[GreenYes] HERBICIDES: DOW SEEKS TO PREEMPT CALIF. BAN ON WEEDKILLER WITH ITS OWN

["Bill Sheehan" <zerowaste@grrn.org>]

Greenwire 
July 29, 2002

HERBICIDES: DOW SEEKS TO PREEMPT CALIF. 
BAN ON WEEDKILLER WITH ITS OWN 
 
Dow Chemical subsidiary Dow AgroSciences asked the 
U.S. EPA Friday to ban the weedkiller clopyralid from the 
shelves of hardware stores and garden centers nationwide in 
an effort to preempt a possible ban in California. 
 
Dow's proposal to ban its own product would not prevent 
professional lawn care companies or local gardeners from 
applying the chemical to residential or public lawns. Dow 
said it decided to request residential restrictions because 
clopyralid residues in garden compost made from grass 
treated with the herbicide have killed some common garden 
plants. Scientists are studying the degradation of the 
weedkiller in the compost. 
 
The California Department of Pesticide Regulation issued an 
emergency ban in February on the herbicide, and California 
lawmakers are considering a bill that would impose tighter 
restrictions than Dow's proposal. "Dow is trying to put itself 
in the role of a responsible citizen," said Stephen Grealy, 
recycling program supervisor for San Diego. "But in effect 
what they are trying to do is undercut legislation that would 
go a lot further to cure the problem. Half of the lawn in 
California is commercial lawn, and that's where most of it is 
used. Dow is only removing it for sale for treatment of 
residential lawn" (Emily Green, Los Angeles Times, July 27). 
-- EG 


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