EPA Pesticide Program Updates

EPA Pesticide Program Updates
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http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/
 May 28, 2014
In This Update:

*1). EPA Solicits Comments on Information Collection Activities Relating to Pesticide Drift Reduction Technologies*

*2). EPA Solicits Proposals to Implement the Pesticide Regulatory Education Program for Fiscal Years 2015 Through* *2019*

EPA Solicits Comments on Information Collection  Activities Relating to Pesticide Drift Reduction Technologies 

The EPA is continuing its efforts to collect information about application technologies that can reduce pesticide spray drift. Through a Federal Register Notice, we are requesting public input on the information collection activities for our Drift Reduction Technology (DRT) Program and announcing that the required Information Collection Request (ICR) has been sent to the Office of Management and Budget for approval. 

The EPA is seeking voluntary submission of information to verify the effectiveness of application technologies for agricultural pesticide sprays, including spray nozzles, shrouds or shields, and drift reducing adjuvant chemicals for aerial or groundboom applications to row and field crops. Such information would encourage the identification and use of drift-reduction technologies that can substantially reduce drift of pesticide spray droplets from the target application site (e.g., a corn field) downwind to non-target areas. 

Use of some existing agricultural pesticide spray application equipment and related technologies can result in 1-10 percent of the applied spray drifting to down-wind areas (spray drift). Pesticide drift is a concern for the agricultural industry, regulatory authorities and the public.  It is in everyone’s interest to reduce pesticide drift: the applicator who wants to reduce waste of the pesticide product, the grower who wants the pesticide on the intended target and bystanders who want to avoid exposure to pesticides.  

The ICR is required for the EPA to be able to collect information about application technologies. Once the ICR is approved, the voluntary DRT program will provide incentives to the agricultural sector (industry and pesticide applicators) to manufacture, market and use spray application technologies/equipment, that has been verified to significantly reduce pesticide spray drift.   

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, before submitting a request for a new Information Collection Request to the Office of Management and Budget for review and approval, the EPA is soliciting comments from potentially affected entities on specific aspects of the proposed information collection. Entities potentially affected by the voluntary collection activities under this ICR include pesticide application equipment manufacturers, chemical manufacturers, pesticide registrants, university researchers and others who have an interest in reducing spray drift. 

The ICR and supporting documents, including a protocol for testing technologies and a draft Web page, are available for public review and comment in docket  EPA-HQ-OPP-2012-0631 [ http://www.regulations.gov/!docketDetail;D=EPA-HQ-OPP-2012-0631 ] at www.regulations.gov [ http://www.regulations.gov/ ]. Comments are due by June 27, 2014 on the supporting materials. 

For more information on pesticide drift, visit: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/spraydrift.htm 

 

EPA Solicits Proposals to Implement the Pesticide Regulatory Education Program for Fiscal Years 2015 through 2019

The EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs, in coordination with the Office of Compliance, posted at Grants.gov [ http://www.grants.gov/ ] a request soliciting proposals from eligible states, tribes, and state and tribal institutions to implement the Pesticide Regulatory Education Program (PREP) for fiscal years 2015 through 2019. 

To implement the program, the EPA expects to provide up to $535,000 annually, depending on the agency’s budget, for a total of five years.  

The EPA must receive proposals through Grants.gov no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on July 7, 2014. For more information on this Request for Proposals, visit:

http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=256011
EPA distributes its Pesticide Program Updates to external stakeholders and citizens who have expressed an interest in the agency's pesticide program activities and decisions. This update service is part of EPA’s continuing effort to improve public access to federal pesticide information. 

For general questions on pesticides and pesticide poisoning prevention, contact the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC), toll-free, at: 1-800-858-7378, by E-mail at npic@ace.orst.edu, or, by visiting their website at: *http://npic.orst.edu* [ http://npic.orst.edu/ ]* *

To report an environmental violation, visit EPA’s website at *http://www.epa.gov/compliance/complaints/index.html* [ http://www.epa.gov/compliance/complaints/index.html ]* *

For information about ongoing activities in the Office of Pesticide Programs, visit our homepage at: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides

Telephone 703-305-5017 or write us directly at Communication Services Branch, Office of Pesticide Programs (7506 P), US Environmental Protection Agency, Ariel Rios Building, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20004-2403.

