On June 8, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released a revised risk assessment on chlorpyrifos, sold as Dursban, Lorsban, and other trade names. The main results of this action are to eliminate the uses by residents and restrict other uses. This is a massive undertaking, as there are 147 companies that have 803 labeled products containing chlorpyrifos.

Production of residential-size containers of chlorpyrifos, the small containers typically sold to the public in garden centers and hardware stores, will stop by December 1, 2000, with formulators (pesticide producers) stopping sales by February 1, 2001; and retailers will not be able to sell these small containers after December 31, 2001. The only exceptions are baits in child-resistant packaging.

Homeowners will be able to use chlorpyrifos for as long as they have it. There is no date when homeowners must stop using the insecticide. By December 1, 2000, the remaining commercial chlorpyrifos uses either will be reclassified as restricted-use pesticides or packaged in large containers that are unlikely to be purchased by the general public.

Use in indoor and outdoor areas where children could be exposed, such as schools and parks, will be canceled according to the same schedule as residential-size containers. In addition, in areas where children are not likely to be present (that is, golf courses, road medians, and industrial plant sites), maximum application rates will be reduced to one pound of active ingredient per acre. This rate is the same as that currently recommended for all turf insects except for the higher-labeled rates for billbugs, mole crickets, and white grubs. Chlorpyrifos use on billbugs and white grubs is not currently suggested by the University of Illinois due to control inconsistency.

Use of chlorpyrifos for professional termite control will be phased out by the end of 2005. After December 31, 2000, the rate of application will be below that for which there is reliable data on its effectiveness against termites. Use of chlorpyrifos for mosquito control will continue to be legal, but only by professionals.

For all of these uses, some other control options are at least as effective, except for borer control on trees and shrubs. Lindane is labeled for and is as effective in most situations as a borer treatment, but it appears likely that lindane will lose its labeling within a few months. Dimethoate, sold as Cygon, is labeled for and is effective against many borers but is not labeled for many trees and shrubs, other than most needled evergreens. Although it appears that professionals can still use chlorpyrifos to control borers in landscapes, the publicity that these restrictions are getting may make it unwise from a customer-relations viewpoint.

Agricultural uses will be less severely affected. For food crops, there will be reductions in the use of chlorpyrifos on apples and grapes. Use of this insecticide on tomatoes will be phased out totally by the end of this year. All other agricultural uses must be relabeled as restricted-use pesticides or packaged in large containers by December 1, 2000. By the same date, new chlorpyrifos product labels must have revised restricted-entry intervals (REIs).

These changes are due in part to the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996. Under that law, all uses of a pesticide must fit into a risk cup that covers all exposures by residents, and especially children. In addition, repeated research studies have shown that the nervous system of rat fetuses do not develop properly when exposed to even relatively low levels of chlorpyrifos. These studies showing that chlorpyrifos crosses the placental barrier cause additional concern about the exposure of children. About 50% of chlorpyrifos is used in and around the home. Canceling residential use should greatly reduce the amount of chlorpyrifos used overall and concurrently reduce exposure to residents, including children. Undoubtedly, recent research showing that chlorpyrifos is tracked into homes from its presence on turf also added to the concern. There apparently is no other new research on toxicity that is driving these decisions.

In summary, all residential uses end in about 18 months, except for bait stations. All emulsifiable concentrates will become restricted-use pesticides, and all other formulations will be packaged in large quantities that are unlikely to be used by homeowners. Additional information on this topic can be found on USEPA's website at www.epa.gov/pesticides.

Provisions of the Agreement and Associated EPA Actions Regarding Chlorpyrifos

- Phil Nixon

Public primary and secondary schools in Illinois must adopt an integrated pest management program for the control of structural pests in and around school buildings by August 1, 2000. If a school district feels that the adoption of an IPM program would not be economically feasible due to increased pest-control costs, the school district must provide written notification, including projected costs, to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

In addition, parents and guardians of students and employees that request it must be notified in writing at least two business days before any pesticide application to school buildings or grounds. Notification is not required prior to the application of insect and rodent baits or antimicrobial agents such as disinfectants, sanitizers, and deodorizers. Prior notification also is not required if the pesticide application is to control an imminent threat to health or property. If such an imminent threat arises, notification must be provided as soon as practical after the application.

