What's next in EPA effort to impose buffers on salmon streams?
Farm and Ranch May 21, 2010 The Environmental Protection Agency announced this week it will impose restrictions on the spraying of several pesticides to keep them out of salmon streams. The EPA took the action after the manufacturers of the products refused to voluntarily put buffers and restrictions on the labels saying they did not think the requirements are necessary to protect fish. The initial three pesticides the EPA addressed were diazinon, malathion and chlorpyrifos. EPA has since added carbaryl, carbofuran and methomyl. Heather Hansen of Washington Friends of Farms and Forests, an advocacy group for resource pest management, says nothing is final as there will be an administrative process including hearings, which could take quite a while, potentially a year or more. So, in the meantime, Hansen says producers can continue to use these pesticides. Hansen: “Yes. Yes. The label is the law. Follow the label that is on the container you have. And go ahead and buy what you need for this season. As of this time…there are no changes yet.” Hansen says the stream spray buffers EPA wants to impose range from 25 feet up to one thousand feet depending upon various factors including whether the application is by ground or air. But, again, those are not in force yet. That’s the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report. Brought to you in part by the Washington State Potato Commission. Nutrition today. Good health tomorrow. I’m Bob Hoff on Northwest Aginfo Net. ? ? ?
