EPA News in January to March 2000 |
Comments on a draft Pesticide Registration (PR) Notice which identifies pests of significant public health importance are due by May 30, 2000. The latest version of the Pesticide Data Submitters List is now available. The PDSL is a compilation of names and addresses of registrants who wish to be notified and offered compensation for use of their data. The FIFRA Section 18 database has been updated. Section 18 of FIFRA authorizes EPA to allow States to use a pesticide for an unregistered use for a limited time if EPA determines that emergency conditions exist. March 29, 2000 March 27, 2000 March 12, 2000 March 7, 2000 February 11, 2000 February 10, 2000 February 8, 2000 February 7, 2000 February 3, 2000 January 31, 2000 January 28, 2000 January 27, 2000 January 24, 2000 January 23, 2000 January 21, 2000 January 20, 2000 Disulfoton - Disulfoton is an organophosphate insecticide and acaricide primarily used on a variety of field grown agricultural crops, fruit and nut trees, ornamentals, and Christmas trees. Methamidophos - This pesticide is a restricted use insecticide/acaricide used in the U.S. on cotton, potatoes, and tomatoes. It is also used on peppers, strawberries, and squash grown outside of the U.S. and imported to the U.S. January 19, 2000 January 12, 2000 The Green Rider Information Pack - The purpose of the Green Rider is to provide information on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) programs that promote environmentally and economically sound building practices and energy efficiency. The Green Rider requires the offeror to document the evaluations of green practices and product selections to determine why specific concepts were or were not chosen 2000 Climate Protection Awards - With its annual Climate Protection Awards, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) honors the extraordinary accomplishments of individuals, companies, and organizations that have made significant contributions to protecting the climate. Winners of the 2000 Climate Protection Awards will be announced during the Earth Technologies Forum, the largest climate protection conference focusing on technical solutions and cutting-edge public policy in Washington, DC from October 30 November 1, 2000. Award recipients will be recognized at a dinner ceremony on the evening of October 31, 2000 where the Stratospheric Ozone Protection Awards will also be presented. Revised Science Policy Document - EPA is issuing a revised science policy document relating to the implementation of the Food Quality Protection Act. This document was developed from two previous draft documents entitled "Assigning Values To Nondetected/Nonquantified Pesticide Residues into Human Health Dietary Exposure Assessments" and "A Statistical Method for Incorporating Nondetected Pesticide Residues into Human Health Dietary Exposure Assessments". EPA is also releasing a Response to Public Comments on the draft science policy documents. A 17KB Adobe Acrobat (PDF) document. New Catalog of Federal Funding Sources for Watershed Protection (Second Edition) - This new Catalog provides a guide for watershed practitioners on the federal monies that might be available to fund a variety of watershed protection projects. This version of the Catalog updates EPA's Catalog of Federal Funding Sources for Watershed Protection published in 1997 (EPA 841-B-97-008). This new funding Catalog presents information on 69 federal funding sources (grants and loans) that may be used to fund watershed projects. The Catalog includes key words which may be used to search for funding programs for particular subject areas. Copies of the Catalog are available from NSCEP at 800-490-9198 (include document number in requests: EPA 841-B-99-003) New from the Office of Air and Radiation: Boundary Guidance - In another step to ensure that Americans breathe cleaner air, EPA on March 28 issued guidance for states to use in recommending areas to be designated as attainment and nonattainment for the 8-hour ozone standard. This non-binding guidance outlines an extensive process involving governors and EPA to eventually determine appropriate boundaries for the attainment and nonattainment areas. See the following for more information: Fact sheet describing the boundary guidance. A 12KB Adobe Acrobat (PDF) document. A memo on the designations process. A 7KB Adobe Acrobat (PDF) document. The guidance document. A 32KB Adobe Acrobat (PDF) document. March 30, 2000 3-Month Telecourse Schedule Update - The Air Pollution Distance Learning Network 3-Month Telecourse Schedule has been updated with the March, April, and May, 2000 schedule. FY99 pollution prevention incentives for states grant guidance - On December 16, 1999, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced in the Federal Register the availability of funds in FY00 through the Pollution Prevention Incentives for States (PPIS) program. This guidance supplements the national announcement and outlines eligible organizations, special grant requirements, reporting and measurement criteria, regional evaluation criteria, and general procedures for application and award of FY00 multimedia pollution prevention grants and cooperative agreements through the PPIS program in EPA Region 7. This guidance should be used in conjunction with the federal guidance included in the application package New from the Office of Pesticide Programs: Final Rule Revising Water Quality Listing Requirements for April 2000 - The Administrator signed the