- Phil Nixon

Of the 120 or so pesticide-misuse complaints received each year by the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA), about 60% involve pesticide drift. Across the nation, concern is growing about pesticide drift and increasing numbers of formal complaints. Whether or not pesticide drift (both reported and unreported) is actually increasing, the bottom line is that formal complaints are on the rise, and the IDOA and University of Illinois Extension are being asked to get involved in these complaints more often. Regardless of whether you file a drift complaint or are accused in such a complaint, it's a good idea to know the basics of the complaint process and what resources are available to you.

What are the roles of IDOA and Extension in a drift complaint?
The IDOA and Extension have important but different roles in assisting citizens of Illinois in dealing with pesticides. These roles are based on the Illinois Department of Agriculture's responsibilities to administer and enforce the laws related to the use of pesticides and University of Illinois Extension's responsibilities to educate and solve problems. This spring, IDOA and Extension took a day to educate one another about their respective roles in drift-complaint cases and discussed guidelines for handling drift complaints.

University of Illinois Extension
University of Illinois Extension has a role in education and problem solving. Through the Pesticide Applicator Training (PAT) program and other educational efforts, Extension provides information that helps to prevent drift from occurring in the first place. In a typical year, the PAT program alone reaches just over 14,000 commercial and private pesticide applicators and operators, with pesticide-safety and drift-reduction information. Surveys indicate that our efforts have a positive impact on the overall safety of the application industry.

As a neutral third party, Unit- and Center-based educators, state specialists, and the University of Illinois Plant Clinic often play a major role in problem solving and diagnosing injury symptoms. Typically, this involves ruling out pest, environmental, or nutritional problems and often ruling out specific classes of herbicides. Information of this type is often useful in settling disputes informally. Through informal mediation, many pesticide-drift complaints are resolved before a written complaint is submitted to IDOA or a civil law suit is filed.

If you choose to involve Extension in the process, you should keep two things in mind: (1) Problem solving in a drift complaint is complicated, and the outcome may not please either party; and (2) not every Extension staff member is comfortable with (or is trained in) identifying herbicide injury and ruling out all the other possible explanations for damage to the range of crops and ornamental plants grown in Illinois. For these reasons, you may be referred to another educator or to a state specialist. In many cases, there simply may not be enough evidence to make a clear-cut decision as to the cause of the damage or enough information to determine the short- or long-term effects of the damage.

To request assistance from Extension, contact your nearest University of Illinois Extension office, which will direct your case to the appropriate educator or specialist. If you send samples to the University of Illinois Plant Clinic directly, please note that the Plant Clinic does not offer opinions on chemical injury to ornamental plants. If chemical-injury diagnoses are requested for crop plants, state specialists are consulted to render an opinion based solely on the sample, its symptoms, and the facts provided: Be sure to include all relevant information. Keep in mind that the Plant Clinic does not perform pesticide-residue tests, and without such tests the cause of a symptom cannot be attributed to pesticide drift with 100% certainty. However, it is possible for Clinic staff and specialists to rule out other possible causes and establish whether the likely cause is drift.

Illinois Department of Agriculture
The IDOA has three roles that impact its handling of pesticide-drift complaints. These roles are (1) education and licensing of applicators and operators via the PAT program, (2) investigation of complaints, and (3) enforcement of pesticide laws. The roles of IDOA are determined by laws and statutes passed by the Illinois legislature or the federal government.

If a written pesticide-drift complaint is submitted to IDOA within 30 days of when the damage is noticed, then IDOA will investigate the complaint. The investigator assigned to the complaint collects information and evidence to assist IDOA in determining whether or not pesticide drift occurred. The investigator's role is to remain neutral and collect information, not to determine what caused the injury. Based on information collected by the investigator, IDOA administrators make a determination of pesticide drift. In its enforcement role, IDOA may send a warning letter to the applicator, assess a fine, or revoke an applicator's license.

How to respond to signs of pesticide misuse
Before doing anything, both parties should make an effort to discuss the suspected drift incident and rule out other possible causes of the damage. As previously mentioned, Extension can play a valuable role in this process. In cases for which the cause of the damage remains unclear or the parties will not work together, a formal complaint may be necessary. The pesticide-drift complaint process is started by calling IDOA's Bureau of Environmental Programs at 1(800)641-3934 (voice and TDD) or (217)785-2427 for a complaint form. Complaint forms must be received by the IDOA within 30 days of the incident or within 30 days of when the damage was first noticed. Complaints filed after that time will be kept on record, but no administrative action can be taken.

