Pesticide Information

[Claire Gesalman <gesalman.claire@epa.gov>]

My name is Claire Gesalman.  I work for Charles Franklin as a senior communication specialist in the Office of Pesticide Programs at EPA. 

Fred Stoss asked, "What can the EPA do to stop my neighbor from using lawn chemicals on his yard? It pollutes my yard, my pets, my family, and me."

The short answer is that EPA can't stop your neighbor from using lawn chemicals.  EPA also has no authority to require posting of treated lawns.  However, we do offer some resources to encourage people to reduce use of chemical pesticides on lawns.  In 1992 we developed a guide to lawn care, Healthy Lawn, Healthy Environment: Caring for Your Lawn in an Environmentally Friendly Way.  This guide informs lawn owners of ways to prevent pest problems without simply relying on chemical pesticides and provides tips to apply pesticides safely.  In this respect, the guide employs the principles of what we call Integrated Pest Management (IPM). IPM involves the carefully managed use of three different pest control tactics -- biological, cultural, and chemical -- to get the best long-term results with the least disruption of the environment.  You can view this guide online, at the Web site www.epa.gov/pesticides/ ; see the Concerned Citizens block on the right side of the page.  (Please see Pages 10 - 11 of the guide for a more detailed explanation of IPM.)  Local offices of the cooperative extension service (check the government pages in your phone book) may also have information specific to your locality regarding the best grass varieties and management techniques.

EPA also is reviewing the safety of existing pesticides and has recently taken action to reduce risks associated with several pesticides used in and around homes.  For example, most home uses of chlorpyrifos are ending:  http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/announcement6800.htm . Lawn uses of diazinon are also being phased out:  http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/op/diazinon.htm . 					
While the EPA registers pesticide products on the basis of extensive scientific data which demonstrates that they will not pose unreasonable risks to human health or the environment, most pesticides are toxic to some degree.  Despite our rigorous registration decision process, registered pesticides, like medicines or other commercial chemicals, should not be considered inherently innocuous, even if used according to the label. If, after registration, the Agency becomes aware of additional information raising new concerns about the pesticide's risks, we will take further regulatory action as appropriate, including removal of some or all uses of that pesticide.  

Regarding the use of lawn chemicals at the Conesus Lake basin, your local or state government may be able to help.  Remember, though, that if the issue is fertilization of the lake, pesticides are not the culprit.  Many people over-fertilize lawns and fertilize at the wrong times of the year.  See the resources we suggested in the first paragraph.				

Finally, we are working with the Professional Lawn Care Association through a voluntary partnership program we call the Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program (PESP) to further the practice of IPM by lawn care professionals.  As a PESP Partner, the Professional Lawn Care Association has set goals to reduce the risks associated with its members' use of pesticides.