following final rule on March 27, 2000 and we (EPA) are submitting it for publication in the Federal Register. While we've taken steps to ensure the accuracy of this Internet version of the rule, it's not the official version of the rule (Office of Water). EPA Revises Water Quality Listing Requirements for April 2000 - Fact Sheet - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has revised one provision of the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) regulations (40 CFR Part 130) for implementing EPA's responsibilities under section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act (Office of Water). Safe Drinking Water Act report - EPA has developed a report that presents an extensive analysis of the occurrence of contaminants in public water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act (Office of Water). Land Disposal Restrictions for Hazardous Wastes: A Snapshot of the Program - This brochure describes the components of EPA's Land Disposal Restrictions program, describes when land disposal restrictions apply, and details who is impacted by the program. (A 340K PDF from the Office of Solid Waste). March 28, 2000 1999 OTC NOx Budget Program Compliance Report - This report summarizes the results of the first year of the NOx Budget Program. The program was established by the states in the Ozone Transport Commission (OTC) to reduce NOx emissions region-wide as a part of each state's effort to attain the national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) for ground level ozone. The OTC comprises the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, the northern counties of Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Long Term 1 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule and Filter Backwash Rule - EPA proposes new rules to improve protection from microbial contaminants (Office of Water). Draft 2000 Strategic Plan - EPA has released the Agency's Draft 2000 Strategic Planning Architecture for review and comment (Office of the Chief Financial Officer). WIN/INFORMED: Universe Identification, Waste Activity Monitoring, Program Area Analysis: Final Rule - Epa announces the release of WIN/INFOMRED: Universe Identification, Waste Activity Monitoring, Program Area Analysis; Final Report. The WIN/INFORMED initiative is an information reinvention project established jointly by the States and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (Office of Solid Waste). TANKS 4.0.7 - The EPA has released TANKS, a Windows-based computer software program that estimates volatile organic compound (VOC) and hazardous air pollutant (HAP) emissions from fixed- and floating-roof storage tank (Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards). New from the Acid Rain Program: 1999 OTC NOx Budget Program Compliance Report - The NOx Budget Program was established by the states in the Ozone Transport Commission (OTC) to reduce NOx emissions region-wide as a part of each state's effort to attain the national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) for ground level ozone. The OTC comprises the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, the northern counties of Virginia, and the District of Columbia. March 20, 2000 Acid Rain Program Policy Manual Update #12 - This is the twelfth update to the Acid Rain Program Policy Manual. It is the first update since the Policy Manual underwent extensive revisions in October, 1999. This update should be used with the October 14, 1999 Revised Acid Rain Program Policy Manual. A 224 KB Adobe Acrobat (PDF) document. Phosmet - EPA has released the revised risk assessments for the organophosphate pesticide Phosmet (Office of Pesticide Programs). Brownfields Showcase Communities - The EPA, along with more than 20 other federal agencies, is seeking communities interested in being designated as Brownfields Showcase Communities. A partnership of federal agencies with interests in brownfields redevelopment has formed to offer special technical, financial and other assistance to selected communities. EPA is offering each Showcase Community $200,000 in assessment funds plus the two-year loan of a federal employee to help coordinate a community's brownfields efforts (Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response). New from the Office of Pesticide Programs: Disulfoton - EPA has released the revised risk assessments for the organophosphate pesticide Diulfoton. "Choosing a Percentile of Acute Dietary Exposure as a Threshold of Regulatory Concern" - EPA is issuing a revised science policy document relating to the implementation of the Food Quality Protection Act, entitled (149 KB,PDF). "Responses to Public Comments on the Office of Pesticide Program's Draft Science Policy Document" (271 KB, PDF), which includes responses to comments made on the draft version of this science policy document. Monitoring Data Checking Software - The Monitoring Data Checking Software is a tool developed by EPA's Clean Air Markets Division to allow regulated industry and State agencies to enter, analyze, print and export electronic monitoring plan, certification and quality assurance data for the OTC NOx Budget Program, the Acid Rain Program and monitoring under Subpart H (Acid Rain Program). Information Collection Request Number 0969.04: "Final Authorization for Hazardous Waste Management Programs" - This document provides the supporting documentation for the information collection necessary for states to meet the requirements for final authorization of