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 during Second Half of 1999

1. Enforcement Initiative. In July, DPR convened a team of Department staff and county agricultural commissioners (CACs) to evaluate the pesticide enforcement program and develop action items to improve it. Meetings and conference calls were held with external stakeholders during the fall, and a draft report was completed and circulated for comment in late November. Various action items concerning enhanced civil penalty authority, county work planning and oversight, commissioner licensing, and others and under consideration.

2. Methyl Bromide Regulations. DPR developed regulations to control the use of methyl bromide in field fumigation applications. DPR convened a series of stakeholder meetings and circulated two drafts of the regulations for comment prior to completing the draft regulatory package and submitting it to the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) on January 10, 2000. DPR also held a number of training sessions for CACs, farm worker advocacy groups, and others to explain worker protection, buffer zone, and other regulatory requirements for the safe handling and use of methyl bromide.

3. Methyl Bromide Risk Assessment. Following the incorporation of comments received from the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment from the meeting in Irvine with the National Academy of Sciences, the revised draft Comprehensive Risk Assessment was forwarded to the National Academy of Sciences in October 1999 for peer review.

4. Risk Characterization Documents. Draft risk characterization documents for the following six active ingredients have undergone peer review: methyl bromide, metam sodium (methyl isothiocyanate), chlorothalonil, DEET, deltamethrin, and methidathion. DPR completed exposure assessment documents for naled and propetamphos under the Birth Defect Prevention Act of 1984 (SB 950).

5. Toxic Air Contaminants (AB 1807). DPR presented methyl parathion, tribufos (DEF), and metam sodium (including its volatile breakdown product, MITC) to the Scientific Review Panel for consideration as toxic air contaminants (TACs). The Panel recommended that methyl parathion and tribufos be listed as TACs, and DPR has initiated rulemaking for tribufos. The Panel is still considering metam sodium/MITC.

6. Pesticide Illness Surveillance Annual Report. The 1997 Annual Report of the Pesticide Illness Surveillance Program (PISP) was submitted to the Governor for approval on August. Overall, there were 1,319 potential or confirmed cases of pesticide illness in 1997, down 16.5 percent from the previous year. About 59 percent--774 illnesses--were non-agricultural, while 545 reports involved pesticide use in agricultural settings. The report also describes incidents of special concern, with particular detail provided on the investigation into use of rotenone by the Department of Fish and Game to eliminate northern pike from Lake Davis in Plumas County.

7. 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. Both the 1997 and 1998 annual pesticide use reports (PURs) were released in 1999, and the statewide and county summaries are available on DPR’s Internet site. In addition, copies of the complete databases for 1991 through 1998 are available from DPR on CD-ROM for more extensive analyses of PUR data to address a variety of issues. The PUR data are used extensively in dietary risk assessment, ground and surface water, air, endangered species programs, worker exposure and risk assessments, and development of mitigation and permit conditions, as well as an assessment of the success of those measures.

8. Information Technology. Various accomplishments in the information technology arena include:
   • Year 2000 and the County Permit Systems. Pesticide enforcement staff modified the CAC offices' DataFlex computer programs for year 2000 compliance. These programs are used statewide to issue restricted material permits and to capture and electronically submit PUR data to DPR. This suite of programs also includes an application that allows the counties to electronically receive and validate pesticide use data from growers and applicators, thus eliminating the need for data entry by county staff.
   • Geographic Information Systems. DPR and county staff drafted statewide guidelines to be used in developing a field border database in the counties as a component of the permitting and use reporting programs. DPR and the County Agricultural Commissioners and Sealers Association adopted the group’s recommendations for identifying field sites, as well as creating data standards and database relationships. Implementation of these uniform guidelines is to begin with the 2000 permit and use reporting year.
   • Pesticide Registration Tracking System. A Web-based tracking system for the 6,000-plus pesticide registrations that DPR handles yearly was developed and installed on DPR’s intranet. A version to allow access to registrants and others on the DPR Internet site is under development.
   • Regional Office Connectivity. During the fall of 1999, a communications network was established statewide to allow DPR regional offices in Fresno, Anaheim, and West Sacramento to have direct connection to DPR’s local area network, providing full connectivity for e-mail, file sharing, Internet access, and intranet access.
   • Licensing and Certification Program Enhancements. A new examinations database application was created to allow program staff to automate posting of examination scores in a matter of minutes rather than days of manual key data entry. Examination scores are now posted to DPR’s Web site, greatly improving the speed of response to examination applicants and reducing the number of telephone calls normally associated with the examination process. The program also began posting lists of all valid business and individual license and certificate holders to the Web site. The lists, updated weekly, provide a great resource to county enforcement programs, licensees, and consumers who need to determine the license status of pest control applicators, businesses, and advisors.

