2000 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 during First Half of 2000

1. Pesticide Risk Characterization/Exposure Assessments under the Birth Defect Prevention Act of 1984 (SB 950). DPR released two risk assessments (atrazine and thiabendazole) for peer review on June 30. The scheduled release of risk assessments for other pesticides were delayed due to risk management activities for azinphos-methyl, methyl bromide, 1,2 dichloropropane, and DEF.
2. Pesticide Illness Surveillance Annual Report. The Department issued the 1998 Annual Report of the Pesticide Illness Surveillance Program (PISP) in February. Overall, there were 998 potential or confirmed cases of pesticide illness in 1998, down 24 percent from the previous year. About 63 percent--632 illnesses--were nonagricultural, while 366 reports involved pesticide use in agricultural settings. The report also describes incidents of special concern, with particular detail provided on the investigation into an early reentry incident that caused illness to 34 field workers weeding a cotton field.
3. Pesticide Illness Investigation Program. DPR initiated an enhanced Pesticide Illness Investigation Program. This program will assist county agricultural commissioners (CACs) in conducting illness investigations or parallel investigations, with a focus on exposure and occupational safety. A document outlining how this program will function has been drafted; a completed document is expected by December.
4. Physician Reporting Improvement Project. The Worker Health and Safety (WH&S) Branch staff completed the study report for this illness surveillance project. The document (HS-1781) is available on the DPR Web site. As a result of this project, direct physician reporting increased from about 13 percent to 30 percent of the total cases entered into the illness surveillance database. DPR will explore ways to further improve physician reporting.
5. Information Technology.

   • The Information Technology Office (ITO) is developing a Web-based procurement application that allows DPR staff to complete an online form to request purchases and replaces the DPR-21 hard copy form. In addition, a Web-based application is in production that allows online reporting of purchases made using the Cal Card.

   • A feasibility study report has been approved by the Department of Information Technology for the Department's Internet-Based Pesticide Resource Directory, which will provide external customers access to department database resources. The Web-based project will begin in July.

   • The Licensing and Certification Program designed, tested, and implemented a new licensing database for issuing and renewing pest control applicator, adviser, and business licenses. The new system required major review and revision of internal policies and business rules which affected virtually every area of the program (forms, applications, policy statements, etc.). The Licensing and Certification Program also automated examination results notification. Data entry time was reduced from ten hours to ten minutes, and results are now available on our Web site within 10 working days of the examination.
6. Enforcement Initiative. DPR completed its enforcement initiative through the development of an action plan. Items underway include expansion of the resources for compliance assessment and county oversight, initiating a drift control initiative, improving enforcement planning and evaluations, and enhancing state and county authorities.
7. Methyl Bromide. On January 21, DPR noticed proposed regulations to adopt many of DPR’s methyl bromide "suggested permit conditions" for field soil fumigation. During the 45-day public comment period, DPR held four statewide public hearings. DPR, under a court order to submit final regulations to the Office of Administrative Law by June 1, requested the court give a four-month extension to allow DPR to comment fully as required by law to the more than 1,000 comments received on the proposed regulations. Also, DPR contracted with the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to provide peer review of DPR’s risk assessment of methyl bromide upon which the proposed regulations were based.

   On May 19, DPR sponsored a public workshop to discuss the NAS peer review with NAS peer review subcommittee members. In May, DPR noticed revised regulations for a 15-day public comment period. The revised language clarifies procedures to notify neighbors and would allow certain buffer zones to extend into neighboring agricultural property with permission of the owner.