their hazardous waste programs (Office of Solid Waste). March 9, 2000 Asthma Awareness - Region 8 has developed an Asthma Awareness Page. At this site you will find information on environmental asthma triggers, local news and events and links to other important asthma information March 8, 2000 Notice of Final Rule - EPA has revised the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule for perchlorate and acetochlor, as required by the 1996 Amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act. The data generated by the new UCMR will be used to evaluate and prioritize contaminants on the Drinking Water Contaminant Candidate List EPA - State Stakeholder Forum on Public Information Policies - Summary and preliminary plan introduced at the November 15-16, 1999 Chicago meeting. March 2, 2000 Achieving Cleaner Waters Across America: Supporting Effective Programs to Prevent Water Pollution from Forestry Operations - New forestry fact sheet posted which explains the August 1999 proposed revisions to the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Program regarding forestry activities (Office of Water). February 23, 2000 EPA Testimony to Senate on TMDL Program - Carol Browner discusses the Nation's clean water program and the Agency's efforts to identify polluted waters around the country and restore their health (Office of Water). EPA has released the revised risk assessments for the organophosphate pesticides Ethyl Parathion and Fenitrothion (Office of Pesticide Programs). Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Canada on Air Quality - The general objective of the Agreement is to control transboundary air pollution between the two countries. Establish specific objectives for emissions limitations or reductions of air pollutants and adopt the necessary programs and other measures to implement such specific objectives; Undertake environmental impact assessment, prior notification, and, as appropriate, mitigation measures; Carry out coordinated or cooperative scientific and technical activities, and economic research, and exchange information, ; Establish institutional arrangements; and review and assess progress, consult, address issues of concern, and settle disputes (Acid Rain Program). February 14, 2000 New Polychlorinated Biphenals (PCBs) Site - This new site was developed to increase access to information on PCB's. Information available includes fact sheets, waste handler information, regulations, and more (Region 8). Applicability of the Treated Articles Exemption to Antimicrobial Pesticides - This notice clarifies current EPA policy with respect to the scope of the "treated articles exemption" in 40 CFR 152.25(a). This exemption covers qualifying treated articles and substances bearing claims to protect the article or substance itself. EPA does not regard this exemption as including articles or substances bearing implied or explicit public health claims against human pathogens (22 KB, PDF). A Fact Sheet on this PR Notice is also available (Office of Pesticide Programs). Center on Air Pollution - This site has been redesigned to provide easier access to information. The center provides technical support and assistance in evaluating air pollution problems along the Mexico - U. S. Border. These services and products are available at no cost to Federal, State and Local Agencies and Universities in Mexico. Others can use these services depending on available resources (Clean Air Technology Center). EPA Responds to NY Times - The EPA has responded to an advertisement found in the Editorial section of the February 9, 2000 NY Times regarding EPA and the pesticide Dursban. The letter states that the EPA is on schedule for assessing the risks of all organophosphate insecticides. The letter goes on to state that EPA will finalize its review this spring, and propose measures for reducing all exposures and risks, which could include canceling uses of Dursban (Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances). Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund Volume 3 Part A: Process for Conducting Probabilistic Risk Assessment (RAGS 3A) (DRAFT) - This Risk Assessment Guidance provides technical guidance on the application of probabilistic methods to human health and ecological risk assessment. This guidance focuses on Monte Carlo analysis (MCA) as a method of quantifying variability and uncertainty in risk. Primarily targeted toward the risk assessor, it is intended, both in content and format, to be most accessible to those readers who are familiar with risk assessment and basic statistical concepts (Superfund). Instructions for Performing the Annual Allocation of Non-Site-Specific Costs - This document has been prepared by the Program and Cost Accounting Branch (PCAB) of the Financial Management Division. It provides instructions to contractors on how to perform the annual allocation. EPA recognizes that each contract may feature unique situations which may not necessarily be addressed in these instructions. In such cases, the contractor should contact PCAB for guidance (Available as a 77 kb PDF from the Office of the Chief Financial Officer). FY2001 Budget Available - The Environmental Protection Agency's 2001 Annual Plan and Budget Request of $7.257 billion in discretionary budget authority, and 18,050 Full Time Equivalencies (FTE), builds on our commitment to protect the environment and public health with common-sense programs that promote environmental health and sustain economic growth. This budget request