[Pollinator] PESP newsletter

[Kimberly Winter]

>From NAPPC Partner Sherry Glick (EPA):

Pollinators are highlighted twice on the front page of this November issue 
of the PESP newsletter.  Also, note the announcement about the IPM 
conference scheduled for April, 2006:

PESP EXCHANGE
November 2005

The monthly electronic update from
EPA’s Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program

AGRICULTURAL NEWS
"Crop Insurance: Actions Needed to Reduce Program's Vulnerability to Fraud, 
Waste, and Abuse" is the title of a September 30 Government Accountability 
Office Report [GAO-05-528] which was released on November 1 and which is 
posted at http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-05-528

Bigger Butterfly Migration This Year
Wildlife officials say good weather should bring a surge in the number of 
monarch butterflies migrating to Mexico this year, after last year's cold 
resulted in the lowest numbers in more than a decade.  
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N20410944.htm

Almond Growers' Nightmare
California's almond farmers -- who grow 80 percent of the world's almond 
supply and 100 percent of the nation's almond crop -- can't seem to plant 
new trees fast enough. The price of the popular nuts is getting to be in the 
neighborhood of $3 per pound at harvest, up from 80 cents in 1999 and $2.30 
last year. As a result, farmers are bailing out of cotton (65 cents to $1.30 
per pound), peaches and other less rewarding and more labor-intensive 
commodities.  But just when it was looking almost too good to be true for 
California's 5,500 almond growers, who produced a harvest in the last two 
years valued at $2.2 billion, trouble has arrived. The almond business could 
be undermined if there are not enough bees out there to pollinate the trees 
each spring.  Almonds depend entirely on honeybees for pollination, and bee 
colonies are increasingly being killed or weakened by the parasitic Varroa 
mite. The pest has developed resistance to chemical treatments that have 
controlled it successfully since it made its way to California in the 
mid-1980s. Today, there are slightly more than 2 million bee colonies in the 
nation -- a half million of them in California -- down from about 8 million 
in 1960.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/11/25/BUGGNFSPMU1.DTL

“Americans’ Knowledge of Genetically Modified Foods” poll results were 
released on November 15 by the PEW Initiative on Food and Biotechnology 
(PIFB).  According to the news release issued by PIFB,  “Americans' 
Knowledge of Genetically Modified Foods Remains Low; Majority Are Skeptical 
About Animal Cloning; New Poll Reveals U.S. Consumers Believe Ethical and 
Moral Considerations Should Be Part of the U.S. Government's Regulation of 
Genetically Modified and Cloned Animals.  See the complete text at 
http://pewagbiotech.org/newsroom/releases/111505.php3  or a summary at
http://pewagbiotech.org/research/2005update/


Office of Pesticide Program NEWS

The U.S.EPA/OPP Pesticide Product Database, formerly available through the 
California Department of Pesticide Regulation, will now be available through 
Purdue University’s Center for Environmental Regulatory Information Services 
at http://ppis.ceris.purdue.edu/.
EPA Electronic Dockets Move to new Federal-wide Electronic Docket System:  
EDOCKET, is being replaced by an enhanced federal government-wide electronic 
docket management and comment system, the Federal Docket Management System 
(FDMS). This new system provides public access to federal regulatory 
information by providing a one-stop, Internet site for the public to search, 
view, download, and submit comments on all federal rulemakings and selected 
non-rulemaking materials. After EPA completes the transition to the 
federal-wide system, go to www.regulations.gov to access EPA dockets. Using 
the "advanced docket search" option, first narrow your search by selecting 
"EPA" under the "Agency" field, and then you can locate the EPA docket using 
the Docket ID number identified in the relevant Federal Register document, 
as well as other key information. Follow the on-line instructions to access 
this docket, view documents in the docket, and/or submit comments.
Dockets published in the Federal Register and open for public comment are 
listed below:

Pyrazon  This notice announces the availability of EPA's Reregistration 
Eligibility Decision (RED) for the pesticide pyrazon, and opens a public 
comment period on this document.  Docket No. OPP-2004-0381; closes 12/12/05

