Your voice matters
As part of a Signature Program of the Western IPM Center, the Oregon IPM Center coordinates a network of experts and stakeholders in the region about to gather input about proposed regulatory changes to support federal agencies in their decision making. This process keeps stakeholders aware of relevant regulatory actions and encourages stakeholder involvement in the regulatory process.
Stakeholder input is essential
When federal agencies consider changes to pesticide registrations, they issue a “Request for Information” or open a formal comment period to gather feedback from growers and others with on-the-ground expertise. The Western IPM Center gathers comments from a network of informed sources throughout the Western region, and provides the agencies with “coordinated comments,” expert-written reports to assist the agencies in their decision-making. Danielle Lightle, of the Oregon IPM Center, works with the Western IPM Center to submit comments. She is also our regional IR-4 Pesticide Registration Research Leader.
One important aspect of the Western IPM Center's work is communicating Western pest management needs and priorities to federal regulators and lawmakers. The Regional IPM Network Coordination Signature Program is one way they do this. The network coordinators in the Pacific Northwest, Southwest, Pacific Islands and California build and maintain a list of contacts including growers, crop and commodity group representatives, extension agents and others to gather on-the-ground information when the U.S. Department of Agriculture needs real-world farming information or the Environmental Protection Agency considers new label restrictions on pesticides.
Impacts to IPM
Stakeholder Engagement
PNW IPM Network Coordination keeps stakeholders apprised of pertinent and relevant regulatory actions, and encourages stakeholder involvement in the regulatory process. Previously submitted comments have been cited in EPA response documents as relevant and helpful to their decision-making process.
Human and Environmental Health
An informed and communicative regulatory system is able to listen and respond to stakeholder needs and input. This maintains the availability of efficacious pesticides, targets their uses to where they are most needed, and encourages crop and pest-specific risk management practices that minimize the potential for harm to human health and the environment.
Outputs
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Outreach is conducted through multiple channels to keep a wide range of industry groups informed regarding important regulatory reviews and proposed decisions. Pesticide usage information, along with feedback on various products, alternatives, risks, and mitigations is regularly communicated to USDA/EPA in the form of comprehensive, formal comments, often representing multiple industries.
- Pacific Northwest comments from the Pacific Northwest have been submitted on the active ingredients aldicarb, carbaryl, chlorpyrifos, diazinon, synthetic pyrethroids, malathion, neonicotiniods, simazine, sulfoxaflor, and sulfonylurea herbicides. Previously submitted comments can be searched by chemical, date, or state, using the comment database maintained by the Western IPM Center.
- Dr. Lightle has a newly-established pesticide registration review updates newsletter where she posts details about proposed interim decisions (PIDs) moving through EPA's pesticide registration review process. Subscribing will ensure you receive updates via email.
Partners
Western IPM Center • US Environmental Protection Agency
USDA Office of Pest Management Policy • ODA Pesticide Stewardship Partnership
Pacific Northwest Agricultural researchers, extension agents, and other crop industry representatives
For more information, contact PNW Network Coordinator Dani Lightle