Pesticide Safety Advisory In light of recent events, the Office of Pesticide Programs of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is coordinating with other EPA programs in an effort to encourage all pesticide industry organizations and facilities to review existing security measures. As a precaution during this heightened state of alert, EPA is reaching out to those who manufacture, reformulate, sell, distribute, transport, store, or apply (aerially or by ground equipment) hazardous pesticides, urging everyone to be especially vigilant regarding the physical security of those pesticides and the equipment used in their application. EPA recommends that all pesticide industry establishments review EPA's Chemical Safety Alert entitled: "Chemical Accident Prevention: Site Security," published by EPA on February 2000 and available on the EPA Web ' site at: www.epa.gov/swercepp/p-small.htm#alerts. This Safety Alert focuses primarily on the chemical industry; however, it discusses several issues relevant to security in all types of pesticide establishments and facilities. Attached is a summary of the Chemical Safety Alert which has been tailored to the pesticide industry. For transporters, DOT has produced a separate advisory which is available by contacting DOT at 202-366-6525. The FBI requests that you expeditiously report any threats or suspicious behavior to your local FBI field office. If you have questions regarding this advisory, please contact Dennis Deziel of EPA's Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances at 202-260-2913. Questions regarding EPA's Chemical Safety Alert should be directed to George Hull of EPA's Office of Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention at 202-564-9469. *Please Note: Since publishing the attached Pesticide Alert, EPA has learned that the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has removed its document entitled "Industrial Chemicals and Terrorism: Human Health Threat Analysis and Prevention," from the Web. For more information on obtaining a copy of this document, please contact ATSDR at 404-498-0070. ------- ------- |