News for Release: Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2006
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
EPA Issues Final Rule on Aquatic Pesticide Applications
Contacts: (Media only) Dale Kemery, (202) 564-4355 / kemery.dale@epa.gov
(All other inquiries) Virginia Garelick, (202) 564-2316 / garelick.virginia@epa.gov
(Washington, D.C. - Nov. 21, 2006) The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has
issued a final rule clarifying two specific circumstances in which a Clean Water
Act permit is not required before pesticides are applied. The two situations are
when:
· pesticides are applied directly to water to control pests, including mosquito
larvae, aquatic weeds and other pests in the water
· pesticides are applied to control pests that are present over or near water
where a portion of the pesticide will unavoidably be deposited to the water in
order to target the pests effectively
After considering two rounds of public comments, EPA concluded that the Clean
Water Act does not require permits in these two situations.
"This clean water rule strengthens and streamlines efforts of public health
officials and communities to control pests and invasive species while
maintaining important environmental safeguards," said EPA Assistant
Administrator for Water Benjamin H. Grumbles.
The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) requires that
pesticides be registered by EPA before they can be sold or distributed. Before
they are registered, they must undergo extensive study and review to help ensure
that, when properly used, they do not cause unreasonable adverse effects on
human health and the environment. Pesticide labels contain application
instructions. Applications of pesticides that violate the FIFRA labels are
subject to enforcement.
The final rule replaces EPA's Interpretive Statement on the Application of
Pesticides to Waters of the United States in Compliance with FIFRA, published on
Feb. 1, 2005.
Final rule: http://www.epa.gov/npdes/agriculture
FIFRA and the pesticide program: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/
R318