maintains the Administration's dedication to ensure that the air, water, and land are safe and healthy, and that the American public has the health protections they need and deserve (Available as a 393 kb PDF from the Office of the Chief Financial Officer). HPV Challenge Program Updates - The Agency has posted on the website its new lists of Sponsored Chemicals and Sponsoring Companies, showing the commitments made to the HPV Challenge Program by the close of the voluntary commitment period on December 1, 1999. The highly detailed Summary Report and HPV Chemical List pages are currently being updated to include all of this information, and will be posted on the website in mid-February after quality control checks on those pages are complete (Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics). Regional Vulnerability Assessment (ReVA) program - The Regional Vulnerability Assessment (ReVA) program has announced its new site. EPA's Regional Vulnerability Assessment (ReVA) program is an approach to regional scale, priority-setting assessment being developed by EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD) The ReVA program will be responsible for the collection, management, and analysis of multiple data sources to evaluate environmental conditions and known stressors within the Mid-Atlantic region (Office of Research and Development). Guidance on Awarding Section 319 Grants to Indian Tribes in FY 2000 - Congress has authorized EPA to award nonpoint source pollution control grants to Indian Tribes under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act in an amount that exceeds 1/3% of the total 319 appropriation in FY 2000. This will enable all of the Tribes that have approved nonpoint source assessments and management programs and "treatment-as- a-State" ("TAS") status to receive Section 319 funding to implement those programs (Office of Water). February 2, 2000 Pesticides Industry Sales and Usage: 1996 and 1997 Market Estimates - The Environmental Protection Agency Office of Pesticide Programs is pleased to present this summary of information about pesticide use and report on the pesticide market for the years 1996 and 1997. This publication reports figures derived for pesticide usage and sales values, based on available information from Agency records of registrations, USDA reports of pesticide use, and other public and proprietary sources. This type of report has been issued annually from 1979 through 1989 and at two-year intervals since then (Office of Pesticide Programs). EPA Proposes Revisions to Water Quality Listing Requirements for April 2000 - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing revisions to the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) regulations (40 CFR Part 130) for implementing EPA's responsibilities under section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act. The proposal eliminates the regulatory requirement that states, territories, and authorized tribes submit to EPA by April 1, 2000 lists of impaired and threatened waters, unless EPA has been required by a court order, consent decree, or settlement agreement to take action based on a state's year-2000 list. The proposal only affects the April 1, 2000 list; it retains the existing regulatory requirement that lists be submitted on April 1, 2002, and on April 1 of subsequent even numbered years (Office of Oceans, Wetlands, and Watersheds). February 1, 2000 Office of Pesticide Programs Biennial Report for 1998 and 1999 - is now available in PDF format (1.7 MB) (Office of Pesticides). Resources for Promoting Global Business Principles and Best Practices - The February update of the Directory is now available. This resource provides contact names, numbers, Internet addresses for a variety of national and international programs, initiatives, organizations, business organizations, various NGOs (Non - Governmental Organizations), and many other resources. The directory is updated monthly (Office of Reinvention). Analytical Methods Listings - The listings of Analytical Methods (by contaminant and method) on the OGWDW web site have been updated to reflect the December 1, 1999 final rule for analytical methods for chemical and microbial contaminants (MUFRN II). The web pages dedicated to approved methods supporting the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR) have also been updated to reflect the Revisions promulgated on September 17, 1999. Method 314.0 has also been posted. Following pending promulgation, Method 314.0 will be identified as the approved method for UCMR assessment monitoring of perchlorate (Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water). A Biopesticide Fact Sheet for 3-[N-Butyl-N-acetyl]-aminopropionic acid, ethyl ester (113509) is now available. The active ingredient of this biopesticide can be used as an insect repellent against mosquitoes, deer ticks, body lice, and biting flies. No harmful effects to humans or the environment are expected from this use of this biopesticide (Office of Pesticide Programs). Phosment Executive Summary - The revised risk assessments for the organophosphate pesticide Phosmet will be presented at a Technical Briefing held February 10, 2000 in Pasco, Washington. Phosmet is an insecticide used on a variety of fruit and vegetable crops, tree crops, nut trees, cotton, ornamentals and forestry. In addition, phosmet is used for direct animal treatments on cattle, swine and dogs (Office of Pesticide Programs). A Lexicon of Cave and Karst Terminology with