Thidiazuron  This notice announces the availability of EPA's RED for the 
pesticide thidiazuron, and opens a public comment period on this document. 
Docket No. OPP-2004-0382; closes 12/16/05

Tau-fluvalinate This notice announces the availability of EPA's RED for the 
pesticide tau-fluvalinate, and opens a public comment period on this 
document, related risk assessments, and other support documents. Docket No. 
OPP-2005-0230; closes 12/16/05

Propylene Oxide  This notice announces the availability of EPA's human 
health risk assessment and related documents for the insecticidal fumigant 
pesticide propylene oxide (PPO), and opens a public comment period on these 
documents. , Docket No. OPP-2005-0253; closes 1/06/06

Ethofumesate  This notice announces the availability of EPA's RED for the 
pesticide ethofumesate, and opens a public comment period on this document. 
, Docket No. OPP-2004-0346; closes 1/09/06

Dicloran This notice announces the availability of EPA's risk assessment(s), 
and related        documents for the nitroanaline pesticide dicloran, and 
opens a public comment period on these documents. , Docket No. 
OPP-2005-0265; closes 1/17/06


URBAN/COMMUNITY NEWS

US Army Program Reduces Children’s Pesticide Exposure
Eight Department of Defense (DoD) Education Activity Schools and two Army 
Child Development Centers (CDCs) at Fort Campbell were presented with the 
IPM Institute of North America’s Star Certification in a ceremony at the 
installation on November 4, 2005.  The certification represents an honor 
culminating more than 20 years of Army efforts to integrate sound pest 
management policies and practices at its installations.  Fort Campbell is 
the second Army installation to receive the stringent certification.   For 
more information on IPM STAR and this press release, visit: 
ipminstitute.org/ipmstar


West Nile Virus (WNV) has become a major public health concern in North 
America since 1999 when the first outbreak in the Western Hemisphere 
occurred in New York City. A recent study found that the risks from WNV 
exceed the risks from exposure to mosquito insecticides.  For more 
information on this study,  
http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/docs/2005/8667/abstract.html


Is it a "spider bite" or a staph infection?  A CDC poster was developed for 
health problems associated with Hurricane Katrina:
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/katrina/pdf/skininfection-spider.pdf

Children’s Environmental Health Excellence Awards
EPA’s Office of Children’s Health Protection at the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency is pleased to be accepting applications for the 2006 
Children’s Environmental Health Excellence Awards. The awards are designed 
to increase awareness, stimulate activity, and recognize efforts that 
protect children from environmental health risks at the local, regional, 
national, and international level.
Applications are due December 15, 2005, and an awards ceremony will be held 
for the winners in Washington, D.C., in spring 2006. To download an 
application go to
http://yosemite.epa.gov/ochp/ochpweb.nsf/content/news2.htm#cehawards.  For 
further information or to receive a hard copy of the application, call 
202-564-2188.

EPA Gives $1 Million in Grants to Improve Children's Environmental Health
EPA awarded seven grants totaling $1,042,152 to help increase the number of 
physicians, nurses and public health workers able to address the broad 
spectrum of children's environmental health issues, whether in their private 
practices, in the institutions which they work, in academia, or in their 
communities. There is a wide range of multi-state, national and 
international projects funded.  Details on each separate grant are available 
at
http://yosemite.epa.gov/ochp/ochpweb.nsf/content/building2005.htm


FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Northeastern Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Center has announced the 
availability of funding through its IPM Partnership Grants Program for 2006 
(FY 2005 federal funds). A Request for Applications (RFA) is posted on the 
Center's website at http://northeastipm.org/abou_fund.cfm

