California Proposes Methyl Bromide Restrictions

January 19, 2000

The California Department of Pesticide Regulation has proposed mandatory state rules on the use of methyl bromide. A San Francisco superior court judge last year ordered the department to adopt by June more specific regulations on the field fumigation use of methyl bromide.

Among the provisions of the proposed regulatory package:

--Users must obtain a site-specific permit from the county agricultural commissioner before using methyl bromide; the commissioner may require specific use practices as part of the permit. Users also must submit a work plan before use can be approved.

--A two-stage notification plan would be created. Neighbors on "sensitive sites" (homes, schools hospitals, employee housing centers) within 300 feet of the outer boundary of a buffer zone would have to be notified of applications. Neighbors could ask for a second notification 48 hours before the scheduled fumigation.

--A mandatory minimum buffer zone of 100 feet would be regulated.. The only exceptions would be reduced rate fumigations of less than 10 acres when the minimum buffer zones would range from 60 to 90 feet, depending on the acreage treated..

California DPR Director Paul E. Helliker said the regulations being proposed deal specifically with "acute, short-term exposures. We may need controls to reduce risks from longer term exposures to fumigation workers. The Air Resources Board plans to conduct additional air monitoring this year to gather data. We also will develop additional controls to protect workers using methyl bromide in commodity fumigations, in greenhouses and in nursery crops."