Special Reference to Environmental Karst Hydrology - The National Center for Environmental Assessment-Washington Office (NCEA-W) has prepared this glossary to serve as a technical guide for EPA's regional offices and the general public who need to read karst literature or interact with karst researchers. The glossary includes terminology common to the field of karst as well as many other terms that have some relationship to the field of environmental karst (National Center for Environmental Assessment). MTBE in Drinking Water - This fact sheet was recently updated and was NOT released due to the recent concerns over MTBE. This fact sheet which discusses how to find out whether MTBE is in local drinking water, what the EPA is doing about MTBE, and where someone can locate additional information on MTBE (Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water). Effluent Limitations Guidelines, Pretreatment Standards, and New Source Performance Standards for the Industrial Waste Combustor Subcategory of the Waste Combustors Point Source Category - These standards represent the Agency's first effort to develop Clean Water Act (CWA) effluent limitations guidelines and standards for wastewater discharges from the commercial hazardous waste combustor (CHWC) segment of the waste combustion industry (Office of Water). Watershed Training Course Schedule - The new Watershed Academy course schedule is availabe (Office of Water). Celebrate Earth Day 2000 with Energy Star - ENERGY STAR and Earth Day Network (EDN), a non-profit coordinator of worldwide Earth Day activities, and ENERGY STAR are partnering to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of Earth Day, the theme of which is Clean Energy Now. This site provides access to ways that one can capitalize on the excitement surrounding Earth Day 2000 to capture public attention for programs that promote environmental stewardship (Climate Protection Division). Sole Source Aquifer Program Projects Subject to Review All Federal financially assisted projects which have the potential to contaminate the designated sole source aquifer are subject to EPA review (Office of Water). The Office of Pesticide Programs has released Executive Summaries for the following organophosphate pesticides: Office of Water Online Reference Library - The Office of Water Online Reference Library is a series of subject headings linked to lists of documents available for viewing online. Currently it contains lists of the Policy and Guidance documents scanned into PDF format as part of the Access to Interpretive Guidance (AIG) / Enhanced Public Access task (Office of Water). Lead and Copper Rule Minor Revisions (EPA 815-F-99-010) - The EPA has made minor changes to the Lead and Copper Rule. These minor revisions (also known as the Lead and Copper Rule Minor Revisions or LCRMR) streamline requirements, promote consistent national implementation, and in many cases, reduce burden for water systems (Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water). Analytical Methods Developed by the Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water - This page provides access to several drinking water methods, including: EPA Method 300.1 (Determination of Inorganic Anions in Drinking Water by Ion Chromatography) and EPA Method 314.0 (Determination of Perchlorate in Drinking Water by Ion Chromatography) (Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water). January 14, 2000 Clean Air Act Advisory Committee (CAAAC) The CAAAC web site has been established to provide you with up-to-date information on the activities and meetings of the Clean Air Act Advisory Committee and its subcommittees. Various schedules, papers and agendas for the past, current, and future meetings have been updated (Office of Air and Radiation). Allercare Recall - EPA announces that SC Johnson and Son, Inc. has announced that it would immediately stop production and recall AllerCare Dust Mite Allergen Spray for Carpet and Upholstery from retailers due to numerous reports of adverse health reactions in humans and pets exposed to the products (Office of Pesticide Programs). Techniques for Tracking Evaluating, and Reporting the Implementation of Nonpoint Source Control Measures -- Forestry - This guidance is intended to assist state, regional, and local environmental professionals in tracking the implementation of best management practices (BMPs) used to control nonpoint source pollution generated by forestry practices (Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds). EPA Region 8 NEPA and EIS Review -The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires federal agencies to take into account the environmental impacts of federal decisions which could significantly affect the environment. In implementing NEPA, federal agencies have to assess the environmental impacts of decisions and inform the public of any impacts. Information about NEPA, Environmental Impact Statements (EIS), and the role the EPA serves in carrying out this function can be found here (Region 8). January 13, 2000 Screening Level Ecological Risk Assessment Protocol for Hazardous Waste Combustion Facilities - Peer Review Draft - November, 1999 - A draft publication which details the recommended approach for conducting ecological risk assessments in support of permitting RCRA hazardous waste combustion facilities. This Protocol is available for both public comment and use in site-specific ecological risk assessments related to combustor emissions (Office of Solid Waste).