EPA: Despite Stricter Rules, Thousands of Complaints of Dicamba Damage
In draft risk assessments, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said that “despite the new control measures,” it received nearly 3,500 incident reports in 2021 of damage to crops that were not genetically engineered to tolerate the chemical and to “non-target plants in non-crop areas.”
EPA compiled the draft risk assessments as part of a review of the pesticide required by law every 15 years.
The agency said there was little risk to most people from exposure to dicamba, though it identified six additional instances in which workers handling the herbicide should wear a respirator along with the required outfit of long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, socks, shoes, chemical-resistant gloves, and protective eyewear.
“We believe the decision today will be protective of other farmers’ crops,” said EPA administrator Andrew Wheeler, announcing the new rules and the approval of dicamba through 2025 at a farm in Georgia.
According to the federal notice, comment submitters may request the Agency to reconsider data or information that the Agency rejected in a previous review. However, submitters must explain why they believe the Agency should reconsider the data or information in the pesticide's registration review.
The Agency said public comment on the documents would be accepted through Oct. 17, 2022. To share your comments, click here.
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