Pesticide Contamination Prevention Act Review Process

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When a pesticide active ingredient or other specified ingredient or degradation product of a pesticide is first detected and confirmed in groundwater and the contamination found to be due to legal agricultural use, the law requires a formal review to determine if use of the pesticide can continue and, if so, under what conditions. The process includes:

  • Notice of Detection - DPR issues a formal notice to the product registrants, who can request a public hearing. If they do not do so, the agricultural products will be canceled. Each registrant requesting a hearing must submit a report and documentation (detailed under Food and Agricultural Code [FAC] 13150).
  • Public Hearing - If a registrant requests a public hearing, it is held before a Subcommittee of DPR's Pesticide Registration and Evaluation Committee. The Subcommittee consists of one member each from DPR, the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), and the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB). Written and oral comments will be accepted at the hearing. The hearing may take place over multiple days.
  • Subcommittee Recommendation/Director's Decision - The Subcommittee will make findings and recommendations in a report to the DPR Director. The Director can make one of four decisions on actions DPR will take in response to the detection, in accordance with FAC 13150(c).

The formal review process has been suspended for the following pesticide active ingredients

  • Alachlor (notice issued March 2016)

The formal review process has been completed for the following pesticide active ingredients

  • Aldicarb (notice issued October 1988)
  • Atrazine (notice issued July 1986)
  • Bentazon (notice issued March 1989)
  • Bromacil (notice issued July 1986)
  • Chlorthal dimethyl (notice issued March 2018)
  • Diuron (notice issued July 1986)
  • Hexazinone (notice issued November 2010)
  • Imidacloprid (notice issued September 2021)
  • Metolachlor/S-metolachlor (notice issued September 2016)
  • Norflurazon (notice issued May 1998)
  • Prometon (notice issued February 1986)
  • Simazine (notice issued August 1986)

For content questions, contact:
PCPA Hearing Coordinator
1001 I Street, P.O. Box 4015
Sacramento, CA 95812-4015
E-mail: PCPA@cdpr.ca.gov