1999 Accomplishments and Priorities

Department of Pesticide Regulation

The Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) regulates the use of pesticides to protect human health and the environment.

Accomplishments from First Half of 1999

1. DDVP Pest Strip Cancellation. On February 19, 1999, DPR initiated proceedings to cancel the registrations of resin pest strips containing the active ingredient DDVP (Dichlorvos) labeled for residential use. A DPR risk assessment revealed that acute, chronic, and lifetime residential inhalation exposures to DDVP in resin strips pose an unacceptable risk of adverse health effects, especially with respect to children. The risk assessment also revealed that no practical measures are known that would mitigate the exposure to DDVP in resin strips used in residential settings. The registrant is appealing.

2. Methyl Bromide Risk Assessment. DPR completed its comprehensive risk assessment for methyl bromide. In 1992, DPR performed an interim risk assessment on acute exposures to methyl bromide. A new and comprehensive assessment underwent scientific peer review by both the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

3. Risk Assessments. This past year, DPR has completed and sent out for peer review draft risk assessments on 24 active ingredients under SB 950 and AB 1807.

4. Toxic Air Contaminant Listing. In the past calendar year, DPR renewed its commitment to identify pesticides that meet the criteria of AB 1807 as a TAC. The pesticide DEF was assessed by DPR for its potential as a TAC under AB 1807. This was the second pesticide DPR brought before the AB 1807 Scientific Advisory Panel as a possible TAC. The Scientific Advisory Panel reviewed and agreed with DPR's findings.

5. Pesticide Use Report. DPR issued the 1996 and 1997 Pesticide Use Report data and trend analyses. Pesticide use patterns in 1996 and 1997 were similar to 1995. The total reported amount of pounds used was 205, 198, and 205 million pounds in 1995, 1996, and 1997, respectively. As in earlier years, the most reported pounds used were of the San Joaquin Valley. Some specific categories of pesticides tracked by DPR showed increases in pounds used, while others showed decreases in comparison to 1995. Categories showing increases included carcinogenic pesticides and ground water contaminants. Categories showing decreases included pesticides causing reproductive effects, nerve toxins (cholinesterase-inhibiting pesticides), and TACs.

6. Sacramento River Watershed Program. In 1998, Sacramento River Watershed Project stakeholders agreed that the presence of organophosphate pesticides in the Sacramento and Feather Rivers should be reduced in order to protect aquatic resources and recommended development of an organophosphate pesticide management plan. In June 1999, the Sacramento River Watershed Project provided funding to DPR to develop the plan, in cooperation with the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board. DPR established a stakeholder focus group to assist developing the plan. This project is equivalent to the development of a total maximum daily load, required by the federal Clean Water Act.

7. Norflurazon. Under the authority of AB 2021, the Director issued a final decision regarding review of norflurazon following its detection in ground water due to legal agricultural use. The Director decided that use of norflurazon could be modified so that there would be a high probability that pollution of the state's ground water would not occur. Norflurazon will be added to the Groundwater Protection List, Part A, and use restrictions will apply.

8. Reduced-risk Pest Management. In January 1999, DPR awarded $722,731 to support 28 innovative projects that promote environmentally friendly pest management techniques. DPR awarded grants totaling $338,450 to 13 demonstration projects and $384,281 for 15 grants designated for applied research. Unlike the statewide approach of the alliance program, these are smaller grants (up to $30,000 each) designed to promote the adoption of reduced-risk pest management strategies at the local level, or to develop a new, least-toxic approach to a higher-risk pesticide.

9. Pest Management Alliance Program. In June 1999, DPR awarded $737,000 in Pest Management Alliance (PMA) grants to fund ten large-scale projects aimed at reducing the use of high-risk pesticides growing cotton, tree fruit, almonds, rice, walnuts, sugar beets, seeds, and cut flowers. DPR initiated the PMA program in 1997 to encourage industry wide adoption of reduced-risk pest management systems where human health and environmental problems have been associated with pesticide use. The PMA program has become the cornerstone of DPR's strategy to resolve pesticide problems by establishing a dialogue with the regulated community and bringing together industry, researchers, and environmentalists in a team approach to address important pest management issues statewide.

 Priorities for Second Half of 1999

1. Enforcement Initiative. The report on the enforcement initiative will be completed in the fall of 1999. It will highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the pesticide enforcement program and offer recommendations for improvement.

2. Pesticide Use Report. In September, DPR expects to release the 1998 pesticide use report (PUR) raw data, fulfilling a pledge to the Legislature to bring the PURs up-to-date. (The 1996 and 1997 PURs were released earlier this year.) It includes specific information on pesticide applications for production agriculture, post harvest fumigation, structural pest control, landscape maintenance, and other uses. (Home and institutional uses are exempted.) Summaries of the 1998 data--organized by chemical and commodity--will be posted on DPR's Web site, and a complete data set of more than 2.5 million reports will be available on CD ROM for a nominal charge.

3. Volatile Organic Compound Trend Analysis. DPR will complete the analysis of volatile organic compound emissions from agricultural and structural pesticides for the years 1990 through 1998.

4. Toxic Air Contaminants. DPR will bring two toxic air contaminant (TAC) risk assessment documents (methyl parathion and MITC) before the Scientific Review Panel. The listing of DEF as a TAC should complete the rulemaking process by December.

5. Methyl Bromide Risk Assessment. Comments and responses to the draft comprehensive risk assessment will be forwarded in September to the National Academy of Sciences for final peer review for the soundness of the scientific basis of the risk assessment. The Academy will hold its first meeting on October 4, 1999, in Irvine.

6. Methyl Bromide Regulations. In December, DPR expects to propose statewide regulations on the agricultural use of methyl bromide and chloropicrin. In addition to those two fumigants, DPR is reevaluating other high-risk pesticides to determine if new regulations are appropriate. These mandatory rules would replace some discretionary controls now set at the county level. While county agricultural commissioners will maintain an integral role regulating pesticides, transferring some permit restrictions into regulation will support uniformity and consistency in enforcement.

7. Ground Water Regulations Workshop. Beginning in September, DPR will hold workshops in Sacramento and Fresno to seek public and industry suggestions for a major new initiative to protect ground water from pesticides. Currently, DPR imposes pesticide restrictions after ground water contamination is detected. The new regulations are designed to prevent contamination by recognizing vulnerable areas. Using data collected by the Department for the past 15 years, DPR scientists have developed computer models to identify these vulnerable areas based on weather, soil, cropping patterns, and other factors.

8. Surface Water Protection. DPR, in cooperation with the state and regional water boards, will release a plan to monitor critical water bodies for pesticide residues to aid in the development of total maximum daily loads.

9. Lompoc Air Monitoring. By November, the fumigant-monitoring phase of the Lompoc pesticide air-monitoring program will be completed.

10. Integrated Pest Management Innovators. In November, DPR will present integrated pest management (IPM) innovator awards. Given to agricultural and nonagricultural individuals and organizations for exceptional initiative developing new, environmentally friendly ways to fight insects, weeds, and other pests. IPM innovators are leaders in adopting and promoting reduced-risk pest control. IPM works with nature to create conditions that make it difficult for pests to survive, while encouraging beneficial organisms to thrive. IPM is pest control methods minimizing risks to health, the economy, and the environment.

11. Pest Management Grants. DPR will issue requests for proposals for demonstration and applied research projects that reduce the use of pesticides that pose risk to people and the environment.

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