USDA CSREES Seeks Organic Agriculture Research Applications  On November 4, 
the USDA Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service  
(CSREES) announced that research grant funding applications are due by Dec 
20, 2005 in the CSREES Organic Transitions and Organic Agriculture Research 
and Extension Initiative (OREI).  The Agency has $4.7 million in available 
grant funds for the program for award to nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, 
institutions of higher education, for profit organizations, including small 
businesses and others.  CSREES notes that " ... applications for the 
Integrated Organic Program for fiscal year (FY) 2006 to solve critical 
organic agriculture issues, priorities, or problems through the integration 
of research, education, and extension activities in two program areas: (1) 
Organic Transitions Program (ORG); and (2) Organic Agriculture Research and 
Extension Initiative (OREI). ORG funds the development and implementation of 
research, extension and higher education programs to improve the 
competitiveness of organic producers. OREI funds research and extension 
programs that enhance the ability of producers and processors who have 
already adopted organic standards to grow and market high quality organic 
food, feed, and fiber ..." More information at 
http://www.fedgrants.gov/Applicants/USDA/CSREES/OEP/USDA-GRANTS-110405-001/Grant.html

Indoor Environments: Reducing Public Exposure to Indoor Pollutants

EPA seeks applications from eligible entities for projects to support 
demonstration, training, outreach and/or education cooperative agreements 
that reduce exposure to indoor air pollutants and yield measurable 
environmental outcomes.  The RFA (EPA-OAR-IED-05-21) closes on  December 12, 
2005  Details are at: http://www.epa.gov/oar/grants/05-21.pdf

Grant.gov  allows organizations to electronically find and apply for 
competitive grant opportunities from all Federal grant-making agencies. 
Grants.gov is THE single access point for over 1000 grant programs offered 
by the 26 Federal grant-making agencies.

Indoor Environments: Reducing Public Exposure to Indoor Pollutants Funding 
#: EPA-OAR-IED-05-21 CFDA #: 66.034

National Programs to Build the Capacity for Societal Institutions that 
Influence Youth Behavior Funding #: CDC-RFA-DP06-601 CFDA #: 93.938

Integrated Research, Education, and Extension Competitive Grants Program - 
National Integrated Food Safety Initiative Funding #: USDA-GRANTS-110405-002 
CFDA #: 10.303

Integrated Organic Program Funding #: USDA-GRANTS-110405-001 CFDA #: 10.303

Regional Priorities Grant Program Funding #: EPA-R8-2006-001 CFDA #: 66.424


OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Fifth National IPM Symposium, "Delivering on a Promise," will be held in 
St. Louis, MO on April 4-6, 2006 at the Adams Mark Hotel. Symposium sessions 
will address state of the art strategies and technologies to successfully 
solve pest problems in agricultural, recreational, natural and community 
settings in a way that makes sense.  Poster abstracts should be submitted 
online at http://www.ipmcenters.org/ipmsymposiumv/ by December 16, 2005.   
To receive future notices about the symposium, send your e-mail address to 
ipmsymposium at ad.uiuc.edu    For information on lodging and accommodations, 
visit the Adams Mark Hotel website at 
http://www.adamsmark.com/stlouis/index.asp:

2006 National Environmental Partnership Summit: "Stewardship in Action: Our 
Responsibility – Our Environment"; May 8-11, 2006; Sheraton Atlanta Hotel - 
Atlanta, GA  During four days of interactive sessions, workshops and site 
visits, environmental assistance policy-makers, providers and recipients 
will explore stewardship activities in pollution prevention, compliance 
assistance, and performance based environmental leadership. Attendees will 
examine partnering, science and systems-based approaches, multi-media and 
'whole toolbox' strategies, measurement, transferability, sustainability and 
more in the context of a vision of stewardship.  Join your colleagues for 
the third annual National Environmental Partnership Summit - dedicated to 
and created by individuals who inspire, lead, fund, create, deliver, and 
receive environmental assistance. Be inspired as you renew and create 
relationships with as many as 800 environmental leaders and innovators from 
all over the country.   For more information, see 
www.environmentalsummit.org
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The PESP Exchange is a monthly electronic update of activities and available 
funding opportunities.  If you have something you would like mentioned in 
the Exchange, or have questions or comments regarding its contents, please 
contact the editor, Sherry Glick  (glick.sherry at epa.gov  702-784-8276).






~Kim

Kimberly Winter, Ph.D.
Coordinator, North American Pollinator Protection Campaign
E-mail: NAPPCoordinator at hotmail.com
Internet: www.nappc.org
Ph: (301) 219-7030

Mailing Address:
0105"B" Cole Student Activities Bldg
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742-1026

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