Release No. 98-08
Date: March 11, 1998
http://www.cdpr.ca.gov
DPR SCHEDULES WORKSHOPS IN FRESNO, VENTURA AND
SACRAMENTO TO DISCUSS VOC REDUCTIONS
SACRAMENTO -- Cal/EPA's Department of Pesticide Regulation will have public
workshops in Sacramento, Fresno and Ventura to discuss voluntary options
for reducing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from pesticide products, and
the need for potential regulatory options should those fail.
VOCs -- which help form smog -- face restrictions under the federal
Clean Air Act. In response, California prepared a State Implementation Plan
to reduce VOCs from all sources, including pesticides. Under the plan, DPR
must reduce pesticide VOCs by 20 percent in the year 2005, compared to
estimated VOC levels in 1990. Federal authorities could severely restrict
or ban the use of some agricultural and structural pesticides if California
fails to meet the VOC goal.
"VOC emissions from pesticides are already in compliance with the
annual reduction goals," said James W. Wells, DPR Director. "In fact, in
1996, the reductions surpassed the 20 percent goal set for 2005. However,
DPR is continuing to evaluate potential regulatory strategies should
regulations be required in the future."
Changes in pesticide product formulas, registrations, and use
practices are expected to help cut VOC emissions further. The upcoming
workshops will offer information about sources of pesticidal VOCs, discuss
voluntary efforts to reach those goals, and identify regulatory and
enforcement options if voluntary efforts fail. Workshop dates and sites:
Sacramento: April 1, 1:30 p.m.
Department of Pesticide Regulation
1020 N St., Room 102
Fresno: April 9, 1:30 p.m.
Fresno County Department of Agriculture
1730 South Maple Ave.
Ventura: April 16, 1998, 1:30 p.m.
University of California Cooperative Extension
First Floor Conference Room
669 County Square Drive
For copies of the workshop agenda and VOC information packages,
contact Mark Pepple, DPR Environmental Monitoring and Pest Management
Branch, 1020 N St., Room 161, Sacramento, CA 95814. Call (916) 324-4100,
fax to (916)324-4088, or e-mail <mpepple@cdpr.ca.gov>. Workshop information
is also available online at <http://www.cdpr.ca.gov>.
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