The Phaseout of Methyl Bromide

 

For Release: (Washington, D.C. - Monday, May 14, 2007)

Methyl Bromide Inventory Continues Downward Trend

Contact: John Millett, (202) 564-4355 / millett.john@epa.gov

The methyl bromide inventory held by U.S. companies at the end of 2006 continues to shrink, according to data released by EPA today. The data show a steady decline in the inventory since 2003, when the Agency began collecting such information. 

Methyl bromide is an ozone-depleting chemical that has been used as a general pesticide across a wide range of agricultural sectors for many years. Under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer and the Clean Air Act, the United States phased out new production and import of methyl bromide, except for allowable exemptions for users who have no technically and economically feasible alternatives. 

The data that EPA is releasing includes, in aggregate form, the inventory held by approximately 35 companies in the United States at the end of 2006. The methyl bromide inventory data, displayed graphically below, shows a steady decline – approximately 16,422 metric tons in 2003, 12,994 metric tons in 2004, 9,974 metric tons in 2005, and 7,671 metric tons in 2006 – and demonstrates that the United States continues to manage its domestic inventory appropriately.

The phaseout of new production and import, and the orderly reduction in the existing inventory, are facilitating a transition to alternatives in a manner consistent with previous successful phaseouts of ozone-depleting substances, such as chloroflourocarbons (CFCs) and halons. The United States continues to protect the ozone layer and meet its obligations under the Montreal Protocol while meeting the needs of American farmers.

For more information on the phaseout of methyl bromide, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/ozone/mbr

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From EPA's Site

Methyl bromide (MeBr) is an odorless, colorless gas that has been used as an agricultural soil and structural fumigant to control a wide variety of pests. However, because MeBr depletes the stratospheric ozone layer and is classified as a Class I ozone-depleting substance, the amount of MeBr produced and imported in the U.S. was incrementally reduced until the phaseout took effect on January 1, 2005, except for allowable exemptions. These exemptions include the Quarantine and Preshipment (QPS) exemption, to eliminate quarantine pests, and the Critical Use Exemption (CUE), designed for agricultural users with no technically or economically feasible alternatives.

 (5/14/07): Aggregate methyl bromide inventory data for the 2006 calendar year continues to show a steady decline. On September 7, 2006, EPA released aggregate inventory data for 2003-2005. The existence of the inventory provides a safety net for the transition to ozone-safe alternatives, and this data continues to demonstrate that the inventory held by U.S. companies is being managed appropriately. For more information, please see the Fact Sheet.

(4/16/07): Sixth Round of Application Solicitations for Methyl Bromide Critical Use Exemptions
These applications are for the 2010 calendar year, as well as for those wishing to submit supplemental requests for the 2009 calendar year.

 

Compare the above article with this article:

 

CHEMICAL COMPANIES RAKE IN MILLIONS PRODUCING UNNECESSARY OZONE-DEPLETING CHEMICAL

NRDC Reveals Stockpiles of Methyl Bromide Far Exceed Allowed Use

 

WASHINGTON (October 30, 2006) -- The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has revealed that a handful of American chemical suppliers have stockpiled some 20 million pounds of methyl bromide, an ozone-depleting and cancer-causing pesticide - far more than American farmers need. Yet the U.S. government wants to let two American chemical companies profit by producing or importing another 20 million of pounds of this dangerous chemical over the next two years. The findings are being presented to delegates at an international meeting on the world's most effective environmental treaty this week.

At the annual meeting of the parties to the 1987 Montreal Protocol for protecting the ozone layer, taking place Oct. 30-Nov. 3 in New Delhi, India, NRDC is calling on the 189 member nations to block production of new methyl bromide production in light of the huge U.S. stockpiles.

"The administration is handing these two chemical companies a multi-million dollar bonus check while violating an international treaty and threatening public health," said David Doniger, policy director for NRDC's Climate Center.

Two chemical companies stand to gain the most from the government's treaty violations - a chemical maker called Chemtura (formerly called Great Lakes Chemicals) and an imported called Ameribrom (importing methyl bromide from Israel). They will earn between $60 and $80 million from the 20 million pounds of bonus production over the next two years. Methyl bromide currently sells for $3-4 per pound, but has sold for much more in the past few years, when unnecessary production was also occurring.

The Montreal treaty bans methyl bromide production after 2004 except for "critical" agricultural uses. In order to minimize the assault on the ozone layer, the treaty prohibits producing more methyl bromide unless stockpiles have been used up.

After a two year court battle, NRDC recently uncovered government data on huge stockpiles of methyl bromide held by a handful of American chemical suppliers. In a letter to the Montreal treaty delegates, NRDC showed that the U.S. methyl bromide stockpile has exceeded farmers' critical use needs every year since 2005, when critical use exemptions were first made.

U.S. stocks totaled 36.1 million pounds at the start of 2004, 28.6 million pounds at the start of 2005, and 21.9 million pounds at the start of 2006. Nearly 20 million pounds will be left at the start of 2007. Meanwhile, U.S. farmers are using far less than these amounts every year.

"These chemical companies already have enough methyl bromide on hand to meet farmers' needs," Doniger said. "Any more production just lines their pockets at the expense of our health and our country's international standing."

The letter to the delegates and a table showing the figures is available on request by emailing ebsnyder@nrdc.org.

The Montreal Protocol, signed by President Ronald Reagan in 1987 and supported by subsequent U.S. presidents from both political parties, is intended to protect the ozone layer, which shields us from cancer-causing ultraviolet radiation that increases risks of skin cancer, cataracts and immunological disease. Methyl bromide also causes prostate cancer in agricultural workers and others who are directly exposed, according to the National Cancer Institute.

The Natural Resources Defense Council is a national, nonprofit organization of scientists, lawyers and environmental specialists dedicated to protecting public health and the environment. Founded in 1970, NRDC has 1.2 million members and online activists nationwide, served from offices in New York, Washington, Los Angeles and San Francisco.