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<div class=Section1>
<p><b><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</span></font></b><br>
<br>
<br>
<b><font size=6 face=Arial><span style='font-size:24.0pt;font-family:Arial;
font-weight:bold'>EPA Launches Protection Team to Explore Widespread Bee Deaths</span></font></b><br>
<br>
<st1:State w:st="on"><b><font face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial;
font-weight:bold'>WASHINGTON</span></font></b></st1:State><b><font face=Arial><span
style='font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'> – </span></font></b><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>EPA has formed a pollinator
protection team to expand the agency’s inquiry into the possible causes
of declines in pollinators, especially honey bee populations in the <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> The new
multidisciplinary team will address the potential risks that pesticides may
contribute to what is known as colony collapse disorder. </span></font><br>
<br>
<font face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>Although the role that
pesticides play in the phenomenon has not been scientifically established, the
team will explore possible approaches, tools, and resources for reducing the
potential risks of pesticides to pollinators. The team has also developed a
strategic plan that focuses on three main goals for guiding the agency’s
work and direction in protecting pollinators in the years ahead:</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<ul type=disc>
<ul type=disc>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
auto;mso-list:l1 level2 lfo3'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Advancing the agency’s
scientific knowledge and assessment of pesticide risks to pollinators</span></font>
<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
auto;mso-list:l1 level2 lfo3'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Improving risk management
tools for mitigating potential risks to pollinators</span></font> <o:p></o:p></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
auto;mso-list:l1 level2 lfo3'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Increasing and broadening
EPA’s collaboration and communication with governmental and
non-governmental organizations and the public in addressing pollinator
issues</span></font><o:p></o:p></li>
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</ul>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><br>
</span></font><font face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>EPA has been
working on multiple fronts to protect honey bees through regulatory, voluntary,
and research programs. However, since colony collapse disorder first focused
attention on honey bee declines beginning in 2006, the agency has been
reassessing its approach to pollinator protection.</span></font><br>
<br>
<font face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>More information: </span></font><a
href="http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/ecosystem/pollinator-protection.html"><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/ecosystem/pollinator-protection.html</span></font></a><o:p></o:p></p>
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