PESTICIDE BUREAU 

 Jeffrey L. Carlson, Acting Chief 



While the federal EPA was embroiled in controversy, finally resulting in 

 the resignation of several top policy makers including Administrator Ann 

 Burford, the Pesticide Bureau continued to take the initiative addressing 

 several important and controversial issues here in Massachusetts. 



MASSACHUSETTS DEVELOPS REGULATIONS ON TERMITICIDES 



Sol lowing several months of evaluation culminating with formal hearings, 

 the Bureau passed its recommendation on to the Pesticide Board relative to the 

 promulgation of regulations further restricting the use of termiticides in 

 Massachusetts, thus becoming the first state in the country to develop compre- 

 hensive regulations addressing this problem. The regulations which became law 

 shortly thereafter are intended to reduce public exposure to all pesticide pro- 

 ducts used as termiticides. In related action and on recommendations of the 

 Bureau, the Pesticide Board Subcommittee classified all products, containing 

 chlordane, aldrin and heptachlor as restricted use products ensuring that only 

 appropriately certified applicators will have access to these materials. 



MONITORING PROGRAM DEVELOPED FOR TEMIK 



The problem of groundwater contamination came close to home in Fiscal 1983 

 as the Bureau detected significant amounts of the insecticide aldicarb (Temik) 

 in two private wells in western Massachusetts. The compound which is used to 

 control the Colorado Potato Beetle, was found in well water samples in Maine, 

 Wisconsin and Long Island, N.Y., prompting the Pesticide Bureau to initiate a 

 preliminary survey here in Massachusetts. As a result of the preliminary data, 

 we have been able to develop a comprehensive monitoring program which will 

 enable us to determine the extent of the problem and the steps necessary to 

 address it. 



PROGRAMS TO PROTECT HONEYBEES SUCCESSFUL 



Considerable progress was seen in the area of protecting honey bees from 

 pesticides. With only one significant honeybee kill reported to the Bureau in 

 FY 1983, it is apparent that the regulations promulgated to control the use of 

 microencapsulated methyl parathion, coupled with educational work carried out by 

 the Cooperative Extension Service and the Bureau, resulted in a significant 

 reduction in all pesticide related bee kills. 



POLICY ON THE USE OF HERBICIDES ON RAILROAD LAYOUTS AND UTILITY RIGHTS OF WAY 



After more than a year following our initial request for funding, the 

 Bureau was able to secure $60 thousand dollars in appropriations earmarked for 

 the development of a generic environmental impact report (GEIR) on the use of 

 herbicides on railroad layouts and utility rights-of-ways. The GEIR is intended 

 to answer many qustions concerning the compounds now in use which have resulted 

 in significant controversy in Massachusetts as well as in many other states 

 across the country and finally to provide us with information needed to develop 

 a comprehensive statewide policy in this area. 



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