Ground Water Pesticide Management Rule; Notification to the Secretary of Agriculture

Résumé

This document notifies the public that the Administrator of EPA has forwarded to the Secretary of Agriculture a draft final rule under section 25(a) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). The draft final rule establishes a program whereby States and Tribes will develop and implement plans to manage the use of pesticides determined to leach to ground water. The rule also identifies four pesticides of concern to be managed under this program initially. The four pesticides can continue to be used if States and Tribes develop plans which will ensure they do not leach to ground water at concentrations that may be harmful to human health and the environment. The rule designates the four chemicals as Restricted Use pesticides under section 3(d)(1)(C) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). The restriction prohibits all outdoor use of the pesticides unless used in accordance with a Pesticide Management Plan (PMP) developed by States and Tribes and approved by EPA. If a State or Tribe fails to submit or obtain approval of its PMP by a date 36 months from the effective date of the Rule, users in that State or Tribal land are prohibited