The California Department of Pesticide Regulation is considering additional pesticides to add to the state Groundwater Protection List. The proposed regulation would add 1,3-dichloropropene and paraquat dichloride among 83 new active ingredients with the potential to pollute groundwater.
In November DPR raised the safe exposure limit for airborne concentrations of 1,3-D, aiming to protect farmworkers. The groundwater protection rule is intended to promote safe drinking water supplies for shallow wells in agricultural regions.
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The changes were reportedly informed by a new method of evaluating the specific numerical values of chemicals in each product label, a process not currently employed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. DPR’s Pesticide Registration and Evaluation Committee consulted on the procedure, which predicts potential chemical leaching specifically in groundwater.
DPR is taking public comments on the proposed rule through June 30. The department has not yet scheduled a hearing related to the update.
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