PROGRESS REPORT 2000 

PESTICIDES

Canadian workgroup co-chair: Rui Fonseca (succeeding Elizabeth Rezek)
U.S. workgroup co-chair: Dave Macarus

Workgroup Activities and the 4-Step Process

Meetings and Activities:

Rui Fonseca will be taking over the Pesticides co-lead role for Canada, replacing Elizabeth Rezek, who has been an excellent partner and who will be missed. Elizabeth will oversee the transition. Rui Fonseca can be reached at (416) 739-5866 or by e-mail at Rui.Fonseca@ec.gc.ca.

The workgroup has essentially worked its way through the 4-step process. Regulations are in place to discontinue the use of and control releases of the Level I pesticides. In addition, these pesticides are no longer manufactured in the U.S. or Canada. There are some on-going activities with Level I pesticides, such as the Clean Sweeps program, which are described below. The workgroup has reviewed the Level II pesticides and discussed where to lend support to current initiatives. At the May 16, 2000, Stakeholder Forum, the pesticides workgroup decided that the next scheduled meeting of the workgroup would be November 2001, following the release of the joint (U.S. and Canada) review of reregistration of pentachlorophenol for wood treating applications. However, the workgroup may arrange earlier meetings, if issues arise. The workgroup chairs will also continue to provide updates at the plenary sessions of Stakeholder meetings.

Reduction Activities

Waste Pesticide Collections

• The EPA Region 5 Waste, Pesticides and Toxics Division is planning to offer $60,000 to each Region 5 State to support clean sweep activities targeting PBT wastes. These funds will come from the RCRA program source, and add to the emphasis that the pesticide programs have provided through FIFRA discretionary funds.
• The Michigan Department of Agriculture has recently reported data from clean sweep collection programs for 1997 through 1999. This information has not previously been reported. For the 3-year period, 4,995 lbs of PBTs have been collected; this includes 2,750 lbs of Level I pesticides, 2,049 lbs of Level II pesticides, and 196 lbs of other PBT substances. Since all of Michigan is in the Great Lakes Basin, these quantities directly assist the Binational Toxics Strategy.
• The Illinois Department of Agriculture reported clean sweep collections of 4,177 lbs of PBT pesticides in 1999. Collections covered both agricultural and structural sources. The total includes 3,402 lbs of Level I pesticides and 775 lbs of Level II pesticides. Although most of Illinois is not in the Great Lakes drainage basin, these quantities could have contributed to atmospheric transport and deposition in the Great Lakes, had they been released.
• In August, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs announced a program under the Healthy Futures initiative and in collaboration with the Crop Protection Institute of Canada to eliminate the potential health and environmental risks posed by old pesticides which have accumulated on Ontario farms. This November, 35 different sites in southern and south-western Ontario will be able to return, at no cost, outdated, unusable or no longer registered pesticides. Collection will occur in 2001 for eastern and northern Ontario.

Toxaphene Remediation of Landfills at Brunswick, Georgia

The remediation of the toxaphene spoils from landfills and sediments from the former Hercules manufacturing site in Brunswick, Georgia, continues. Local environmental groups are concerned that the air drying process vaporizes some of the toxaphene components, which impacts the health of local residents and provides input for potential atmospheric transport to the Great Lakes. The Pesticides workgroup is pursuing clarification and technical information through the National PBT Workgroup and the Superfund Program.

Level II Pesticides

Phase-out of Tributyl Tin Anti-fouling Paints

Health Canada and the U.S. Office of Pesticide Programs participated in a conference call to discuss a joint phase-out of tributyl tin (TBT) compounds. It is hoped that a joint phase-out can be finalized to coincide with the International Maritime Organization treaty to ban TBT in 2003.

U.S. - Canada Harmonization of Pesticide-Treated Seed Policies

Ultimately, it is hoped to have uniform registration standards for the two countries. This has bearing on the Binational Strategy in that lindane and other PBT pesticides are used in seed protectant products. Canada and the U.S. have developed plans for the phase-out of lindane. In another development on lindane, California will prohibit the sale and use of lindane for the pharmaceutical treatment of lice and scabies beginning January 1, 2002.

Pentachlorophenol

Pentachlorophenol is undergoing a joint reevaluation/reregistration review by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency and USEPA. The review is expected to be completed in the fall of 2001.

All pentachlorophenol-treating facilities in Ontario, Canada, have been assessed by a third party against the Technical Recommendations outlined in the Wood Preservation Sector Strategic Options Report. Facilities not meeting all of the Technical Recommendations are expected to produce an implementation plan by the end of June 2001 to meet all applicable recommendations.

In addition to work with the wood treaters, users and waste management areas are also addressed by the Wood Preservation Sector Strategic Options Report. Users will be given training and outreach on the "Industrial Treated Wood Management System User Guideline" once finalized later this year. A working group has been established to document technical options and barriers to waste management by December 2001, and a National Waste Management Strategy should be completed by June 2001.

Progress Toward Challenge Goals

The Canadian Challenge report was issued in 1997, concluding that the Challenge for Canada has been met.

The final U.S. Challenge report was posted on the GLBTS web site on September 29, 2000. The report concludes that the U.S. has met the principal intent of the Challenge, even though the goal

of confirming that there is "no longer use or release" cannot be attained as long as unused stocks and contaminated sites exist.