REPORT: Corn Yield Benefits of Atrazine Use in Illinois

Special Review Nears End

EPA Releases Favorable Risk Assessment
for Triazines

Network Thanks the Many Groups Who Submitted Comments by Aug. 21, 2006 Deadline

EPA concluded "...there is a reasonable certainty that no harm will result to the general U.S. population, infants, children, or other major identifiable subgroups of consumers from aggregate exposure…to cumulative residues of atrazine and the other chlorinated triazine pesticides."

Growers from across the nation were happy to see the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) favorable risk assessment for the Triazine herbicides. The assessment was released in June and EPA "..the Agency has found that there is a reasonable certainty that no harm will result to the general U.S. population, infants, children, or other major identifiable subgroups of consumers from aggregate exposure…to cumulative residues of atrazine and the other chlorinated triazine pesticides."

EPA also released a Reregistration Eligibility Decision for simazine and a tolerance assessment for propazine. These actions bring the special review of the Triazine near an end.

“We weren’t asking for much, just that EPA used good science to make a decision on the Triazine herbicides,” White said. “If sound scientific research proved that the Triazines posed a danger, we were ready to accept that. However, the research proved what we believed all along—the triazines are safe.”

Network Was Key to Success
The Triazine Network was formed in 1995 after the EPA announced the special review of the Triazine herbicides atrazine, simazine and cyanazine. Cyanazine was later removed after the registrant voluntarily offered to phase out its use. Propazine was added based on the intent of a registrant to expand the existing greenhouse label to include grain sorghum.

The Network made the unprecedented move of bringing growers of more than 30 commodities to the table for the special review.

“EPA told us they had never had grower involvement like this,” White said. “The special review process is open to stakeholders and I can’t think of anyone who had a bigger stake in this process than growers. Our network included some of the top names in agriculture across the board. Without the expertise and commitment of our members, we would not have succeeded.”

White has been chairman of the Network since its inception and on many occasions participated in meetings, hearings and technical briefings giving the growers’ perspective, including the importance and usage, to EPA officials.

“We’ve had a lot of things thrown at us since 1994 from fear mongering to frogs,” White said. “But it all comes down to using good scientific studies to reach the decision. We applaud EPA for sticking to the science.”

Next Step—Public Comment Period
EPA has now opened a public comment period that ends August 21, 2006. Growers are encouraged to submit comments to the docket in support of the Triazine herbicides. This issue of the Triazine Network News provides information on how to make your docket submission.

Understanding the Three Regulatory Actions
As required by the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA), a cumulative risk assessment, which evaluates exposures based on a common mechanism of toxicity, was conducted to evaluate the risk from food, drinking water, and non-occupational exposure resulting from all registered uses of chlorinated triazine pesticides. The chlorinated triazine group includes the pesticides atrazine, simazine, and propazine, in addition to their three chlorinated degradates. Propazine, however, was not incorporated into the cumulative risk assessment because no dietary, drinking water, or residential human exposure to propazine is anticipated from any of the currently registered uses. The Agency concurrently issued for public comment the Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) for simazine and the Tolerance Reassessment Progress and Risk Management Decision (TRED) for propazine.

Triazine Cumulative Risk Assessment
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a favorable risk assessment for the Triazine herbicides. The assessment was released in June and EPA concluded that the cumulative risks associated with Triazine herbicides “pose no harm that would result to the general U.S. population, infants, children or other … consumers.” Click here for talking points.

Simazine Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED)
Simazine is a systemic herbicide that is usually applied to soil, absorbed through roots, and acts by inhibiting photosynthesis within the targeted plant. EPA has reviewed simazine through the public participation process that the Agency uses in developing pesticide reregistration and tolerance reassessment decisions. EPA has determined that the database to support reregistration is substantially complete and that products containing simazine are eligible for reregistration provided the risks are mitigated either in the manner described in the RED or by another means that achieves equivalent risk reduction. Click here for talking points.

Propazine Tolerance Reassessment Progress and Risk Management Decision (TRED)
Propazine, also a systemic herbicide, currently is registered in the U.S. for indoor greenhouse use only, and has existing tolerances established for residues on sorghum. EPA has evaluated the existing propazine sorghum tolerances and determined that there is a reasonable certainty that no harm to the general population, infants, children, or other major identifiable subgroups of consumers will result from these tolerances. Dietary exposure to propazine was determined to be essentially zero; propazine, therefore, was found to pose no risk concerns. The four propazine sorghum tolerances (forage, grain, stover, and sweet) are considered reassessed and meet FQPA safety standards. No mitigation measures are necessary for propazine at this time. The Agency has received and will consider a request for a new use of propazine on sorghum in the U.S. EPA's Propazine TRED that is available for public comment until August 21, 2006. Click here for talking points.

 

IN ADDITION FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION
EPA has required registrants to establish a website and toll-free number to provide updates on simazine in these systems. (Visit www.simazine-watershed.info or call 1-888-365-2874.) Considering how few systems are in the monitoring program, and the fact that none warrant mitigation, requiring growers to access these updates prior to legally using simazine places an unnecessary burden on the agricultural community.

New setbacks have been added to wells and waterways. Please comment on how these may negatively impact your farm.