The complaint process
Once a complaint is filed with the department, a field investigator is assigned the case. In most cases, the inspector interviews the complainant and inspects the site. Various types of samples (such as plants, water, or soil) may be collected for analysis at an approved laboratory. The investigator may also interview applicators in the area, examine pesticide records, and collect weather data in an attempt to determine the nature and cause of the damage. The field investigator then submits a report to the Department for review.

Both parties receive written notification if the Department finds a violation and takes enforcement action. Penalties range from advisory or warning letters to monetary penalties of $750 to $10,000, depending on the type and severity of the violation. Penalties are determined through a point system defined in the Illinois Pesticide Act. Even if a violation of the Illinois Pesticide Act cannot be substantiated, both the complainant and the alleged violator are notified in writing of the complaint's status. Remember, the Department's role in pesticide-misuse incidents is limited to determining whether a violation has occurred. IDOA cannot help complainants recover damages.

Drift resources
For more information about drift, injury symptoms, and drift-reduction strategies, refer to the Illinois Pesticide Applicator Training Manual: Private Applicator (1999) or the Illinois Pesticide Applicator Training Manual: General Standards (1995). Both manuals are available through your local Extension office. In addition, the Illinois Pesticide Safety Education website has a section covering these same topics (www.aces.uiuc.edu/~pse/facts/drift.html). We plan to enhance the drift section, so be sure to visit it periodically for updates.

- Bruce Paulsrud, Mark F. Mohr, John Masiunas

Stakeholders who participated in EPA's initial stakeholder meeting of the National Assessment of the Worker Protection Standard Program won praise from agency officials for their willingness to be open-minded and nonconfrontational.

"It's a far cry from the early days of WPS," said Kevin Keaney, chief of EPA's Certification and Worker Protection Branch. "It lets you think you can arrive at some productive solution" to the variety of concerns expressed by the various stakeholders, he told Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News.

The WPS program was crafted in 1992 and fully implemented in 1995. Stakeholders met last month in Austin, TX, to discuss the status of the WPS, a program aimed at reducing the risk of agricultural pesticide poisonings and injuries among farm, forestry, nursery, and greenhouse workers.

EPA has embarked on a two- to three-year process to assess WPS.

Farmworker advocacy groups, growers, and state agencies were among the stakeholders attending the two-day event. Conspicuously absent were representatives of the pesticide manufacturers. EPA has encouraged the producers to participate, an agency told PTCN. "They are lying low and waiting to hear about the outcome of these meetings," speculated a private-sector participant who requested anonymity.

At the outset of the meeting, EPA said it wanted stakeholders to discuss their key concerns about the WPS program. By the close of business, the agency had much to digest.

Specific Issues of Concern
The small working group meetings in Austin identified many specific concerns of stakeholders.

Training
• Improvement in quality
• Consistency throughout the country
• Better record keeping and verification
• Use of more varied training material

Information exchange
• Central posting of application information
• Accessibility
• Use of oral notification as a preferred means

Enforcement
• Consistent nationwide reporting by the states
• Improving EPA–state interface
• Clear description of a WPS inspection
• Quality and frequency of inspections
• Nuts and bolts of a good inspection
• Penalty structure
• Community involvement

Complaints and retaliation
• Improving the process for initiating complaints
• Educating workers on their rights
• Preserving the privacy of complainants
• Timeliness of complaints
• Loss of employment as "presumption" of legal recourse

Keaney summarized the general themes that emerged from a day and a half of small-group meetings. His list included
• training systems
• information sharing
• enforcement
• complainants and retaliation
• children

The next step in the process will be creating a small working group to plan the assessment process. That will be followed by the creation of working groups devoted to the broad themes outlined by Keaney.

In addition, Keaney said he is leaning toward creating a working group to survey the condition of the WPS program nationwide to establish a "baseline" of information. Although the survey may not prove to be "statistically defensible," he cautioned, it could prove to be a valuable tool.

"The real nuts and bolts of activity will come out of the working groups," Keaney told the stakeholders. He also said he expects to create a coordinating committee of manageable size, to include representatives of all the stakeholders involved in WPS, as well as the heads of various working groups.

One skeptical participant wanted to know whether the working groups would merely be window dressing for the assessment process. "They will have a great deal of weight" in the final product, Keaney responded.

