FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 25, 2007
Contact Media Director, 415-981-1771, media@panna.org
Today, Stephen Johnson, United States Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) administrator, will receive a letter signed by over 10,000
people demanding the reversal of EPA’s approval for the carcinogenic
pesticide methyl iodide. The methyl iodide approval on October 5th,
came in spite of a letter sent to Johnson by 54 distinguished chemists
describing the deliberate release of methyl iodide into the environment
as “astonishing,” and asking Johnson not to register methyl iodide.
“It is unconscionable that EPA would approve such a dangerous chemical
for agricultural use,” said Dr. Susan Kegley, senior scientist with
Pesticide Action Network North America. “We have to be able to trust
our regulatory agencies to conduct adequate scientific review, and this
clearly hasn’t happened with the approval of methyl iodide.”
Pesticide Action Network North America, United Farm Workers of America,
the Farmworker Association of Florida, El Comite de Apoyo a los
Trabajadores Agricolas, Organic Consumers Association, Pesticide
Education Project, the Northwest Coalition for Alternatives on
Pesticides, and Beyond Pesticides were among the organizations alerting
the public to take action to stop this dangerous chemical from putting
farmworker and community public health at risk.
Arysta LifeScience Corporation had tried to register methyl iodide last
year but was refused by EPA. Arysta is marketing methyl iodide as a
replacement soil fumigant for the ozone-layer-damaging methyl bromide,
slated for phase-out by the Montreal Protocol. Elin Miller, former CEO
of Arysta’s North America division, was appointed administrator for
EPA’s Region 10. After a bidding war involving multiple foreign
chemical corporations, on October 21st it was announced that Arysta is
to be purchased for $2.2 billion by Permira Advisors LLP. The
announcement highlights U.S. EPA’s approval—16 days prior—of methyl
iodide as EPA’s first approval of a new fumigant in 20 years.
###
Available for interviews:
- Ted Schettler, M.D., M.P.H., Science Director with Science & Environmental Health Network an authority on environmental links to reproductive and developmental disorders, neurotoxicity, and other public health problems. (734) 369-4166 tschettler@igc.org
- Dr. Brian Hill, Science Department Director, Pesticide Action Network North America. 510-289-4329 bhill@panna.org
- Dr. Susan Kegley, Senior Scientist, Pesticide Action Network North America.
510-759-9397 skegley@panna.org - Erik Nicholson, United Farm Workers of America. 253-274-0416 enicholson@ufw.org
- Jeannie Economos, Farmworker Association of Florida, 407-886-5151, Farmworkerassoc@aol.com
- Craig Minowa, Organic Consumers Association. 320-237-0432 craig@organicconsumers.org
Resources:
- Letter signed by 10,000 sent to Stephen Johnson: http://www.panna.org/resources/documents/meiPetition20071025.pdf
- Pesticide Action Network North America’s Methyl Iodide Page: http://www.panna.org/campaigns/driftMeI.html
- UFW Methyl Iodide Page: http://www.ufwaction.org/campaign/methyl_iodide_cadpr?qp_source=web
- Organic Consumers Association: http://www.organicconsumers.org/
- U.S. EPA Methyl Iodide Registration Information: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/iodomethane_fs.htm
- Federal Register Notice on Iodomethane (Methyl Iodide): http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/E6-26.htm
- EPA Docket for Iodomethane (Methyl Iodide): http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail&d=EPA-HQ-OPP-2005-0252
- Arysta Sale Announcement:
http://www.rttnews.com/sp/todaystop.asp?date=10/21/2007&item=2&vid=0
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