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EPA Proposes
New Pesticide Labeling to Control Spray Drift and Protect Human Health
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) has rolled out proposed guidance for new pesticide
labeling to reduce off-target spray and dust drift. The new instructions, when
implemented, will improve the clarity and consistency of pesticide labels and
help prevent harm from spray drift. The agency is also requesting comment on a
petition to evaluate children’s exposure to pesticide drift.
“The new label statements will help reduce problems from pesticide drift,” said
Steve Owens, the assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Prevention,
Pesticides and Toxic Substances. “The new labels will carry more uniform and
specific directions on restricting spray drift while giving pesticide
applicators clear and workable instructions.”
The new instructions will prohibit drift that could cause adverse health or
environmental effects. Also, on a pesticide-by-pesticide basis, EPA will
evaluate scientific information on risk and exposure based on individual product
use patterns. These assessments will help the agency determine whether no-spray
buffer zones or other measures – such as restrictions on droplet or particle
size, nozzle height, or weather conditions – are needed to protect people,
wildlife, water resources, schools and other sensitive sites from potential
harm.
In addition to the draft notice on pesticide-drift labeling, EPA is also seeking
comment on a draft pesticide drift labeling interpretation document that
provides guidance to state and tribal enforcement officials. A second document
provides background information on pesticide drift, a description of current and
planned EPA actions, a reader’s guide explaining key terms and concepts, and
specific questions on which EPA is seeking input. These documents and further
information are available in docket EPA–HQ–OPP–2009–0628 at
www.regulations.gov.
In a second Federal Register notice,
EPA is also requesting comment on a petition filed recently by environmental and
farm worker organizations. The petitioners ask EPA to evaluate children’s
exposure to pesticide drift and to adopt, on an interim basis, requirements for
“no-spray” buffer zones near homes, schools, day-care centers, and parks. EPA
will evaluate this new petition and take whatever action may be appropriate
after the evaluation is complete. For further information and to submit
comments, please see docket EPA-HQ-OPP-2009-0825 at the above website.
For more information, the website
www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/spraydrift.htm has complete
information.
This article is from the
November 4, 2009 Catch the Buzz, the online newsletter of Bee Culture
Magazine.
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