Archive for March, 2018

EPA Seeks Comments on NMFS BiOp for 3 OPs

EPA is seeking comment on the final Biological Opinion issued under the Endangered Species Act by the National Marine Fisheries Service regarding the potential effects of chlorpyrifos, malathion, and diazinon on federally listed threatened or endangered species and their designated critical habitats. Comments are due to EPA by May 22, 2018.

This is the first BiOp published under the new pesticide ESA Consultation procedures being developed by EPA, NMFS and the Fish and Wildlife Service. NMFS originally published this BiOp as final in response to a court order.  EPA has reinitiated informal ESA consultation on the BiOp in order to allow more public comment on it.

PPDC Meeting May 2-3, 2018

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Environmental Protection

Agency’s Office of Pesticide Programs is announcing a public meeting of the Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee on May 2-3, 2018. This meeting provides advice andrecommendations to the EPA Administrator on issues associated with pesticide regulatorydevelopment and reform initiatives, evolving public policy and program implementation issues,and science issues associated with evaluating and reducing risks from use of pesticides.

This PPDC meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 2, 2018, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., andThursday, May 3, 2018, from 9 a.m. to noon.

Public Comment Period Open for Glyphosate Draft Risk Assessments

EPA has opened the 60-day public comment period for the draft glyphosate human health and ecological risk assessments. Comments are due by April 30, 2018.

The draft risk assessments and supporting documents are available in glyphosate’s registration review docket EPA-HQ-OPP-2009-0361 on www.regulations.gov.

After the comment period, EPA will evaluate the comments received and consider any potential risk management options for this herbicide.

For additional details read EPA’s December 2017 announcement: EPA Releases Draft Risk Assessments for Glyphosate.