[Pollinator] EPA Rolls out Spray Drift Labeling

[Ladadams at aol.com]

>From Bee Culture 
_http://home.ezezine.com/1636/1636-2009.11.04.15.54.archive.html_ (http://home.ezezine.com/1636/1636-2009.11.04.15.54.archive.html) 
 
EPA Proposes New Pesticide Labeling to  Control Spray Drift and Protect 
Human Health 
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection  Agency 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 _http://www.regulations.gov_ (http://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 _http://www.regulations.gov_ 
(http://www.regulations.gov/)  . 

More  information: 
_http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/spraydrift.htm_ 
(http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/spraydrift.htm)    






Laurie Davies Adams
Executive  Director
Pollinator Partnership 
423 Washington Street, 5th  floor
San Francisco, CA  94111
415-362-1137
LDA at pollinator.org

_www.pollinator.org_ (http://www.pollinator.org/) 

_www.nappc.org_ (http://www.nappc.org/) 

National Pollinator Week is June 21-27, 2010. 
Beecome  involved at _www.pollinator.org_ (http://www.pollinator.org/) 
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