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Pesticide News Story: EPA Announces Availability of Reregistration Eligibility Decision for Soil Fumigant Pesticides
For Release: July 17, 2008
Following up on a July 10th announcement that these pesticides are subject to new safety measures, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the availability of Reregistration Eligibility Decisions (REDs) for the soil fumigant pesticides chloropicrin, dazomet, metam sodium/potassium, and methyl bromide and opening a public comment period through September 15, 2008 on these RED documents. Soil fumigants are used to kill soil-borne pests in many crops, including primarily potatoes, tomatoes, strawberries carrots, and peppers.
EPA has determined that the soil fumigants are eligible for reregistration, with risk mitigation measures that are designed to work together to increase protections for agricultural workers and bystanders. EPA is requesting comment on implementation of these risk mitigation measures, which are described on the fumigants Web page. The implementation of risk mitigation measures, which will be reflected on the product labels, is not anticipated to occur until 2010.
EPA reviewed the soil fumigants together as a group to ensure that similar risk assessment tools and methods were used for all, and risk management approaches were consistent.
For additional information or to find out how to provide comments, see the EPA Federal Register notice or visit on EPA's soil fumigants Web page. Comments will be accepted on implementation of the risk mitigation measures in EPA’s soil fumigant risk management decisions until September 15, 2008.
For general information contact John Leahy, by mail at: Special Review and Reregistration Division (7508P), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; by phone at: (703) 305-6703; by fax at: (703) 308-8090; or by e-mail John Leahy (leahy.john @epa.gov).