[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 30 (Wednesday, February 13, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 10167]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-03332]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OPP-2012; FRL-9378-3]
Pollinator Summit: Status of Ongoing Collaborative Efforts To
Protect Pollinators; Notice of Public Meeting
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, in
conjunction with the United States Department of Agriculture, will
facilitate a public meeting with parties engaged in activities to
reduce potential acute exposure of honey bees and pollinators to
pesticides. Invited presenters will provide briefings on current
activities in three key areas related to improving seed treatment
techniques; reducing the generation of dust that occurs during planting
operations; and raising awareness of current best management practices
that are available to mitigate potential acute pesticide exposure to
pollinators. Pollinators are an important component of agricultural
production, critical to food and ecosystems, and must be protected so
that they can continue to play this important role. The intended
outcome of this meeting is to share information and look for areas of
collaboration to lessen the unintended impacts of pesticides on
pollinators during coming and future growing seasons. This meeting
complements EPA's ongoing work through the Pesticide Program Dialogue
Committee (PPDC) to support and take action to improve pollinator
health.
DATES: The meeting will be held on March 5, 2013 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00
p.m. e.s.t.
To request accommodation of a disability, please contact the person
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATON CONTACT, preferably at least 10
days prior to the meeting, to give EPA as much time as possible to
process your request.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Office of Pesticide Programs
(OPP), First Floor Conference Center, One Potomac Yard (South Bldg.),
2777 S. Crystal Dr., Arlington, VA 22202.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Clock-Rust, Environmental Fate
and Effects Division, (7507P), Office of Pesticide Programs,
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW.,
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (703) 308-2718; fax
number: (703) 305-6309 email address: clock-rust.mary@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. General Information
A. Does this action apply to me?
You may be potentially affected by this action if you are engaged
in activities to reduce potential exposure of honey bees and
pollinators to pesticides. This action is directed to the public in
general, and may be of particular interest to, but is not limited to
the following entities: Agricultural workers and farmers; beekeepers;
pesticide industry and trade associations; environmental, consumer, and
farm worker groups; animal welfare organizations; pesticide users and
growers; pest consultants, state, local and tribal governments and
academia. If you have questions regarding the applicability of this
action to a particular entity, consult the person listed under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
B. How can I request to participate in this meeting?
This meeting is open to the public and seating is limited. Please
use the following email address to make a reservation for seating:
Pollinator_summit@epa.gov. Persons interested in attending the meeting
remotely should contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT to obtain details to access the webinar of this meeting.
Comments may be made during the public comment session of the meeting;
invited presenters will provide briefings and information on their
current activities.
II. Background
EPA is convening a public meeting to facilitate the exchange of
information among parties engaged in various activities related to
improving the safety of pollinators around agricultural crops. While
there are several factors affecting honey bee health, pesticides are
among these variables; and, new research is rapidly becoming available
on practices and technology aimed at reducing exposure of pollinators
to pesticides. Specifically, this summit will focus on the pesticide
treated seed, including the technology of seed treatment and the
management of dust that can be associated with planting treated seed
and which may lead to pesticide exposure to bees. The public meeting
will also include best management techniques associated with commercial
agriculture and bees. This summit complements EPA's on-going work with
the PPDC Workgroup on Pollinator Protection, which is addressing
pesticide labeling, best management practices, enforcement,
communication and education. This public summit is being held to
increase the awareness among the participants and the public of the
rapidly changing understanding of, and response to protecting
pollinators at agricultural crops.
List of Subjects
Environmental protection, Pesticides and pests.
Dated: February 7, 2013.
Steven Bradbury,
Director, Office of Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 2013-03332 Filed 2-12-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P