PESPWlRE The Monthly e-Bulletin of PESP | October 2009 ESB National Conference is Almost Two Weeks Away! Please join us for the Environmental Stewardship Branch (ESB) national conference, The New Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program (PESP): Building Stronger Partnerships for Effective Environmental Stewardship. The conference will be held Tuesday, November 17 and Wednesday, November 1 8, 2009 in the ground floor south conference room of EPA Headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. Just Announced! EPA's School 1PM Program Field Trip Following the conference on November 1 8th, 2009, EPA's School IPM Program will lead a school walk-thru at Triangle Tot's, EPA's child development center managed by Bright Horizons, Inc. at the Ronald Regan Building, Washington DC. Along with EPA, Dr. Tom Green, President of the IPM Institute of N.A. and founder of the nationally renowned school IPM certification program, IPM STAR will lead the hour long walk-thru. Triangle Tots is part of the General Service Administration's space and so as part of the federal government facilities, they are committed to practicing and implementing an IPM program. Agenda Highlights • The New Vision for PESP: Driving Environmental Innovation in Pest Management • New PESP Overview • PESP Member Success Story & Discussion • Leveraging the Power of Public-Private Partnerships & Discussion • Awards Ceremony • Sustainable Agriculture: Growers Protecting Their Most Valuable Resource - the Earth • Community IPM: An Integrative Approach to Reducing Risk Where We Live, Work, and Play • Restoring the Chesapeake Bay: Opportunities for Collaboration • PESP Strategy Workshop: Live, Work, Play, Farm • Listening to Our Members: Feedback and ESB Response • Other Partnership and Grant Opportunities for PESP Members • Collaboration > Innovation > Healthier Communities and a Healthier Planet For additional information piease go to the event web site: http: / / esbconference2009.eventbrite.com PESP Member for the Month Lodi-Woodbridge Winegrape Commission Lodi, California PESP Member Since 1 997 Lodi-Woodbridge Winegrape Commission, formed by local wine grape growers in 1991, now represents almost 800 winegrow- ers farming nearly 80,000 acres of winegrapes. The number of "Lodi" labeled wines has grown from only a handful in 1 991 to over 100 Lodi brands today. Lodi-Woodbridge's Winegrape Commission's notable achievements include: • launching the wine industry's most successful district-wide sustainable viticultural program to reduce pesticide use and sustain California vineyards for generations to come. The cornerstone of this program is "The Lodi Winegrowers Workbook," which utilizes a 'whole farm' approach. The Workbook provides: a roadmap to help growers achieve sustainable winegrowing; educational information for implementing specific sustainable winegrowing practices; a way for growers to measure the level of adoption of sustainable winegrowing on their farms and a way to track improvements; the opportunity for adding market value to the winegrape crop through environmental product labeling or "green" labeling, and it documents the level of sustainable winegrowing adoption throughout the entire district. • establishing The Lodi Rules for Sustainable Winegrowing - California's first sustainable winegrowing standards. The Lodi Rules are based on the Workbook and are designed to lead to measurable improvements in the surrounding ecosystem, society-at-large, and wine quality. Participating growers can get their vineyards certified as producing sustainably-grown winegrapes. Vineyards in the Lodi Rules program are certified by Protected Harvest, a non-profit organization that endorses farmers' use of stringent environmental farming standards. Inside This Issue The NEW PESP: Building Stronger Partnerships for Effective Environmental Stewardship.... 1 PESP Member of the Month 1 Announcements 2 Upcoming Conferences, Meetings, and Events.... ...3 OPP News 4 Grant Opportunities 7 October 2009 www.epa.gov/pesp ------- Announcements NAFTA Biopesticide Workshop Evaluating the Value of Biopesticides: Product Development, Value Assessment and Integration into IPM Systems December 9, 2009 - 9:00a.m.-5:00p.m. Government Conference Centre, Ottawa, Ontario This workshop brings together growers, researchers, registrants and regulators to discuss key issues, challenges and opportunities, and to share strategies and solutions associated with the integration of biopesticides into pest management systems. The focus will be on perspectives concerning suitable criteria and techniques to determine the value and market potential when integrating new biopesticides into conventional farming systems. The workshop will consist of presentations by key leaders from research, industry and government, followed by break out sessions on specific issues and a wrap- up plenary session. Agenda Highlights: • U.S. Registration of Biopesticides • Canadian registration of biopesticides • Perspectives and challenges for the biopesticide industry • Networking Opportunities • Case Study: The value of biopesticide usage in pest control • Understanding the needs of biopesticide customers • How to design a biopesticide trial to examine product efficacy