Keaney appealed to the participants to remain active throughout the assessment. The process of meeting generates a "sense of identity as partners in the program," he said. "It's not 'you or them'; it's 'us.'" He announced that the next stakeholder meeting will be in Sacramento, CA, in October or November.

Keaney said his long-term vision for WPS is to see the creation of a "standing forum before which we can bring issues of contention." It would be a "very valuable outcome" of the assessment process and would preserve the program's identity.

"I look forward for all of you to continue being players in the process," Keaney said.

(Adapted from Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, June 8, 2000)

- Michelle Wiesbrook

BRONATE PRO (bromoxynil/fenoxaprop-p-ethyl)–Aventis–A new twin-pack combination available this year for use on wheat as a postemergence treatment to control grasses and broadleaf weeds.

COMMAND EXTRA (clomazone/sulfentrazone)–FMC–Received EPA registration to use on soybeans grown in KS, MO, KY, VA, and all states north, including NY. Applied either early preplant or preemergence. [herbicide]

CONCLUDE XACT (sethoxydim/acifluorfen-sodium/bentazon)–BASF–A new postemergence combination herbicide being introduced for use on soybeans to control both broadleaves and grasses.

EQUIP/TRIBUTE (foramsulfuron)–Aventis–A new corn herbicide used as a postemergence treatment to control grasses and broadleaf weeds. Registration is expected in 2002.

EVEREST (BAY-MKH-6562)–Bayer–A new small-grain herbicide that will be introduced this year in the United States and Canada.

MEDAL (s-metolachlor)–Novartis–A new formulation being developed for use on corn, cotton, and soybeans. [herbicide]

PENDIMAX 3.3 (pendimethalin)–Dow AgroSciences–A new formulation being made available for this agricultural herbicide.

QUADRIS (azoxystrobin)–Zeneca–Registration is expected this summer on seed corn to control seed rot and seedling blight and on soybeans to control pod and stem blight, rhizoctonia stem rot, downy mildew, brown stem rot, and brown spot.

REMOVE (glufosinate-ammonium)–Aventis–A new formulation to use on nonglufosinate-tolerant corn and soybeans in seed production. [herbicide]

RELDAN (chlorpyrifos-methyl)–Dow AgroSciences–Due to the high cost of reregistration, the company has requested a voluntary cancellation for use on stored wheat, barley, oats, rice, and sorghum. The comment period expired 6-27-2000. [insecticide]

ROUNDUP ULTRA (glyphosate)–Monsanto–Received an EPA label to use on Roundup Ready rice grown for seed, to control various weeds.

SELECT (clethodim)–Valent–Received a label to use on seedling alfalfa in tank mix with Buctril. The label allows use in many states, including Illinois. [herbicide]

(Michelle Wiesbrook, unless otherwise noted, adapted from Agricultural Chemical News, May and June 2000.)

ACRAMET 50WS (bifenazate)–Uniroyal–A new compound being developed to control mites on pome fruit, stone fruit, grapes, cotton, and strawberries.

ARIARD/CALYPSO (thiacloprid)–Bayer–A new insecticide being developed for use on rice, fruit crops, and vegetables.

EC02 FUME (phosphine gas)–Cytec Industries–EPA has approved an application to register conditionally this new active ingredient as a fumigant to control insects in nonfood commodities (including tobacco). (FR vol. 65, 3-23-2000)

HURRICANE (mefenoxam/fludioxonil)–Novartis–A new combination fungicide being developed.

LANCER (acephate)–United Phosphorus–A new formulation being introduced into the U.S. market. [insecticide]

MESSENGER (harpen protein)–Eden BioSciences–Received EPA registration to control a wide variety of fungal, bacterial, and viral diseases, as well as several insects on field crops, trees, turf, and ornamentals.

PREVICUR (propamocarb hydrochloride)–Aventis–Proposed to EPA to register for use on turf and ornamentals and to use on potatoes to control late blight. The comment period expired 4-26-2000. (FR vol. 65, 3-27-2000)

REGLONE (diquat)–Zeneca–This product will now be marketed under this name for the 2000 season, for potato vine kill. It is also registered for preharvest desiccation of alfalfa, clover, sorghum, and soybean seed crops and on nonbearing tree, small-fruit, and vegetable crops for weed control during site preparation prior to planting and up to 1 year before harvest.

