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AG INDUSTRY URGED TO SIGN PETITION TO EPA
Feb. 8, 2010
Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association reports:
Last December, U.S. EPA published 3 new proposed rules regarding pesticides.
1. Pesticide Drift Labeling: USEPA is proposing to add a statement to pesticide lables that states "do not apply this product in a manner that results in spray or dust drift that could cause harm or adverse effects...." EPA considers "harm" to mean for humans, any negative physical impact, health symptom, or illness, regardless of whether it requires medical treatment or is temporary in nature. This change abandons the FIFRA legal standard of "no unreasonable adverse effects" and applies a "could cause" scenario which is vague, not risk-based and opens the door to frivilous lawsuits and enforcement actions against pesticide applicators and farmers.
2. Petition to Protect Children from Drift: This proposal establishes no-spray zones of at least 60 feet for ground application and 300 feet for aerial application near homes, schools, parks and daycare centers.
3. Revised Risk Assessment for Farm Workers: EPA is proposing requiring an addtional 10 fold risk factor for pesticides when assessing risks to agricultural workers.
Our national organization Crop Life America has organized an on-line petition where you can sign up and state your opposition to these proposed rules.
Go to http://www.gopetition.com/online/33776.html to sign on.
THESE PROPOSALS ARE VERY SERIOUS--please sign on and share this effort with others who support agriculture. In the coming days IFCA will also provide you information on how to comment directly to USEPA before the March 5, 2010 comment period ends.
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