and value • Screening criteria during development of novel biopesticides • Operational challenges when introducing biopesticides into an integrated pest management framework Please RSVP by Friday October 23, 2009 to: Nicole McKenzie 2720 Riverside Drive, A.L. 6607D1 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1 A-0K9 Tel: 1-613-736-3393 Fax: 613-736-3964 Email; nicole__mckenzie@hc-sc.gc.ca PLEASE NOTE: Rooms are available at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier for the group rate of 1 39.00 per night before taxes. Please quote 'Group Code #PMRA1 2', or the name of the meeting: 'PMRA-NAFTA Meeting', to reserve your room. Please make your hotel reservations for lodging directly with the Fairmont Chateau Laurier hotel no later than November 2, 2009 by contacting the following: Fairmont Chateau Laurier Hotel, 1 -Rideau Street in Ottawa, Tel: 613 241 -1 414 or 1 - 800-441 -1414 or E-mail: clh.reservations@fairmont.com EPA Opens Transparency Window into Pesticide Registration Decisions EPA is establishing a new transparent process that will allow the public to review and comment on risk assessments and proposed registration decisions for pesticides. This expanded process will apply to all new pesticide active ingredients and first food uses, first outdoor uses, and first residential uses. "This new process will give the public greater opportunity to participate and understand decisions about new pesticides," said Steve Owens, EPA assistant administrator for the office of prevention, pesticides and toxic substances. "The Obama Administration's emphasis on providing unparalleled transparency at EPA will increase credibility and strengthen the reputation of our pesticide registration program while improving the public dialogue surrounding controversial pesticide registration decisions." Starting October 1, 2009, for certain registration actions, EPA's risk assessment and proposed decision will be added to the public docket and made available for a 30-day public comment period. Following the comment period, EPA will publish its decision and a response-to-comment document. By focusing public access on new pesticide ingredients and first food, outdoor, and residential uses, the public will have the opportunity to comment on all major new exposure patterns for pesticide registration Stakeholders now will get information sooner on reduced- risk pesticides being registered that can replace some of the older and often more toxic pesticides. The user community and the public will benefit from a broader understanding of the risk assessment and risk management processes associated with pesticide registration. More information: www.epa.gov/ pesticides/regulating/index.htm IN A FTA^Secretan at! ^SecretariatT^el Ir ALfcN A^| [Secretarial oTSel It Lt A N| October 2009 2 www.epa.gov/pesp ------- Upcoming Conferences, Meetings, and Events FIFRA Scientific Advisory Panel Public Meeting November 3-6, 2009 Arlington, Virginia 6th Annual Small Farm Conference at UMES November 6-7, 2009 Princess Anne, Maryland 17th National Small Farm Trade Show and Conference November 6-8, 2009 Columbia, Missouri Wildlife Habitat Council 21st Annual Symposium November 9-1 0, 2009 Baltimore, Maryland USDA/NIFA Grantsmanship Workshop November 10-11, 2009 Kansas City, Missouri 2009 Farm-Based Education Conference November 12-14, 2009 Tarrytown, New York Specialty Crop Growers Workshop November 1 6, 2009 Rolia, Missouri USDA/NIFA Grantsmanship Workshop November 16-17,2009 Arlington, Virginia Virginia Agriculture & Food Entrepreneurship Program Two- Day Workshop November 16 - 23, 2009 Warrenton, Virginia NYSERDA's 9th Annual Innovations in Agriculture Conference November 17-18, 2009 Troy, New York The New PESP: Building Stronger Partnerships for Effective Environmental Stewardship November 17-18, 2009 Arlington, VA IPM Coordinator Statewide Meeting & Conference November 18-19, 2009 San Marcos, Texas FIFRA Scientific Advisory Panel Public Meeting December 1 -4, 2009 Arlington, Virginia Nuisance Bird and Wildlife Management Conference & Marketplace November 1 8-20, 2009 Indianapolis, Indiana The Lawn Care Summit 2009 December 2-4, 2009 Orlando, Florida The 3rd Annual International Technology, Food & Agriculture Conference December 3-4, 2009 Rochester, New York Acres USA 2009 Conference and Trade Show December 3-5, 2009 St. Paul, Minnesota 24th Annual Sustainable Agriculture Conference December 4-6, 2009 Black Mountain, North Carolina 2009 National Soybean Rust Symposium December 9-11, 2009 New Orleans, Louisiana Entomological Society of America December 1 3-1 6, 2009 Indianapolis, Indiana 1 9 sr October 2009 3 www.epa.gov/pesp ------- Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) News EPA Begins New Scientific Evaluation Of Atrazine EPA is launching this year a comprehensive new evaluation of the pesticide atrazine to determine its effects on humans. At the end of this process, the agency will decide whether to revise its current risk assessment of the pesticide and whether new restrictions are necessary to better protect public health. One of the most widely used agricultural pesticides in the U.S., atrazine can be applied before and after planting to control broadleaf and grassy weeds. EPA will evaluate