Help ARA, EPA Fight 2,4-D Ban
February 2, 2009 As ag retailers, you have the opportunity to help stop an attempt to ban 2,4-D herbicide products. However, the clock is ticking; EPA’s deadline for public comments is Feb. 23.
ARA is working closely with an industry consortium of grower and industry groups to counter the action taken by the Natural Resources Defense Fund (NRDC) at the EPA to ban all uses of the herbicide 2,4-D. NRDC filed a brief with EPA on Nov. 6, 2008 asking EPA to ”revoke all tolerances and cancel all registrations for the pesticide 2,4-D.”
EPA has now responded by opening a public docket to have a full review of the claims made by the NRDC. Jim Gray, executive director for the Industry Task Force II on 2,4-D which provided much of the research data for the 2,4-D reregistration, responded to the NRDC request. "Extensive research, independent scientific reviews, and regulatory evaluations worldwide have consistently found that authorized uses of 2,4-D do not pose risks of concern for human health or the environment," he stated.
Also, a consortium of manufacturers of the herbicide who have conducted and submitted to EPA over 300 toxicology, ecotoxicity, residue, and environmental fate studies on 2,4-D, will urge the agency to deny the NRDC petition on the grounds that EPA has repeatedly reviewed these and other studies, including studies cited in the petition, and concluded that 2,4-D does not pose an unreasonable risk to man or the environment when used according to its label.
ARA and its partners will assist the EPA in defending its position that 2,4-D poses no health or environmental threats when used according to label directions.
EPA will accept public comments until Feb. 23, 2009. Comments should include docket number EPA-HQ-OPP-2008-0877, and may be submitted by one of the following methods:
- Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
- Mail: Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP), Docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2008-0877, Regulatory Public Docket (7502P), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460-0001
(Source: Agricultural Retailers Association)
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