LDEQ EMERGENCY RESPONSE training

The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) is sponsoring free training sessions that will give you an understanding of LDEQ EMERGENCY RESPONSE. This session will provide an overview of the role and activities handled by the Emergency Response Division including what happens when there’s an emergency situation, LDEQ’s role and response during emergencies, procedures regarding complaint and spill reporting and the Single Point of Contact (SPOC).Please register for one of the sessions below:

• SEPTEMBER 6, 2012, 10AM-11:30AM, LAKE CHARLES

LSU AgCenter, 7101 Gulf Highway, Lake Charles, LA 70607

 If you would like to attend any of these workshops please register online at www.deq.louisiana.gov/enviroschool or fax the attached registration form to (225)325-8222.  If you would like more information please call (225) 219-0877 or visit the ENVIROSCHOOL website at http://www.deq.louisiana.gov/portal/tabid/2601/Default.aspx.

These workshops are free and open to the public, so please forward this to anyone who may be interested. 

We look forward to seeing you.

_____________________________________________________
Tomeka K. Prioleau
Business & Community Outreach Division

Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality
Phone:  225-219-0877

FAX:  225-325-8222

Email: Tomeka.Prioleau@la.gov

Web: www.deq.louisiana.gov

ENVIROSCHOOL is a series of training sessions designed to educate the public and encourage meaningful participation in the regulatory process.  The goal is for the public to become informed participants and skilled on how to access and utilize regulatory information and resources.  If you would like a free ENVIROSCHOOL session presented to your business, group, or organization please contact us for scheduling.

Restoration Scoping for BP Oil Spill Begins

[SGRFP-L] Restoration Scoping for BP Oil Spill Begins
David L Nieland Tue, Feb 22, 2011 at 8:56 AM
Reply-To: David L Nieland To: SGRFP-L@listserv.lsu.edu
NOAA and other federal and state agencies announced that they are initiating a restoration scoping process for the Deepwater BP oil spill. This is a key step in the ongoing Natural Resource Damage Assessment for the spill.
The restoration scoping process will allow NOAA and other federal and state agencies to take a comprehensive look at the types of restoration that may be required to offset potential impacts from the spill on habitat, fish, wildlife, and human use of those resources.
To organize the restoration scoping process and satisfy various legal mandates, the agencies will use a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement, or PEIS. The PEIS will serve as the core restoration planning document to offset impacts from the BP spill. It will also analyze potential environmental effects associated with implementation of the proposed restoration alternatives.
Restoration Planting
Through the process, you will have the chance to give us your ideas on what types of projects are important to restore the affected resources after the spill. You can make your voice heard by attending public meetings, or by submitting a comment or project idea. Comments can be submitted in person at a meeting, online, or by mail. All of your comments will be reviewed by NOAA and the other agencies as we develop a restoration plan for the Gulf.
Meeting dates and cities have been announced, with information about venues and times to come soon. Stay up-to-date with the latest on the NRDA process by joining our online mailing list and subscribing to our RSS feed.
Got this e-mail as a forward? Subscribe to our e-mail list and directly receive updates about the Natural Resource Damage Assessment process.
See http://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/

Draft national aquaculture policies for public comment

Commerce and NOAA to Release Draft Aquaculture Policies on Feb. 9; Informational Briefings for the Public Set for Feb. 9, 16, and 23

The U.S. Department of Commerce and NOAA are releasing complementary draft national aquaculture policies for public comment on Feb 9, after 9 a.m. (Eastern). The policies and online comment forms will be available via the NOAA Aquaculture Program website on Feb. 9 at: http://aquaculture.noaa.gov. NOAA will be seeking public comment on the draft policies for the next 60 days.

Also, at 4:30 p.m. (Eastern) on Feb. 9, NOAA is hosting a national constituent call-in. The call is free and open to the public. Please pass this information along to your colleagues and others in your network. The call-in number and pass code for the Feb. 9th call are:

Call-in number: 800-779-1537
Passcode: Aquaculture

NOAA will also host additional national call-ins to brief the public on the two policies on Feb. 16 and Feb. 23. More information on those call-ins will be available on the website along with copies of the draft policies and online comment forms: http://aquaculture.noaa.gov.

The draft policies respond to public input submitted to NOAA during 2010 - e.g., by emphasizing the protection of wild species, and acknowledging the importance of sound science for management decisions.

The draft Commerce policy focuses on sustainable aquaculture within the context of the key Commerce goals of encouraging economic growth and employment opportunities in the United States and of enhancing U.S. competitiveness in, and exports to, global markets.

The intent of NOAA's draft policy is to guide NOAA's actions and decisions on aquaculture and to provide a national approach for supporting sustainable commercial production, expanding restoration aquaculture, and researching and developing new technologies.

For more information, contact Kate Naughten at Kate.Naughten@noaa.gov or go to the website, http://aquaculture.noaa.gov.