9. Red Imported Fire Ant. DPR’s Pesticide Enforcement Branch Southern Regional Office worked closely with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to provide extensive outreach to nurseries, ranchers, golf courses, parks departments, and the general public on the Red Imported Fire Ant (RIFA). Orange County and parts of Riverside, San Diego, Kern, and Fresno counties are under RIFA quarantine. Voluntary compliance agreements for the monitoring and treatment of RIFA have been adopted by CDFA and a number of affected parties.

10. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Innovator Awards. In November 1999, DPR honored eight groups with IPM Innovator Awards. IPM Innovator Awards promote the adoption of reduced-risk pest management practices. Innovators for 1999 included a winery that uses biological pest control techniques, a sanitation district that implemented public education programs to reduce urban pesticide runoff, a nonprofit association of pest management professionals that actively promotes IPM approaches, a golf course company that practices IPM in its extensive recreational and forest properties, an independent consultant who has been a leader in development and promotion of bio-intensive IPM, a vineyard management company that has implemented IPM on more than 5,000 acres of vineyards, a nonprofit group that sponsors school IPM programs to protect water resources, and a major state marketing order that has supported IPM research for 20 years.

11. Herbicide Residue Monitoring on Plants of Interest to California Native Americans. In the past three years, DPR has been working closely with Native American tribes near four major national forests and private timberlands in Northern California to characterize potential exposures to herbicide residues during gathering and use of plant materials. DPR met regularly with the tribal representatives during the fall, and developed a sampling and analysis plan for herbicide residues, including the selection of three sites for intensive monitoring.

Priorities for First Half of 2000

1. Toxic Air Contaminants (AB 1807). DPR will bring two TAC risk assessment documents (molinate and chlorpyrifos) before the Scientific Review Panel for review and recommendation. DPR expects acceptance of the metam sodium/MITC document. The regulatory listing of DEF as a TAC will be completed in the spring. Rulemaking to list methyl parathion as a TAC will also be initiated.

2. Pesticide Risk Characterizations/Exposure Assessments Under the Birth Defect Prevention Act of 1984 (SB 950). DPR will complete risk characterization documents for the following pesticides: acephate/methamidophos, captan, carbaryl, hydramethylnon, mancozeb/ETU, maneb/ETU, metam sodium, propargite, and methidathion. DPR will conduct or revise exposure assessments for the following pesticides: 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. Pesticide Illness Surveillance Annual Report. The 1998 Annual Pesticide Illness Surveillance Program Report (PISP) is on schedule for completion in early 2000.

5. Brodifacoum Re-evaluation. On December 30, 1999, at the request of the Department of Fish and Game, DPR placed all pesticide products containing brodifacoum into reevaluation. Brodifacoum is an anticoagulant rodenticide. The reevaluation is based on concerns regarding adverse effects to wildlife exposed to brodifacoum. DPR, CDFA, and the Department of Fish and Game plan to work with registrants to identify pathways that result in wildlife exposure.

6. Enforcement Initiative. DPR plans to complete a number of enforcement-related initiatives, including establishment of an operating agreement with the Department of Health Services and the Department of Industrial Relations. This will provide DPR access to pesticide-related illness data and allow the development of cases to clarify the requirement that California pesticide statutes cover pesticide sales outside California for pesticides shipped for use in California.

7. Methyl Bromide Regulations. During the first six months of 2000, DPR plans to notice the statewide methyl bromide regulations with OAL; hold four public hearings throughout the state; respond to comments; prepare and file the final statement of reasons and regulations with OAL; and file the final regulations with the Secretary of State. These regulations will replace some of the discretionary controls now set at the county level.

