Buffer Zones and Credits

John Leahy, EPAPesticide Re-evaluation Division

Buffer Zones– Area around the application block or greenhouse

• Bystanders must be excluded during buffer zone period except when in transit

– “Buffer zone period” starts when fumigant is firstdelivered to soil and is in effect for 48 hours afterapplication ends

– Product labels will display distances in look-up tables based on rate, method and field size

– Credits for certain site conditions or applicationpractices that reduce emissions

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Buffer Zone Updates 2011

• Will Consider New Flux Studies Including:– Temperature studies– Application method studies– Multi-chemical studies

• Currently received over 20 new studies, more expected

• EPA tarp testing– May result in

performance based standards

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Transit Through Buffer Zones

• Vehicular and bicycle traffic on public and private roadways through the buffer zone is permitted.

• Bus stops or other locations where persons wait for public transit are not permitted within the buffer zone.

• Pedestrians are not permitted within the buffer zone.

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Roads and Rights-of-Ways

Buffers may NOT include roads and rights-of-way UNLESS,– The area is not occupied during the buffer zone period– Entry by non-handlers is prohibited– Applicators comply with all local laws and regulations

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Other Publicly Owned and/or Operated Areas Buffers may NOT include areas such as parks, sidewalks,

permanent walking paths, playgrounds, and athletic fields UNLESS,– The area is not be occupied during buffer zone period– Entry by non-handlers is prohibited– Applicators comply with all local laws and regulations AND– Written permission to include the public area in the buffer

zone is granted by the state/local authorities responsible for management and operation of the area

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Buffer Zone Distances • Product labels will display distances in look-

up tables based on- application rate- field size- application equipment and methods

• Buffer zone credits may be applied for certain site conditions or application practices that reduce emissions (e.g., certain tarps)

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Bro

ad

cast

Eq

uiv

ale

nt

Ap

pli

cati

on

Rate

(lb

s a

i/acre

) Application Block Size (Acres)

Chloropicrin Drip Tarped Buffer Zone Distances

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Buffer Zone Credits% Reduction Condition

MeBr Chloropicrin Metam Dazomet Use of high barrier tarp 30 or 60 30 or 60 15 or 30 NA

> 1% -2% 10 10 10 10

> 2% -3% 20 20 20 20 Organic matter content

> 3% 30 30 30 30

Clay content > 27% 10 10 10 10

≤ 50 F (center pivot and shank)

NA 10 20 NA

> 50-70 F (center pivot and shank)

NA NA 10 NA

Soil Temp

> 50-70 F (drip irrigation, flood irrigation, and

rotary tiller and spray blade

applications)

NA NA 10 NA

Symmetry application system, high barrier tarp, <100 lb ai/A

NA 40 or 70 NA NA

Potasium thiosulfate seal with water applied over tarp

15 15 NA NA

Water seal applied over tarp NA 10 NA NA

Max reduction 80 80 80 40 9

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Buffer Zone Calculator

• Being developed by EPA to assist users determine buffer zone distances required by label

• Optional to use • Internet accessible• Ability to save, retrieve, edit, and print records• No information will be collected by EPA• Potential to integrate into EPA’s FMP web-based

FMP program

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Buffer Zone Calculator (sample screens)

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Buffer Zone Calculator (sample screens)

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Buffer Zone Calculator (sample screen)

PrintBack

Results:Date and time of calculation: 3/23/2010 11:53 AMProduct Name: Pic-Brom Preplant Soil FumigantEPA Reg No: 8536-9Active ingredients in the product that will be applied: MeBr (50%) and Chloropicrin (50%)Application Method: Tarped beddedApplication rate: 240 lbs product/acreApplication Block Size: 20 acresBuffer Zone Credits Applied: Pliant Blockade Tarp (60% reduction)Total % of reduction with credits: 60% reductionMinimum buffer zone distance without credits: 323 feetMinimum buffer zone distance with credits: 130 feet

