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PR EPA, USDA, FDA WITH PESTICIDE-USER GROUPS AND FIRMS

Release Date: 12/13/94
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PR EPA, USDA, FDA WITH PESTICIDE-USER GROUPS AND FIRMS

FOR RELEASE: MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1994

ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP OF PESTICIDE USE IS FOCUS OF

PARTNERSHIP FORMED BY EPA, USDA, FDA WITH
PESTICIDE-USER GROUPS AND FIRMS

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S.

Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have formed a partnership with a number of groups and companies representing agricultural and nonagricultural pesticide users to promote environmental stewardship in pesticide use in the United States. The partnership is the first under the commitment made by the three agencies before the U.S. House of Representatives in September l993 to work jointly with pesticide user groups to develop commodity-specific initiatives toward achieving the Administration's goal of reducing the use and risks of pesticides in the United States.

"Voluntary pollution prevention has been a cornerstone of our efforts to protect human health and the environment, and this new pesticide partnership is an important step toward that goal," said Carol M. Browner, EPA Administrator. "I congratulate the companies and grower groups that are joining with us for their forward-thinking approach to environmentally-sound pesticide use practices and look forward to seeing others follow their lead."

The groups and companies that have joined the partnership include: the National Potato Council, the American Corn Growers Association, the International Apple Institute, the California Citrus Research Board, the California Pear Growers and California Pear Advisory Board, Appalachian Power, Atlantic Electric, Carolina Power & Light, Columbus Southern Power, Delmarva Power, Duke Power, Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Kingsport Power, New York State Electric & Gas, Ohio Power, Pennsylvania Electric, Pennsylvania Power and Light, Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association, the Virginia, Maryland, Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives, Wheeling Power, and Wisconsin Public Service Corp.



In forming this partnership, the federal government agencies and the participating groups and companies agree that environmental stewardship is an integral part of pest management practices. Specifically, the partnership has agreed to commit to a number of guiding principles that will shape pest management practices. The principles are:

° Pesticide users will continue to work towards pest management practices that reduce risk to humans and the environment and will continue to work to minimize the use of 

° The groups and companies will continue to develop and implement regional environmental stewardship plans containing specific pest management strategies that reduce risk to humans and the environment.
° In recognition of the need to maintain cost-effective pest control in the marketplace, the federal government will seek to foster, fund and promote through education, research and other means the adoption of alternative pest management technologies and practices that enhance pest management and reduce pesticide use and risk.
° The federal government shall integrate the environmental stewardship plans developed by the participating groups and companies into its agricultural and environmental policies and programs.