8. Pesticide/Wildlife Incident Response Plan (PWIRP). DPR’s Pesticide Enforcement Branch staff completed work on a memorandum of understanding between the California Agricultural Commissioners and Sealers Association, DPR, and the Department of Fish and Game. The PWIRP provides an outline of procedures and guidelines for these organizations to follow when responding to incidents involving nontarget fish and wildlife resources. The PWIRP is designed to foster greater communication, cooperation, and coordination of joint responsibilities resulting from incidents associated with pesticide use and wildlife.
9. Toxic Air Contaminants (AB 1807). The Scientific Review Panel accepted DPR's toxic air contaminant (TAC) documents for methyl parathion and metam sodium (including its volatile breakdown product MITC). DPR initiated rulemaking to list methyl parathion as a TAC. DPR adopted a regulation to add tribufos to the TAC list.
10. Pesticide Use Reporting. The pesticide use reporting database was modified in the fall of 1999 to improve the accuracy of the data and streamline the electronic reporting process. The preliminary 1999 annual pesticide use report (PUR) was released in June 2000; the statewide and county summaries are available on DPR’s Web site. (The data are released as annual statewide and county summary tables, and as a complete database on CD-ROM.) A conference on pesticide use reporting was held on May 8. DPR received a list of PUR issues of concern generated from the conference.
11. Red Imported Fire Ant. Since March 1999, the Environmental Hazards Assessment Program of DPR has been taking monthly surface water samples from 10 sites representing urban and nursery areas in the Red Imported Fire Ant (RIFA) treatment areas in Orange County. The objectives are to determine the concentration of RIFA insecticides in runoff water from irrigation or during a rainstorm and to assess toxicity of these samples to an indicator aquatic organism - Ceriodaphnia dubia. Over 300 water samples have been analyzed for the RIFA chemicals: (1) baits - hydramethylnon, pyriproxyphen, and fenoxycarb; (2) granules – bifenthrin; (3) sprays and others - chlorpyrifos and diazinon.

    Results indicated that (a) the bait materials were detected once from one site with slight aquatic toxicity, (b) bifenthrin were detected from runoff from nursery sites at toxic levels, and (c) the generally available insecticides chlorpyrifos and diazinon were detected in urban runoff with significant aquatic toxicity. The latter two chemicals are readily available to homeowners for general insect control. We are currently conducting an education and outreach program, and working with nurseries in conjunction with the University of California Cooperative Extension to mitigate runoff of these insecticides to surface water.

