NewsBits

June 2006

Pesticide Collection/Disposal Pilot Project at the Arizona/Sonora Border

Background

The purpose of this pilot project is to support a partnership between EPA, Arizona and Sonora to plan and carry out pesticide collection/disposal events in Yuma County, Arizona, and within 25 miles of Yuma County in San Luis, Sonora. This work has been coordinated with the Arizona Department of Agriculture (ADA) and the Secretaria de Agricultura, Ganaderia, Recursos Hidraulicos, Pesca y Acuacultura del Gobierno del Estada de Sonora (SAGARHPA). This is a demonstration project to show the benefits of removal of unwanted or obsolete pesticides from agricultural areas. It is intended to be an incentive for the states of Arizona and Sonora to establish sustainable programs of their own, based on the results of this project.

Goal

• Goal IV of Border 2012: Improve environmental health by reducing the risk to border residents that may result from exposure to air pollution, drinking water contaminants, pesticides and other toxic chemicals.
• 2003-2008 EPA Strategic Plan: By 2008, reduce by 20% the inventories of obsolete persistent organic pollutants (POPs) from the key source countries of Russia and Mexico.
• (POPs) Include:
• Aldrin
• Chlordane
• *DDT
• Dieldrin
• *Endrin
• Heptachlor
• Mirex
• *Toxaphene
• Hexachlorobenzene

* We are anticipating collection of specific quantities of these chemicals.

Proposed Activities

Pilot pesticide collection/disposal events for individual growers are planned for the agricultural areas of Yuma, Arizona, and San Luis, Sonora.

• An existing EPA contract has been amended to add a statement of work for this pilot project. Final bids for this work were expected in late May. Contractor to be selected early June.
• Funds for this pilot project have been provided by EPA Region 9 Pesticide Program, Region 9 Border 2012 Program, EPA's Office of International Activities (OIA), and EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD).
• EPA has been working closely with ADA, SAGARHPA, and Region 9's RCRA Office to coordinate both events through twice-per-month conference calls.
• ADA and SAGARHPA have developed identical grower registration forms for this collection event so that information obtained from all growers is consistent. Measurable results will be obtained by tracking and quantifying all waste pesticides collected. ADA and SAGARHPA will notify and confirm with each grower the types and amounts of pesticide he/she is allowed to bring.
• " Collection events are being scheduled. Locations are as follows:



San Luis, Sonora	Cooperativa de Productores BONFIL Seccion Planta Despepitadora KM 16 Carretera San Luis - Riito San Luis, R.C., Sonora
Yuma, Arizona	Dune Company 2948 South Avenue 7E Yuma, Arizona 85365



• Growers have registered some pesticide materials that are of an unknown origin; Region 9 is working with EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) to process the necessary paperwork in the event that these materials need to be sent out of the United States (US) for destruction.
• Similarly, a notification process is underway by SEMARNAT to export Mexico's pesticide waste products into the US through the collection event.
• Three EPA Region 9 staff will participate in each event (Mary Grisier, Norman Calero, Jim Polek), as well as staff from ADA, ADEQ, SAGARHPA, SEMARNAT and local police/fire departments. EPA staff will be involved in oversight of contractors, processing participants and will sign final paperwork.

CONTACT:
Mary Grisier
EPA Region 9 Pesticide Program
Communities & Ecosystems Division
75 Hawthorne Street (CED-5)
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415)947-4213 - office
(415)947-3583 - fax
grisier.mary@epa.gov