NCGA
Comments Support Reregistration of Atrazine (2-5-04)
The National Corn
Growers Association (NCGA) on Feb. 4 submitted formal comments to
the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) calling for the reregistration
of atrazine, an effective and widely used herbicide.
"NCGA strongly supports
the reregistration of atrazine. It's an invaluable tool for corn growers
nationwide, as well as producers of other crops. We want to ensure
this product remains available," said Jere White, executive director
of the Kansas Corn Growers Association and chairman of the Triazine
Network. "We were encouraged by the EPA's approach to reregistration
of this product, and we're confident our comments will be considered
in the agency's final decision-making process."
The EPA's deadline for
comment submission is today. The agency's next step is to assess public
comments and complete a cumulative risk assessment and risk management
decision for triazines, the family of pesticides that includes atrazine.
When the cumulative risk assessment for the triazine pesticides has
been completed, EPA will issue its final decision on reregistration
of atrazine and any necessary mitigation.
In its comments, NCGA voiced
support of the monitoring program developed by EPA and Syngenta to
check atrazine levels in specific ecosystems and watersheds. "NCGA
knows from experience this approach will be successful," the
comments say. The association also recommends EPA development of site-specific
"best management" practices to address concerns specific
to individual watersheds. NCGA points out that farmers will likely
bear much of the cost of the monitoring program, and asks the EPA
to be sensitive to the financial burden the program may impose on
farmers.
White said corn growers
also support EPA's efforts to "harmonize" all atrazine labels.
Historically, changes made to technical registrations have not always
been captured on labels. By updating application rates and other label
information, the amount of product applied will likely be reduced
and the potential for runoff will also be reduced.
NCGA also voiced
its support of a peer-reviewed scientific analysis of atrazine's effects
on amphibians. EPA's decision to classify atrazine as a product not
likely to cause cancer in humans was also supported in the NCGA comments.
"While it is often difficult for growers to comprehend the time
and effort it takes to conduct scientific reviews, corn growers appreciate
EPA's commitment to science-based policy and decision-making,"
the comments state.