12. Lompoc Pesticide Monitoring. Monitoring for approximately 30 organophosphate pesticides was initiated in May and monitoring will continue through the summer and fall. Monitoring for selected fumigants took place during the last half of 1999 and first half of 2000. Monitoring for fumigants should be completed during the last half of 2000. All monitoring is being conducted in conjunction with the Lompoc Interagency Workgroup and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA).
13. Pest Management Grants. In March, final reports were received from 28 new and continuing demonstration and applied research projects. These projects are designed to promote reduced-risk pest management practices at the local level. Projects have shown success in reducing or eliminating use of highly toxic pesticides, reducing the risk of worker exposure to pesticides, and reducing the potential of environmental contamination from pesticides, particularly in surface water. Effective March 1, there were 19 new and continuing projects awarded $588,000 to promote increased adoption of reduced-risk practices in agricultural and urban settings.
14. Pest Management Alliance. In fall 1999 and spring 2000, DPR received final reports from eight pest management alliance projects. Alliance teams have been successful in demonstrating certain reduced-risk practices as effective alternatives to the use of highly toxic pesticides. DPR established the alliance program in 1998 to encourage statewide implementation of reduced-risk pest management. Emphasis is on demonstration and adoption of reduced-risk practices on a regional or statewide level. In June, DPR awarded $780,000 for nine new and continuing projects. The funding is made available for groups to continue to increase awareness about the availability of effective reduced-risk alternatives, and to promote increased adoption of reduced-risk practices.
15. Surface Water Protection. DPR contracted with California State University at Fresno, the University of California, Davis, the Department of Fish and Game, the U.S. Geological Survey, the San Francisco Estuary Project, the City of San Diego, the University of California Cooperative Extension, and the County of Alameda to provide controlled runoff studies, statistical analysis of the surface water database, identification of pesticide sources in urban waterways, and toxicity testing of surface water samples, including water samples taken from the San Joaquin and Sacramento Rivers during rain events. These contracts are designed to provide DPR’s surface water program with the information necessary to assess pesticide residues in water bodies. DPR also initiated the 1999/2000 Rice Pesticide Monitoring Program. This program is designed to assess pesticides during the peak period for rice pesticide applications to determine the effectiveness of use restrictions.
16. Sacramento River Watershed Program. A stakeholder focus group met monthly and addressed issues related to water quality targets for organophosphate pesticides in the watershed and management practices that reduce pesticide runoff. In cooperation with the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board, DPR developed and executed a plan for monitoring pesticides in surface runoff during the winter.
17. Copper Naphthenate Reevaluation. In March, DPR concluded its reevaluation of pesticide products containing copper naphthenate. Applicators use copper naphthenate as a fungicide and wood preservative to protect wood from fungal decay and insect attack. The reevaluation was initiated due to concerns regarding use of the products indoors. During the reevaluation, the Naphthenate Salts Research Task Force agreed to prohibit any further use of copper naphthenate indoors. In the meantime, copper naphthenate registrants amended the labels of their products to delete all indoor uses and to add the statement "For Exterior Use Only."
18. Redesign of the Department's Internet Web Site. DPR has initiated a major overhaul and redesign of its Internet Web Site to make it more attractive and user friendly. DPR used this opportunity to establish more usable and understandable category titles and streamline the navigational structure so users have easier access to information on its Web site. The second phase of the redesign project includes developing a more robust search engine, establishing a centralized document directory structure, and developing template design pages for all secondary and tertiary Web pages. The second phase is scheduled for completion in July 2000.
19. Drift Control Mitigation and Enforcement. During the first half of 2000, DPR drafted a revision of the Pesticide Drift Enforcement Policy, which is undergoing review by the commissioners’ five area groups. DPR also drafted proposed changes to the regulations pertaining to drift control with the Office of Administrative Law. Current drift control regulations are limited to certain restricted use herbicides. The proposed changes will pertain to all pesticide formulations for both restricted and nonrestricted uses.
20. California/Mexico Border Project. In April, the Information Exchange organized and conducted a registration workshop at U.S. EPA in Washington, D.C., focusing on the technical aspects of the registration review process. The workshop was attended by 10 Mexican registration specialists from each of the federal agencies responsible for pesticide registration. The workshop was a huge success, providing useful information to the Mexican specialists that has since been used in Mexico.
21. County Program Oversight. A team of DPR and CAC staff completed and implemented a revised prioritization plan and negotiated work plan between January and June. New policy changes were completed to implement the updated program. The proposed effectiveness evaluation was tested on a very small scale during this period and will be piloted with seven counties during the second half of 2000. County work plans will now be integrated with statewide priorities and environmental indicator evaluations, and accountability measures will be instituted statewide.
22. Strategic Plan Update. In April, DPR began revising its strategic plan and developing an operating plan to define its program functions, work products, and target dates. DPR has completed most of this planning process including adoption of new mission and vision statements and policy goals, and definition of environmental and program indicators. Operational plans are under development for each branch, as well as for a joint state-county planning session to improve the partnership with CAC representatives.