8. Pesticide Drift. DPR will draft and submit to OAL regulation changes to clarify terms to improve the enforceability of pesticide drift laws and regulations. These regulations will include state and county standard protocols for responding to agricultural and urban drift complaints. DPR will initiate a project to identify trends and or issues relative to drift cases.

9. Information Technology Improvements:
   • Automating Licensing Program. DPR’s Pesticide Enforcement Branch will be upgrading its examination and other equipment to newer technologies that allow full integration with its examination and licensing databases. Pesticide Enforcement staff will evaluate other technology alternatives, such as bar coding, to further streamline some of its current manual paperwork processes. The first priority is to automate the processes for issuing licensing and registration cards in DPR and in the CAC offices.
   • Procurement Database. DPR will bring on-line a new Web-based system to allow DPR staff to track and report purchases of services and supplies used in DPR operations, providing DPR with the capability to quickly and efficiently provide reports to control agencies on small business utilization, women and minority vendors, recycled content, etc.
   • Web Distribution of Pesticide Use Reporting Data and One-Stop Web Page for School Environmental Planning Issues. DPR expects to receive approval from the Department of Information Technology and the Department of Finance on a feasibility study regarding new Web-based systems to allow interactive searching of the PUR database and to access information about pesticide use in areas near schools.
10. California/Mexico Border Project. DPR’s Pesticide Enforcement staff will complete the Illegal Residue Tracking Project that will address specific issues in DPR’s Food Safety Program. These pesticide recommendations will provide the basis for controlling produce grown in Mexico that violates California pesticide regulations. Pesticide Enforcement staff will also convene a binational work group to develop pesticide dealer regulations governing the sale of restricted and nonrestricted agricultural pesticides to Mexican growers, growers on tribal lands, and growers from other states. These regulations will help identify California growers who are not in compliance with the pesticide use reporting regulations.
11. County Pesticide Program Oversight. A team of DPR and California Agricultural Commissioner (CAC) staff intend to complete, test, and implement a revised prioritization plan, negotiated work plan, and effectiveness evaluation between December 1999 and July 2000. New regulatory and policy changes will be completed to implement this program. County work plans will now be integrated with statewide priorities and environmental indicator evaluations, and accountability measures will be instituted statewide.
12. 1999 Pesticide Use Report. In January 2000, DPR will release the corrected data of the 1998 PUR; DPR expects to release the 1999 PUR raw data and annual reports by June 30, 2000. This will represent the first year in which the reports and data are released within six months of the close of the annual reporting period. The 1999 annual PUR database will be finalized and released by December 2000. DPR will also hold a symposium in May on the PUR to identify improvements that can be made to the content of and access to PUR data.
13. 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 1998. The improved estimate of VOC emissions that can now be derived from measured VOC emissions will be submitted to the Air Resources Board by mid-February 2000.
14. Groundwater Regulations. Currently, the Department imposes pesticide restrictions after pesticides are detected in groundwater. The proposed regulations are designed to prevent contamination by identifying sensitive areas, based on weather and soils 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 first half of 2000.
15. Surface Water Protection. DPR, in cooperation with the state and regional water boards, will complete a plan to assess critical water bodies for pesticide residues to aid in the development of total maximum daily loads. DPR will initiate monitoring programs in the highest priority water bodies.
16. 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 continue its stakeholder focus group meetings to complete a monitoring and source identification plan as part of the total maximum daily load effort being conducted by the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board.
17. Lompoc Air Monitoring. Depending upon the scheduling of pesticide applications, the fumigant-monitoring phase of the Lompoc pesticide air monitoring program will be completed and monitoring for nonfumigant pesticides will begin.
18. Pest Management Grants. In January 2000, DPR will award $600,000 to support 19 new and continuing demonstration and applied-research projects. These projects are geared to promote environmentally friendly pest management practices at the local level. In March 2000, contract terms will end for the previous year’s projects and DPR will receive final reports.
19. Pest Management Alliance. In May, DPR will award approximately $750,000 to support new and continuing alliance teams. Alliance teams will use the funding to implement work plans that propose the reduction of high-risk pesticide use. DPR initiated the Alliance Program in 1997 to encourage industry wide adoption of reduced-risk pest management. Unlike the regional, applied-research approach of the pest management grants, alliance projects are statewide, emphasizing demonstration and implementation of reduced-risk pest management practices.

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