the pesticide's potential cancer and non-cancer effects on humans. Included in this new evaluation will be the most recent studies on atrazine and its potential association with birth defects, low birth weight, and premature births. "One of Administrator Jackson's top priorities is to improve the way EPA manages and assesses the risk of chemicals, including pesticides, and as part of that effort, we are taking a hard look at the decision made by the previous administration on atrazine," said Steve Owens, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances. "Our examination of atrazine will be based on transparency and sound science, including independent scientific peer review, and will help determine whether a change in EPA's regulatory position on this pesticide is appropriate." During the new evaluation, EPA will consider the potential for atrazine cancer and non-cancer effects, and will include data generated since 2003 from laboratory and population studies. To be certain that the best science possible is used in its atrazine human health risk assessment and ensure transparency, EPA wilI seek advice from the independent Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP) established under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act. EPA will engage the SAP to evaluate the human health effects of atrazine over the coming year. Below is the timeline: • November 2009: EPA will present SAP its plan for the new atrazine evaluation • February 201 0: EPA will present and seek scientific peer review of its proposed plan for incorporating population studies into the atrazine risk assessment. • April 201 0: EPA will present and seek peer review of its evaluation of atrazine non-cancer effects based on animal laboratory toxicology studies, selection of safety factors in the risk assessment, and the sampling design currently used to monitor drinking water in community water systems. • September 201 0: EPA will present and seek peer review of its evaluation of atrazine cancer and non-cancer effects based on animal toxicology studies and epidemiology stud- ies. This review is intended to include the most recent results from the National Cancer Institute's Agricultural Health Study, anticipated for publication in 2010. At the conclusion of this process, EPA will ask the SAP to review atrazine's potential effects on amphibians and aquatic ecosystems. The SAP meetings will be open to the public. In addition to the scientific review of the effects of atrazine, EPA plans to meet with interested groups to explore better ways to inform the public more quickly about results of atrazine drinking water monitoring. More information on atrazine: http: / / www.epa.gov/pesticides/reregistration/atrazine/ atrazine_update.htm More information on the SAP meetings: http://www.epa.gov/ scipoly/sap/index.htm New Policy Reduces Pesticide Pollution and Waste Under an interim policy announced today, retailers and distributors of pesticide products may be allowed to repair minor damage to pesticide containers. EPA developed the interim policy to ensure that such repairs are consistent with federal requirements for pesticide registration, production, and labeling. By allowing minor repairs to containers, the policy would enable products to be used as intended rather than being disposed of. According to one source, approximately five million pounds of consumer pesticide products may become waste each year in the United States due to damage to pesticide containers before the products can be sold by retailers. Sources indicate that the most commonly damaged pesticide containers are large plastic bags, such as those containing fertilizer/pesticide mixtures. By allowing damaged bags of pesticides to be patched, this new policy contributes to EPA's long-standing policies of waste minimization and pollution prevention. The interim policy has very specific requirements, including an application and review process. Each applicant's "minor repair program" must receive specific approval from EPA for that individual proposal. For more information on the interim policy, please see the Web site. PESTICIDE a pplica tion AC\ PLEASE IWfOTMATIC October 2009 4 www.epa.gov/pesp ------- OPP News Continued New EPA Information on Insect Repellents EPA has launched a new Web page containing product information on certain skin-applied insect repellents. EPA's goal is to provide the public with information on registered insect repellents and their effectiveness claims in a clear, consistent, and user-friendly format. "EPA's release of information on the effectiveness of insect repellents will help American consumers select the right product for their needs and protect themselves and their children from potentially devastating diseases spread by mosquitoes and ticks, such as West Nile virus and Lyme disease," said Steve Owens, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances. "This Web-based dissemination of information supports Administrator Jackson's goals of transparency and public access and protecting children's health." The new Web page contains two tables listing insect repellent products that are registered by the agency: those that control mosquitoes and ticks, and those that only control mosquitoes. The