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Buffer Zones

Questions and discussion

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Buffer Zones

• Extra Slides– Background and additional details

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Recently Submitted Flux Studies• Metam sodium shank and center pivot in WA

(WSU)

• Telone and chloropicrin shank in PNW (Dow)

• Chloropicrin, 1,3-D, and metam potassium shank in FL (USDA Area-Wide)

• Chloropicrin, metam sodium and DMDS shank in GA (USDA Area-Wide)

• Flux Evaluation of a Metam Potassium Application Applied by the Drench Method (AMVAC)

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Recently Submitted Flux Studies (cont)

• Metam sodium shank in MI (MI Growers)

• Metam sodium and chloropicrin shank in WI (WI Growers)

• Metam Sodium for Shank Injection/ Compaction on a Daytime and Nighttime Basis (Metam Alliance)

• Chloropicrin Bedded Shank in FL (CMTF)

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Recently Submitted Flux Studies (cont)

• Methyl bromide and chloropicrin in San Joaquin Valley, CA (MBIP) – Broadcast shallow tarped under standard

HDPE– Broadcast shallow tarped under VIF– Broadcast shallow tarped under VIF with

potassium thiosulfate soil spray– Broadcast shallow tarped under VIF with other

emissions reduction treatment– Deep, tarped strip under VIF

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Expected Flux Studies

• Methyl Bromide in Plant City, FL (MBIP) – Bedded tarp shank injection with VIF– Bedded tarp shank injection with VIF

traditional emissions reduction treatment– Bedded tarp shank injection with metalized

film– Broadcast shallow tarp under VIF

• 1,3-D and chloropicrin broadcast shank in a Florida sod production farm (USDA Area-wide)

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EPA Tarp Permeability Testing

• EPA is testing several tarps determine mass transfer coefficient (MTC) for 1,3-D,MeBr, MeI, MITC, chloropicrin, DMDS, sulfuryl fluoride, and PPO

• MTC data may result in additional/revised buffer zone credits for 2011 labels

• Potential basis for development performance based credits (in lieu credits for specific tarp names) with a standard tarp testing protocol

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Tarps Received by EPA• AEP, Sun Film High Barrier• AEP-One• Berry Plastic, EVOH-High Barrier• Berry Plastic, EVOH-High

Barrier/improved toughness• Berry Plastic, EVOH-Supreme

Barrier• Cadillac VIF - 1.25 mil• Cadillac, HDPE • Canslit Metallic - 1.25 mil, Black• Canslit Metallic - 1.25 mil, White• Canslit, Embossed HDPE, 0.6 ml• Canslit, Embossed LDPE, 1.25 ml• Dow SARANEX A• Dow SARANEX B• FilmTec VIF - 1.25 mil

• Ginegar, Ozgard - 1.25 mil• Ginegar VIF - 1.25 mil• Guardian Olefinas VIF - Black 1.2

mil, Embossed• Mid South VIF - 1.25 mil • Pliant, Embossed Polyethylene

Film• Pliant, Blockade Black - 1.25 mil• Pliant, Blockade White on Black -

1.25 mil• Pliant, Metalized - 1.0 - 1.25 mil• Raven TIF “VaporSafeTM” 1 mil

with EVOH core• Raven TIF “VaporSafeTM” 1.4 mil

LDPE with EVOH core

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Expected Tarps

• Bromostop VIF - 1.30 mil

• Bruno Rimini IPM Clear VIF 1.38

• Klerk Hytibar VIF - 1.30 mil

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Buffers and Agricultural Areas

Buffer zones may include agricultural areas owned/operated by someone other than the owner/operator of the application block IF– The buffer zone will not overlap with a buffer zone

from a nearby fumigation, and – The owner/operator provides written agreement

that they, their employees, and others will stay out of the buffer zone.

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Buffers and Residential Areas

• Buffer zones may include residential areas IF– The occupants provide written agreement to voluntarily vacate the buffer zone during the entire buffer zone period

• For applications of methyl bromide products with less than 20 percent chloropicrin, air monitoring inside residential structures is required after the buffer zone period ends

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