Recommended Permit Conditions for Metam Sodium, Metam Potassium, and Dazomet ; Updates to Volume 3, Restricted Materials and Permitting, Pesticide Use Enforcement Program Standards Compendium ; Training Schedule for Soil Fumigants and Responses to Questions

The Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) has approved the following nine recommended permit conditions for specific field soil fumigation application methods when applying metam sodium, metam potassium, and dazomet. The recommended permit conditions have been organized by application method at the request of county agricultural commissioner (CAC) staff.

Field soil fumigation methods include the following:

1. Dazomet Field Soil Fumigation Recommended Permit Conditions
2. Metam Sodium and Metam Potassium Field Soil Fumigation Recommended Permit Conditions for Drench Applications
3. Metam Sodium and Metam Potassium Field Soil Fumigation Recommended Permit Conditions for Drip Applications
4. Metam Sodium and Metam Potassium Field Soil Fumigation Recommended Permit Conditions for Flood Applications
5. Metam Sodium and Metam Potassium Field Soil Fumigation Recommended Permit Conditions for Power Mulcher and Rotary Tiller (Rototiller) Applications
6. Metam Sodium and Metam Potassium Field Soil Fumigation Recommended Permit Conditions for Rod Bar Applications
7. Metam Sodium and Metam Potassium Field Soil Fumigation Recommended Permit Conditions for Shank Applications
8. Metam Sodium and Metam Potassium Field Soil Fumigation Recommended Permit Conditions for Spray Blade with Soil Cap Applications
9. Metam Sodium and Metam Potassium Field Soil Fumigation Recommended Permit Conditions for Sprinkler Applications

Implementation and Training

DPR is phasing in the effective date of the recommended permit conditions by region and is coordinating training with U.S. EPA’s soil fumigant label training currently under development by DPR. The enclosed Implementation and Training Schedule was determined after reviewing pesticide use patterns for the most current four-year period. DPR selected implementation and training times to coincide with periods of little or no metam sodium, metam potassium, or dazomet use.

To attend one of the training sessions on the enclosed Implementation and Training Schedule, contact Mr. Mostafa Chrichi by e-mail at mchrichi@cdpr.ca.gov no later than two weeks prior to the training. A confirmation e-mail will be sent to you.

Please review the enclosed recommended permit conditions prior to the training. Bring your Restricted Materials and Permitting manual to the training. If you do not have a copy, it is available on-line at the web address indicated below.

Please note that until such time as the new permit conditions become effective in your region, you should continue to use the existing permit conditions.

Update to Volume 3, Restricted Materials and Permitting

Add these recommended permit conditions to Appendix C.7 in Volume 3, Restricted Materials and Permitting, of the Pesticide Use Enforcement Program Standards Compendium. Hard copies of the updates will not be distributed. Updates are enclosed and also available online at www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/enforce/compend/vol_3/rstrct_mat.htm. It is recommended the sections be printed back-to-back, where applicable. Remove the old sections from the manual and insert the new sections as indicated on the enclosed “Updates-Replacement Page Instructions: 10-10”.

Responses to CAC Comments

We thank you and your staff for your participation throughout this long process to mitigate bystander exposure to methyl isothiocyanate (MITC). Your comments, suggestions, and the opportunity to observe field applications helped us better understand many of the concerns growers and applicators raised during public meetings and have lead to more useful permit conditions. We have also enclosed a summary of all comments received in 2009 and 2010 and the Worker Health and Safety Branch’s responses for your information.

If you have any questions, please contact your Enforcement Branch Liaison.

Sincerely,