The EPA is taking the next step in its regulatory review of paraquat dichloride (paraquat), a widely-used herbicide.

As outlined in the proposed interim decision for paraquat, the agency is proposing new measures to reduce risks associated with paraquat in order to better to protect human health and the environment. These measures include:

• Prohibiting aerial application for all uses and use sites except cotton desiccation;
• Prohibiting pressurized handgun and backpack sprayer application methods on the label;
• Limiting the maximum application rate for alfalfa to one pound of active ingredient per acre;
• Requiring enclosed cabs if area treated in 24-hour period is more than 80 acres;
• Requiring enclosed cabs or PF10 respirators if area treated in 24-hour period is 80 acres or less;
• Requiring a residential area drift buffer and 7-day restricted entry interval (REI) for cotton desiccation;
• Requiring a 48-hour REI for all crops and uses except cotton desiccation; and
• Adding mandatory spray drift management label language.

In addition, EPA is proposing to allow truck drivers who are not certified applicators to transport paraquat when certain conditions are met.

Read the proposed interim decision here. Upon publication of the Federal Register notice, public comments will be accepted for 60 days in docket # EPA-HQ-OPP-2011-0855 until December 22, 2020 at www.regulations.gov.