TATTOO C (propamocarb hydrochloride/chlorothalonil)–Aventis–Proposed to EPA to register this product on turf and ornamentals, as well as on potatoes, to control late blight. The comment period expired 4-26-2000. (FR vol. 65, 3-27-2000)

TRICHODEX (T.h. strain T-39)–Makhteshim Beer Sheva Chemical Works–A new bio-fungicide being developed to control Botrytis cinerea on cabbage, garlic, and soybeans.

(Michelle Wiesbrook, unless otherwise noted, adapted from Agricultural Chemical News, May and June 2000.)

CHEMINOVA–The Danish company has reached an agreement with Dow AgroSciences to set up a 50/50 joint venture to register and market a new pyrethroid insecticide.

CK WITCO (Uniroyal)–The company plans to change its name to Crompton Corp, while crop protection will remain under the Uniroyal label.

DOW AGROSCIENCES–The company has formed a research alliance with Michigan State University, Miami University, Washington State University, and Brookhaven National Labs to improve the traits of specific oils and fatty acids in soybeans, canola, sunflower, and other crops.

OWAN–The company has purchased from Eco Soil Systems the rights and brand names to the Confuse pheromone products used for mating disruption. The products are used for oriental fruit moth, codling moth, and peach twig borer.

LESCO–The company has created three new business segments: a lawn-care division, a golf division, and a product-supply division.

MONSANTO–The company has made a marketing agreement with MicroFlo to supply alachlor herbicide for use in their branded products. It will be called MicroFlo Alachlor 4.

SEPRO–The company has signed an agreement with Nihon Nohyaku Co. of Japan to exclusively market their miticide Akaria in the United States for use on ornamentals. It provides excellent knockdown, with 21 to 28 days residual control. Registration is expected this fall.

ZENECA/AVENTIS–The companies will pay dealer rebates for applying Aventis's Balance preemergence herbicide for corn with Zeneca's Surpass, Top Notch, Ful Time, or Double Play safened acetochlor herbicides.

(Michelle Wiesbrook, unless otherwise noted, adapted from Agricultural Chemical News, May and June 2000.)

AVID (abamectin)–Novartis–Added to their label the control of whiteflies, aphids, and thrips on ornamentals.

CINNAMITE (cinnamaldehyde)–Mycotech–As a result of the IR-4 Project, they can now add to their label the use on roses in greenhouses, ground beds, and containers. [insecticide]

CLEARY 3336 (thiophanate-methyl)–Cleary–As a result of the IR-4 Project, they can now add to their label the use on begonias in greenhouse beds and containers. [fungicide]

DACONIL ULTREX (chlorothalonil)–Zeneca–Added to their label the control of algae.

DEVINOL 2G (napropamide)–United Phosphorus–A new formulation for use in turf, flower gardens, and landscape plantings. [herbicide]

MANOR (metsulfuron-methyl)–Riverside Chem–A new turf herbicide that will be marketed this season. Used as a foliar spray, it controls major broadleaf weeds, as well as selectively removes bahiagrass from bermudagrass and St. Augustine grass.

(Michelle Wiesbrook, unless otherwise noted, adapted from Agricultural Chemical News, May and June 2000.)

ADMIRE (imidacloprid)–Bayer–Adding to their label the suppression of phylloxera on grapes.

BRAVO ULTREX (chlorothalonil)–Zeneca–Added to their label the control of black knot in cherries and plums.

CHAMP FORMULA 2 (copper hydroxide)–Agtrol–Added to their label the control of phomopsis on grapes.

PAVOIS (Carpocapsa spp. granulosis virus)–Bayer–A new bio-insecticide introduced in Europe to control coddling moth on pome fruits and walnuts.

RIDOMIL GOLD EC (mefenoxam)–Novartis–Added to their label the use on potatoes at planting, to control pink rot and pythium leak.

TOPSIN M (thiophanate-methyl)–Elf Atochem–Adding to their label the suppression of vine decline on cucurbits.

VALERO (cinnamaldehyde)–Mycotech–Added to their label the use on strawberries and other small berries, to control mites and other insects.

(Michelle Wiesbrook, unless otherwise noted, adapted from Agricultural Chemical News, May and June 2000.)

MAXFORCE (hydramethylnon)–Maxforce–Added to their label the control of silverfish and firebrats.

TERMIDOR (fipronil)–Aventis–The company should have begun selling this new termiticide this spring in the United States.

(Michelle Wiesbrook, unless otherwise noted, adapted from Agricultural Chemical News, May and June 2000.)