Office of Pesticide Programs (7506P) March 2012
EPA 735-F-12-006
\5rCr^r\ Soil Fumigant Mitigation Factsheet:
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Requirements
for Buffer Zones
EPA is requiring important new safety measures for soil fumigant pesticides to increase protections
for agricultural workers and bystanders ~ people who live, work, or otherwise spend time near fields that are
fumigated. These measures are for the soil fumigants chloropicrin, dazomet, metam sodium/potassium, and
methyl bromide.
This fact sheet summarizes new requirements to protect fumigant handlers and other workers from
fumigant exposures. The new Posting Requirements for Buffer Zones are being implemented during the second of
two phases. When new Phase 2 fumigant labels appear in the market place in late 2012, fumigant users will need
to comply with these new requirements.
New Requirements for
Posting Buffer Zones
New Requirements for Posting Buffer Zones
Current soil fumigant labels require treated areas to be posted, and
handlers are required to wear specific personal protective equipment
when they are in a treated area. For buffer zones to be effective,
bystanders need to be informed of the location of the buffer to ensure
they do not enter areas designated as part of the buffer zone. The
perimeter of the fumigant buffer zones must be posted as described
below.
Additional Posting
Requirements
Posting of a buffer zone is required unless there is a physical barrier that
prevents bystander access to the buffer zone.
Additional Posting Requirements
Buffer zone posting signs must:
• Be placed at all usual points of entry and along likely routes of
approach from areas where people who are not under the land
owner's control may approach the buffer zone.
• Some examples of points of entry include, but are not
limited to, roadways, sidewalks, paths, and bike trails.
• Some examples of likely routes of approach are the area
between a buffer zone and a roadway, or the area between
a buffer zone and a housing development.
• The printed side of the sign must face away from the treated area
toward areas from which people could approach.
• Signs must remain legible the entire posting period.
• Signs must be posted no sooner than 24 hours before the start of
the application and remain posted until the buffer zone period
has expired.
• Signs must be removed within three days after the end of the
buffer zone period.
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Additional Posting
Requirements,
continued
Contents of Signs
Buffer Zone Sign
Exception: If multiple contiguous blocks are fumigated within a 14-day
period, the entire periphery of the contiguous blocks' buffer zones may be
posted. Buffer zone signs must be posted no sooner than 24 hours prior to
the start of the first application. The signs must remain posted until the last
buffer zone period expires and signs must be removed within three days
after the buffer zone period for the last block has expired.
Contents of Signs
Signs must meet the general standards outlined in the Worker Protection
Standard (WPS) for sign size, text size and legibility (see 40 CFR
§170.120). Registrants must provide generic buffer zone posting signs that
meet these criteria at points of sale for applicators to use.
Current soil fumigant labels require treated areas to be posted, and handlers
are required to wear specific personal protective equipment when they are
in a treated area.
The buffer zone sign must include the following:
• Do not walk symbol
• "DO NOT ENTER/NO ENTRE,"
• "[Name offumigant] [Name of product] Fumigant BUFFER ZONE,"
• Contact information for the certified applicator in charge of the
fumigation
DO NOT ENTER/
NO ENTRE
FUMIGANT
PRODUCT.
Fumigant BUFFER ZONE
Certified applicator
in charge of the fumigation:
Phone:
Soil Fumigant Mitigation: Posting Requirements for Buffer Zones
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Treated Area Sian ^e treated area sign (currently required for fumigants) must state the
following:
• Skull and crossbones symbol
• "DANGER/PELIGRO,"
• "Area under fumigation, DO NOT ENTER/NO ENTRE,"
• "[Name offumigant] Fumigant in USE,"
• Date and time of fumigation,
• Date and time entry restricted period is over
• Name of the product
• Name, address, and telephone number of the certified applicator in
charge of the fumigation.
DANGER/PELIGRO
AREA UNDER FUMIGATION
FUMIGANT IN USE
START DATE/TIME:.
END DATE/TIME:
PRODUCT:
APPLICATOR CONTACT INFORMATION:
DO NOT ENTER/NO ENTRE
For additional information, please see EPA's Soil Fumigant Toolbox, www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/reregistration/soiMlimigants/.
Soil Fumigant Mitigation: Posting Requirements for Buffer Zones 3
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