Posted on June 23, 2010 by John Crawford
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last week announced new permit requirements for pesticide discharges and also issued a stronger standard for sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions. These new regulations come on top of other efforts by the EPA to control and limit pollutants and the notice earlier this year that EPA will enforce stricter standards for ground-level ozone.
Pesticide Discharges
In response to the April 2009 National Cotton Council v. EPA decision wherein the court found that pesticide discharges to U.S. waters were pollutants, the EPA has proposed a new permit on pesticide use. According to a release by the agency, the proposed permit “would require all operators to reduce pesticide discharges by using the lowest effective amount of pesticide, prevent leaks and spills, calibrate equipment and monitor for and report adverse incidents.”
The proposed permit covers the following pesticide uses:
– Mosquito and other flying insect pest control
– Aquatic weed and algae control
– Aquatic nuisance animal control
– Forest canopy pest control
Importantly, the proposed permit does not include earthbound applications to control pests on agricultural crops or forest floors. However, the agency could decide to regulate these activities through future rule-making.
The EPA estimates that the new regulations would affect approximately 35,000 pesticide applicators nationally. The agency is currently soliciting public comment on the permit and plans to finalize it by December of this year. The new permit requirements will take effect in April of 2011.
Sulfur Dioxide Standard
EPA has issued a new health standard for sulfur dioxide emissions. The new rule changes the current 24-hour and annual standards to an hourly health standard of 75 parts per billion (ppb). The existing SO2 standards were established in 1971 and included a 24-hour standard of 140 ppb and an annual average standard of 30 ppb.
Additionally, EPA is also changing the monitoring requirements for SO2, requiring that monitors be placed where SO2 emissions impact population at certain levels. The new monitors must be operational by January 1, 2013.
Tags: Hazardous Materials