[GreenYes] Fwd: [USCC] Dow AgroSciences Moves to Discontinue Residential Uses of Clopyralid in California

[Gary Liss <gary@garyliss.com>]

>From: Priselac.Adrienne@epamail.epa.gov
>To: compost@compostingcouncil.org
>Date: Mon, 15 Apr 2002 09:45:06 -0700
>
>              Dow AgroSciences
>              April 11, 2002
>              FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>              Media Contact: Garry Hamlin 317/337-479
>
>Dow AgroSciences Moves to Discontinue Residential Uses of Clopyralid in
>California
>
>              INDIANAPOLIS -- In response to initiatives by California
>regulators,
>  makers of clopyralid-containing herbicides Dow AgroSciences and
>Riverdale
>  Chemical Company are notifying the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
>of
>  changes to product labels that will prohibit future use on California
>  residential lawns.
>
>              The companies have also requested lawn care operators and
>dealers
>  and distributors who offer clopyralid-containing herbicides not to sell
>or
>  use them on residential lawns in California.
>
>              These steps are being taken to address concerns expressed
>by the
>  California Department of Pesticide Regulations (DPR) and others over
>  reports of trace levels of clopyralid in compost which may damage some
>  sensitive plants (e.g., tomatoes, potatoes, peas, beans and
>sunflowers),
>  especially when compost is used without properly mixing it with soil.
>
>              "We are not aware of any documented cases of damage to
>sensitive
>  plants in California," said Dr. Bryan L. Stuart, Dow AgroSciences state
>  affairs manager.  "We believe this is a problem of misuse, but we want
>to
>  cooperate with DPR and address this matter expeditiously."
>
>              Composting of grass clippings from residential lawns has
>been
>  identified by state regulators as a primary source of trace level
>  clopyralid residues in compost.
>
>              Dow AgroSciences clopyralid herbicides have label
>restrictions on
>  using compost containing grass clippings treated with the product.  But
>  homeowners using professional lawn care services may not have been
>  informed that clopyralid was used or not have known that restrictions
>  apply.
>
>              In some California locations, curbside recycling of grass
>clippings
>  is common practice, and many localities promote composting in response
>to
>  state laws mandating an ongoing reduction in the amount of waste sent
>to
>  landfills.
>
>              Professionals in the lawn and turf care industry expressed
>support
>  for the use changes initiated by clopyralid's makers.
>
>              "We applaud this step taken by the makers of clopyralid,"
>said Bryan
>  Thompson of Landscape Pest Management in Anaheim, "as an effective
>means
>  of addressing public concerns while maintaining essential uses of these
>  products."
>
>              Clopyralid-containing herbicides are the product of choice
>for
>  controlling invasive or noxious weeds such as yellow starthistle.
>Yellow
>  starthistle can be harmful to livestock, chokes out native plant
>species,
>  and makes land unusable for recreation, agriculture or as wildlife
>  habitat.
>
>              According to the California Department of Food and
>Agriculture, 12-
>  to 20-million acres, or 20 percent of the state, have dangerous yellow
>  starthistle infestations.
>
>              California agricultural leaders also stressed the
>importance of
>  clopyralid to their operations.
>
>              "California agriculture has a vital need for clopyralid
>products,"
>  said Paul Wenger, vice president of the California Farm Bureau.  "We
>are
>  committing to stewarding these products to ensure their safe and proper
>  use."
>
>              Clopyralid is a herbicide used by farmers, foresters,
>ranchers, golf
>  course managers, parks and recreation professionals and others to
>control
>  hard-to-manage and invasive weeds.  Products containing clopyralid have
>  been on the U.S. market for more than 15 years and have been registered
>in
>  California since 1997.
>
>              In a recent press release (March 27), the California DPR
>described
>  clopyralid as "a low-toxicity chemical that poses little hazard to
>people,
>  animals and most vegetation."
>
>              Dow AgroSciences LLC, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA,
>is a
>  global leader in providing pest management and biotechnology products
>that
>  improve the quality and quantity of the earth's food supply and
>contribute
>  to the safety, health and quality of life of the world's growing
>  population. Dow AgroSciences has approximately 6,000 people in over 50
>  countries dedicated to its business, and has worldwide sales of more
>than
>  US $3 billion. Dow AgroSciences is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Dow
>  Chemical Company.
>
>
>
>
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Gary Liss
916-652-7850
Fax: 916-652-0485

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