Priorities for Second Half of 2000

1. Toxic Air Contaminants (TACs) - AB 1807. DPR will bring three TAC risk assessment documents (azinphos methyl, molinate and chlorpyrifos) before the Scientific Review Panel for review and recommendation. DPR will receive findings from the Scientific Review Panel on the metam sodium/MITC document. The receipt of the findings will prompt DPR to initiate rulemaking to add MITC to the toxic air contaminant list.
2. Pesticide Risk Characterization/Exposure Assessments under the Birth Defect Prevention Act of 1984 (SB 950).  DPR will complete risk characterization documents for acephate/methamidophos, captan, carbaryl, hydramethylnon, mancozeb/ETU, maneb/ETU, metam sodium, and methidathion. DPR will conduct or revise exposure assessments for chlorothalonil, amitraz, methyl parathion, and MITC.
3. Exposure Guidance Document. DPR staff anticipates completing the revised document, Guidance for the Preparation of Human Pesticide Exposure Assessment Documents (HS-1612). This document contains, among other things, default physiological factors, protective factors for clothing, personal protective equipment, engineering controls, and activity patterns.
4. California Pesticide Illness Surveillance Data Enhancement Project. DPR staff anticipates completing this project by December. The project involves collecting information from past records of poison control, hospitalizations, and death certificates, and comparing that information to the data collected by the Pesticide Illness Surveillance Program during the same period (1994–1996). This will tell us whether our surveillance overlooks any problems identified in these other sources.
5. Study of Dislodgeable Foliar Residue: Comparison of Reduced-Volume and Conventional Applications. A completed document for this study will be available in the second half of 2000. This study compares residue dissipation and decay following pesticide applications by reduced-volume and conventional application equipment. Reduced-volume application technology puts out a higher concentration of spray mix, which may result in lower exposures to pesticides for field workers.
6. A Profile of Dislodgeable Pesticide Residues on Crop Foliage at Field Reentry, 1995–1999. A report of pesticide residues found at the time of legal reentry is under development and will be completed in the second half of 2000. These data represent an index of potential field worker exposure. DPR scientists collect foliage samples at the time of the expiration of the restricted entry interval.
7. Methyl Bromide Regulations. During the second half of 2000, DPR plans to prepare and file the final statement of reasons and regulations with the Office of Administrative Law. These regulations will replace some of the discretionary controls now set at the county level. DPR will also continue work group meetings with stakeholders to develop regulations for methyl bromide field fumigation activities that will address the seasonal and chronic exposure scenarios.
8. Drift Control Mitigation and Enforcement. During the second half of 2000, DPR plans to complete the revision of the Pesticide Drift Enforcement Policy, which is undergoing review by the county agricultural commissioners’ five area groups. DPR also plans to prepare and file the notice of proposed changes to the regulations pertaining to drift control with the Office of Administrative Law. Current drift control regulations are limited to certain restricted use herbicides. The proposed changes will pertain to all pesticide formulations for both restricted and nonrestricted uses. Consultation with key stakeholders will occur during the course of this initiative.
9. Metam Sodium Restrictions. During the second half of 2000, DPR plans to complete the proposed permit conditions for metam sodium and begin working with the Registrant Task Force to modify the technical information bulletin (labeling). A workshop will be held to discuss further risk management measures based on the completed risk assessment.
10. County Program Oversight. Beginning in July, DPR will fully implement new county oversight plans, which represent a major change in the way DPR and the counties address pesticide issues and priorities. Under this new direction, DPR and the counties will be establishing a system to provide better county accountability for state and local priorities. These changes are based on the results of a joint quality improvement initiative in which DPR and county staff developed a process that more closely links state and local pesticide regulatory activities. During the second half of 2000, DPR plans to enter into pilot projects with seven counties to refine DPR’s annual review of county accomplishments. During this phase, DPR and the pilot counties will review accomplishments, identify program areas that need improvement, and develop plans to implement the pilot improvements and projects. Based on the evaluations resulting from this new, three-part process, DPR will develop regulatory and policy changes to fully implement the program by July 2001.
11. Pesticide Use Reporting (PUR). In January 2001, DPR will release the corrected data for the 1999 PUR. DPR expects to release the 2000 PUR raw data and annual reports by June 30, 2001. DPR will also respond to the list of issues raised at the May PUR conference. The new PUR loading and error handling procedures should be finished and in place by the end of the 2000. These programs will automatically load and error-check data from the counties and keep a log of all errors found and corrections made to the database. DPR can send error reports back to the counties almost immediately after the data are received from the county.
12. Volatile Organic Compound Emission Inventory. DPR substituted measured estimates of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions for many pesticides that were previously assigned default VOC emission values. These values will be used to improve the estimation of pesticide VOC emissions and to analyze VOC emissions from agricultural and commercial structural pesticides for the years 1990 through 1999.
13. Ground Water Regulations. Currently, the Department imposes pesticide restrictions after pesticides are detected in ground water. The new regulations are designed to prevent contamination by identifying sensitive areas, based on weather and soil data, and regulating use in those areas. Based on comments received at workshops and other meetings held in the fall of 1999, DPR is finalizing the draft regulations for public notice and review in the second half of 2000.

