues of bifenazate, (diazinecarboxylic acid, 2-(4-methoxy-[1,1'-biphenyl]-3-yl),1-methylethylester) in or on the following raw agricultural commodities (RACs): Vegetable, cucurbit, group at 0.6 part per million (ppm); vegetable, fruiting, group at 2.0 ppm; peppermint, tops at 25 ppm; spearmint, tops at 25 ppm; nut, tree, group at 0.2 ppm; almond, hulls at 10 ppm; okra at 2.0 ppm; and pistachio at 0.2 ppm.
Chemical(s): Bifenazate
Comments: Comments, identified by docket ID number OPP-2002-0356, must be received on or before February 14, 2003.
Contact: Shaja R. Brothers, Registration Division (7505C); telephone number: (703) 308-3194; e-mail address: brothers.shaja@epa.gov.*

Title: Tolerance Reassessment Eligibility Decision Documents for Asulam Available for Comment
Date of publication: January 15, 2003
Citation: Volume 68, Number 10, Page 2022-2025 [http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/2003/January/Day-15/p849.htm]
Purpose: This notice announces availability and starts a 60-day public comment period on the Tolerance Reassessment Eligibility Decision (TRED) documents for the pesticide active ingredient asulam. See for the TRED. The TRED represents EPA's formal regulatory assessment of the human health data base of the subject chemical and presents the Agency's determination regarding which pesticidal uses are eligible for reregistration.
Chemical(s): Asulam
Comments: Comments, identified by docket ID number OPP-2002-0329, must be received on or before March 17, 2003.
Contact: Demson Fuller, Chemical Review Manager, Special Review and Reregistration Division (7508C); telephone number: (703) 308-8062; e-mail address: fuller.demson@epamail.epa.gov.*

Title: Requests Received to Voluntarily Cancel Registrations of Bis(Tributyltin) Oxide and Tributyltin Methacrylate Products
Date of publication: January 15, 2003
Citation: Volume 68, Number 10, Page 2025-2026 [http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/2003/January/Day-15/p613.htm]
Purpose: International Paint Inc. and Hempel Coatings (USA), Inc. have submitted requestes to voluntarily cancel registrations of three antifouling paint products containing tributyltin compounds.
Chemical(s): Bis(Tributyltin) Oxide and Tributyltin Methacrylate
Comments: Comments must be received on or before February 14, 2003, identified by docket number OPP-2002-0246.
Contact: Jill Bloom, Special Review and Reregistration Division (7508C); telephone (703) 308-8019; e-mail: bloom.jill@epa.gov.*

Title: Report of the FQPA Tolerance Reassessment Progress and Risk Management Decision (TRED) for Primisulfuron-methyl is Available
Date of publication: January 15, 2003
Citation: Volume 68, Number 10, Page 2036-2037 [http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/2003/January/Day-15/p630.htm] Purpose: This notice announces the availability of the "Report of the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) Tolerance Reassessment Progress and Risk Management Decision (TRED) for Primisulfuron-methyl." EPA has reassessed the 24 tolerances, or legal limits, established for residues of primisulfuron-methyl in/on raw agricultural commodities. These tolerances are now considered safe under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, as amended by the FQPA of 1996. The TRED is available at http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/reregistration/status.htm
Chemical(s): Primisulfuron-methyl
Comments: EPA works extensively with affected parties to reach the tolerance reassessment decisions presented in TREDs. Therefore, the Agency is issuing the primisulfuron-methyl TRED as a final decision without a formal public comment period. The docket number for this action is OPP-2002-0163.
Contact: Christina Scheltema, Special Review and Reregistration Division (7508C); telephone number: (703) 308-2201; fax number: (703) 308-8005; e-mail address: .*

Title: Extension of Tolerances for Emergency Exemptions (Multiple Chemicals)
Date of publication: January 16, 2003
Citation: Volume 68, Number 11, Page 2242-2247 [http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/2003/January/Day-16/p969.htm]
Purpose: This regulation extends time-limited tolerances for the pesticides listed in the Federal Register notice. These actions are in response to EPA's granting of emergency exemptions under section 18 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act authorizing use of these pesticides.
Chemical(s): Sodium chlorate, Zinc phosphide, Fenhexamid, N-(4-fluorophenyl)-N-(1-methylethyl)-2-[[5-(trifluoromethyl) -1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl]oxy]acetamide, Bifenthrin, Tebufenozide, Lambda-cyhalothrin, Sulfentrazone, Spinosad, 2,4-D, Mancozeb
Comments: This regulation is effective January 16, 2003. Objections and requests for hearings, identified by docket ID number OPP-2002-0336, must be received by EPA on or before February 18, 2003.
Contact: See the table in the Federal Register notice for the name of a specific contact person. The following information applies to all contact persons: Emergency Response Team, Registration Division (7505C); e-mail address: Sec-18-Mailbox@epamail.epa.gov.*

* Mailing address for all listed staff: Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460

Well Mr. Helliker, You (and/or the EPA) do not need to send me any money but, I have posted two free chapters on Lice and Mosquitoes and a free pest control book on the web that uses safe and far more effective (IPM) alternatives, it is entitled: THE BUG STOPS HERE. You (and/or the EPA or anyone) can download it for free at: http://www.thebestcontrol.com.

Have a great day! Steve

If you would like to be included in our mailing list for continuing information on pesticides, please email us at list@safe2use.com.


Nontoxic Products Recommended by Steve Tvedten

Now Available
Safe 2 Use Products and Services