Web page compiles publicly available information on protection times based on product effectiveness data reviewed by EPA, and presents it in a format that makes it easy for consumers to make informed risk management decisions to protect their health and that of their families and children. The Web page also contains information on vector-borne diseases such as West Nile virus and Lyme disease, and the importance of personal protection measures. The Web page can be accessed at: http://www.epa. gov/pesticides/health/mosquitoes/insectrp.htm EPA Issues Guidance For Testing And Labeling Pesticide Products That Help Prevent The Spread Of Hlnl Influenza A Virus In response to the emerging threat of the Pandemic 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus, EPA is making available on its Web site a guidance document clarifying the testing requirements and providing labeling options for pesticide products that make claims to control the Pandemic 2009 HI N1 influenza A virus. This guidance document announces EPA's position that data previously submitted to support an influenza A virus label claim is sufficient to support label claims against 2009 HI N1 influenza A virus, and that "virus-specific" data against the 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus does not need to be generated or submitted for registration. This guidance is applicable for antimicrobial pesticides sold as dilutable liquids and powders, ready-to-use or spray formulations, and towelettes that are used to treat hard non- porous surfaces in healthcare facilities, commercial, industrial, institutional, and residential settings against Pandemic 2009 HI N1 influenza A Virus. This guidance document is posted at the Antimicrobials Policy & Guidance Documents Web page under Guidance/Guidelines. More information on this virus and EPA's regulation of pesticide products, including a list of antimicrobial products registered for use against other influenza A viruses, is available at http:// www.epa.gov/oppad001 /influenza-disinfectants.html. EPA Releases Test Guidelines and Schedule For Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program As EPA prepares to order a comprehensive screening of chemical effects on hormones, the Agency is making available today the battery of scientific assays and test guidelines for conducting the assays, as well as a schedule for issuing test orders to manufacturers for each of 67 chemicals during the next three months. Now that the assays and test guidelines are available, EPA shortly will be issuing and announcing test orders to manufacturers to compel generation of the needed data. Data required under the test orders will provide information to help EPA identify whether chemicals have the potential to interact with the estrogen, androgen, and/or thyroid hormone systems, which regulate growth, metabolism, development, and reproduction. This program, which has been developed through a multi-year research program and validated through a transparent technical review process, will eventually screen all pesticide chemicals. The data generated from the screens will provide robust and systematic scientific information that will help EPA identify and regulate as appropriate potential endocrine disrupting chemicals. Pre-publication copies of the Notices on the assays and test guidelines and the schedule are available at http://www.epa. gov/endo/. The test guidelines are also available at http:// www.epa.gov/opptsfrs/home/guidelin.htm. The documents will publish in the Federal Register on October 21, 2009, at which time the corresponding dockets can be found on www.regulations.gov. The Federal Register document announcing the final Tier 1 battery of scientific assays and related test guidelines will be in docket number EPA—HQ— OPPT—2008—0521; the Federal Register document announcing the schedule for issuing test orders will be in docket EPA—HQ— OPP-2009-0634. October 2009 5 www.epa.gov/pesp ------- OPP News Continued EPA Issues Pesticides Brochure Highlighting Work To Ensure Public Health And Environmental Protection In Indian Country And Alaska Native Villages As part of the new Administration's agenda to protect tribes from pesticide exposure, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Office of Prevention Pesticides and Toxic Substances, released a brochure entitled, "The National Pesticide Tribal Program: Achieving Public Health and Environmental Protection in Indian Country and Alaska Native Villages." The brochure has an introduction by the Assistant Administrator for EPA's Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances, Steve Owens. It provides a snapshot of EPA's work with tribes to attain the Agency's goal of helping protect human health and the environment by ensuring that pesticides and alternatives available in Indian country can be used according to label directions without causing unreasonable risks. Highlights of the brochure include case studies submitted by several tribes about pesticide regulatory agency collaborations and how grants, technical assistance and outreach help tribes with their pesticide safety programs which include the use of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in schools and in enforcement and compliance programs. The