14. Total Maximum Daily Load Program. DPR will work with the state water boards to define monitoring priorities. DPR will also: (1) work with growers and grower groups to document the validity of mitigation measures for the control of pesticides after application; and (2) maintain contract work aimed at identifying pesticide sources in urban creeks and quantifying loading in key waterways.

    DPR will complete the Rice Pesticide Monitoring Program’s Triennial Report for Rice during the second half of 2000, and will work to provide public access to the surface water database.

15. 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. DPR will complete a draft of the water quality management strategy for diazinon in the Sacramento and Feather rivers. DPR will also develop a monitoring plan for the winter of 2000-2001.
16. Lompoc Air Monitoring. Depending upon the scheduling of pesticide applications, the Lompoc pesticide air monitoring program will be completed.
17. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Innovator Awards. IPM innovators are groups that promote the adoption of reduced-risk pest management practices. Since DPR established the awards in 1994, there have been 55 urban and agricultural groups recognized. Information on this year’s nominees will be gathered and reviewed by staff. The awards ceremony will be held in November.
18. Internet-Based Pesticide Resource Directory Project (IBPRD). The Department of Information Technology approved DPR's IBPRD project, scheduled to begin July 1. This project includes designing, developing, and implementing a Web-based centralized pesticide resource directory that will provide 24-hour, 7-day access to pesticide information via the Internet. Implementation of this project will improve pesticide information resources and provide pesticide data and pesticide registration action information that is not currently available to DPR's customers.
19. E-Government and Business Function Initiative. DPR has retained the Anderson Consulting Firm to analyze DPR's primary business functions to take advantage of the efficiencies of e-commerce on the Department's Web environment. The analysis will document our current processes, identify potential new processes taking advantage of the Web environment, and recommend restructuring or reinventing our business practices to enable a smooth transition to an Internet page environment. The consultants will interview DPR stakeholders to determine their needs, analyze DPR's current procedures and policies, and provide an implementation plan that will enable the Department to make the transition.

20. Information Technology.

    • The Information Technology Office is continuing its testing for clients logging into the Department's internal network remotely using Cisco's SecurID tokens. Once client testing is completed, and before the move to the new Cal/EPA building, all authorized DPR clients will be trained on the new process for accessing Department information resources remotely.

    • ITO will complete its final testing of receiving and printing CalStarts information over the Department's network using a T1 communications line. This will eliminate coaxial connections that historically have been required to communicate information between DPR's network and Teale Data Center and the Health and Welfare Data Center mainframe computers. Testing will be completed and the new connection will go into production before DPR moves to the new Cal/EPA building.

21. California/Mexico Border Project.

    • The members of the Information Exchange are planning an inspector exchange in August. Eight Mexican inspectors will visit each of the border states (two inspectors per state) for a two-week period. The purpose of the exchange is to observe standard inspection practices in each of the states, then bring these procedures back to Mexico for implementation of a Mexican inspection process. Topics of interest are inspection and investigation procedures, sampling techniques, and federal and state authority. The border states will then send inspectors to Mexico for training and observation in inspection procedures.

    • DPR has begun recruitment efforts to fill the Border Coordinator position. The budget change proposal, approved by the governor and by the Legislature, combined small grants from U.S. EPA for other existing border activities to provide partial funding for a position at DPR. These are year-to-year grants with no guarantee of future funding. Ideally, stable funding and a lasting commitment to participate in border projects will increase cooperation on pesticide issues along the border.

22. Strategic Plan Update. DPR will complete its strategic plan and operating plan for 2000/01 by early August. DPR will continue to coordinate its planning effort with the effort underway at Cal/EPA to assure consistency and integration of both strategic plans.

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