PPDC Meets May 18-19
May 9th
EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs will hold a public meeting of the Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee on Wednesday, May 18, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and on Thursday, May 19, from 9:00 a.m. to noon. The meeting will be held in EPA’s first floor conference center at One Potomac Yard South, 2777 South Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA 22202.
EPA ESA Pesticides Webinar
Apr 25th
At https://www.epa.gov/pesticides/save-date-register-technical-webinar-recently-released-endangered-species-assessments, EPA posted the following alert about an ESA pesticide webinar:
“On May 5, 2016, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM Eastern Time, EPA will hold an online technical briefing on the first-ever draft biological evaluations analyzing the nationwide effects of chlorpyrifos, diazinon and malathion on endangered and threatened species and designated critical habitat. Register for the webinar at https://epawebconferencing.acms.com/esapilotbioevals/event/registration.html.
EPA Takes Steps to Reduce Animal Testing
Apr 7th
EPA has released a new guidance document, “Process for Establishing & Implementing Alternative Approaches to Traditional in Vivo Acute Toxicity Studies” to expand the use of alternative methods for acute toxicity testing. The guidance describes a process for evaluating and implementing alternative testing methods (not using live animals) for acute oral, dermal and inhalation toxicity, along with skin and eye irritation and skin sensitization. EPA has incorporated comments from stakeholders, other regulatory organizations, and the scientific community. The agency’s response to public comments is included in docket EPA-HQ-OPP-2016-0093.
SAP Meets on Use of Biomonitoring Data
Mar 9th
The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act Scientific Advisory Panel will hold a three-day meeting to consider and review Chlorpyrifos: Analysis of Biomonitoring Data.
The meeting will be held on April 19-21, 2016, from approximately 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Comments. The Agency encourages written comments be submitted on or before April 5, 2016, and requests for oral comments be submitted on or before April 12, 2016. However, written comments and requests to make oral comments may be submitted until the date of the meeting, but anyone submitting written comments after April 5, 2016, should contact the Designated Federal Official for this SAP meeting.
March 9, 2016 Public Meeting on Updating the Coordinated Framework for Regulation of Biotechnology
Mar 1st
EPA published the following notice on the Agency’s website:
“On October 30, 2015, under the auspices of the National Science and Technology Council, the Food and Drug Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the Office of Science and Technology Policy held a public meeting to discuss the memorandum entitled, “Modernizing the Regulatory System for Biotechnology Products,” issued by the Executive Office of the President in July 2015. This meeting was the first of three public engagement sessions on this topic.
Revised Interagency Cooperative Policy Regarding the Role of State Agencies in Endangered Species Act Activities
Feb 24th
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service have published an interagency policy to clarify the role of State agencies in activities undertaken by the Services under authority of the Endangered Species Act. The policy revises a policy issued in 1994.
Public Meetings on Regulating Biotechnology Products
Feb 17th
On October 30, 2015, under the auspices of the National Science and Technology Council, the Food and Drug Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the Office of Science and Technology Policy held a public meeting to discuss the memorandum entitled, “Modernizing the Regulatory System for Biotechnology Products,” issued by the Executive Office of the President in July 2015. This meeting was the first public meeting on this topic.
The second public meeting will be held on March 9, 2016, at EPA’s Region 6 office at 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas. The third public meeting will be held on March 30, 2016, at the University of California, Davis Conference Center, Davis, California.
EPA Seeks Comments on Draft NPDES General Permit
Jan 26th
All ten EPA Regions have proposed for public comment a draft National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System pesticide general permit. The draft PGP covers point source discharges from the application of pesticides to waters of the United States. Once finalized, this draft PGP will replace the existing permit that will expire at midnight on October 31, 2016.
The draft PGP has the same conditions and requirements as the existing PGP and would authorize certain point source discharges from the application of pesticides to waters of the United States in accordance with the terms and conditions described therein. EPA proposes to issue this permit for five (5) years in all areas of the country.
National Pesticide Consultations Stakeholder Meeting Postponed
Jan 20th
EPA, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Marine Fisheries Service had scheduled National Pesticide Consultations Stakeholder Meeting on January 25, 2016, as part of the Agencies continuing efforts to implement the National academy of Sciences’ recommendation on pesticide ESA consultations. This meeting has been postponed.
Agency representatives explained that, based on feedback from the November 30th stakeholder calls, external stakeholders are interested in a 2-day ESA workshop covering a variety of topics related to the pesticide consultations.
After discussing the needs associated with hosting a 2-day workshop that meets stakeholder needs, the Agencies have determined that it is not feasible to host the workshop this January.
EPA Signs Cooperative Agreement with UC Davis to Develop Pesticide Safety Resources
Jan 8th
EPA has entered into a cooperative agreement, the “Pesticide Educational Resource Collaborative,” with the University of California Davis Extension (UC Davis) in partnership with Oregon State University to support the development of resources and materials on the safe use of pesticides by applicators and handlers in agricultural, commercial, and residential settings.