report is available for download at the EPA Web site. Copies will soon be available from the National Service Center for Environmental Publications by telephone at 1 -800-490- 9198, by fax at 1-51 3-489-8695 or online. When ordering, please be sure to note the document title and publication number, EPA-735-F-09-007. By mail, write to U.S. EPA/NSCEP, P.O. Box 4241 9, Cincinnati, Ohio 45242-041 9. Disulfoton and Methamidophos Voluntarily Canceled EPA has issued a final order approving the voluntary cancellations, requested by the registrants, of pesticide products containing disulfoton and methamidophos. The order, published in the Federal Register on September 23, 2009, cancels the last disulfoton and methamidophos products registered for use in the United States. These organophosphate insecticides are registered for use on a variety of food crop and non-food sites, including disulfoton use on residential ornamentals. EPA received no comments in response to a July 22, 2009 Notice announcing the Agency's receipt of the requests for voluntary cancellation, For all methamidophos products and most disulfoton products, the cancellations are effective December 31, 2009; two disulfoton products will be canceled effective December 31, 2010. Use of the disulfoton and methamidophos products canceled by this order may continue until existing stocks are exhausted, provided that use is consistent with approved product labeling. The registrants may sell and distribute existing stocks of most disulfoton products and all methamidophos products until December 31, 201 0; two disulfoton products may be sold and distributed by the registrant until June 30, 201 1. For more detailed information, please see EPA's September 23, 2009 Federal Register notice in disulfoton docket EPA-HQ-OPP- 2009-0054 and methamidophos docket EPA-HQ-OPP-2008- 0842 at www.regulations.gov. The Federal Register notice also is available on the Web site. Environmental Education Grants EPA is seeking applications from local education agencies, colleges, universities, state education and environmental agencies, 501 (C)(3) non-profit organizations and noncommercial educational broadcasting entities to support projects that promote public awareness and knowledge about environmental issues and provide the skills to make informed environmental decisions and to take responsible actions. This grant proposal supports environmental education projects that promote environmental stewardship and help develop knowledgeable and responsible students, teachers, and citizens. This grant program provides financial support for innovative projects that design, demonstrate, or disseminate environmental education practices, methods, or techniques as described in this notice. Most grants will be in the $1 5,000 to $25,000 range, with total funding of between $2 and $3 million. EPA anticipates awarding approximately 90 - 95 grants, subject to the availability of funds and the quality of applications received. RFP NUMBER: EPA-EE-10-02 Applications Due By: December 1 5, 2009 Web site: The grant announcement is at http: / / www.epa.gov/enviroed / pdf/solNotice201 0.htm October 2009 6 www.epa.gov/pesp ------- Grant Opportunities I. XT'. • T " . Close Date Grant Title Agency/Organization Funding Number November 1 3, 2009 Research & Education Full Application Western Region SARE N/A November 15, 2009 Producer Grant Program Southern Region SARE N/A November 15, 2009 On-Farm Research Grant Program Southern Region SARE N/A November 17, 2009 Green and Healthy Homes Technical Studies Program HUD FR-5300-N-20 November 24, 2009 Healthy Homes Demonstration Program HUD FR-5300-N-17 Must be postmarked by November 24, 2009 Sustainable Community Grants Northeast Region SARE N/A November 30, 2009 Interregional Research Project #4 Minor Crop Pest Management Program USDA NIFA USDA-CSREES-SRGP-002624 | Must be postmarked by December 1, 2009 Partnership Grants Northeast Region SARE N/A December 3, 2009 Farmer Rancher Grant Program North Central Region SARE N/A December 10, 2009 EPA GRO Fellowships for Undergraduate Environmental Study EPA EPA-F2009U-GRO-P1 to P4 and EPA-F2009U-GRO-Q1 to Q2 December 15,2009 IPM Working Group Grants Program 2009 North Central IPM Center N/A December 15,2009 Environmental Education Grants EPA EPA-EE-10-02 January 5, 201 0 P3 Awards for Student Sustainable Design EPA EPA-G201 0-P3-Q1 to Q5 Travel must occur before March 1 0, 2010 Vegetable/Strawberry IPM Travel Grant Program Northeast IPM Center N/A Ongoing Federal Funding Opportunities for Emerald Ash Borer Research USDA - APHIS - PPQ EAB N/A Ongoing Environmental Quality Incentives Program USDA- NRCS N/A | Until Funds Exhaust IPM Minigrants Program North Central IPM Center N/A Until Funds Exhaust Sustainable Agriculture Tours Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) N/A Ongoing Special Issues in the West Western IPM Center N/A Ongoing Pest Management Strategic Plans in the West Western IPM Center N/A Ongoing SARE Grant Opportunities North Central Region SARE N/A Ongoing SARE Grant Opportunities Northeast Region SARE N/A Ongoing SARE Grant Opportunities Southern Region SARE N/A Ongoing SARE Grant Opportunities Western Region SARE N/A <£ % 6> '*% J October 2009 www.epa.gov/pesp ------- |