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/.



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