Atrazine Interim Reregistration Eligibility Document: New Approach

November 3, 2003
From: Rick Melnicoe
To: Western Region Integrated Pest Management Center

This is from Al Jennings, USDA's Office of Pest Management Policy:

You may want to check out the Atrazine IRED on EPA's Web site (http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/reregistration/atrazine/atrazineadd.pdf). The document was signed Friday (10/31/03) and is a very interesting new approach to ecorisk concerns.

Basically, the document amends the earlier IRED with regard to cancer and amphibian tox issues then addresses the aquatic ecotox. The approach relies on an ecosystem model where atrazine monitoring data will be run to determine if watershed mitigation measures are indicated. The model considers pulsed exposures to flowing waters with the end-point being impact on primary producers. The really exciting part is that both the pesticide office and the water office agree and are adopting the same approach to water quality. Syngeta will be monitoring in 40 representative "highly vulnerable" watersheds in corn country over the next few years.

Steve Bradbury, the (relatively new) EFED Division Director deserves a lot of credit for bringing some real science into EFED and getting things harmonized with the water office.

Rick Melnicoe
Director, Western Region Integrated Pest Management Center
Director, Office of Pesticide Information and Coordination (UC Statewide Pesticide Coordinator)
One Shields Avenue
4249 Meyer Hall (FedEx Deliveries only)
University of California
Davis, CA 95616-8588
Telephone: (530) 754-8378
Fax: (530) 754-8379