[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 30 (Wednesday, February 13, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 10167]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-03332]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2012; FRL-9378-3]


Pollinator Summit: Status of Ongoing Collaborative Efforts To 
Protect Pollinators; Notice of Public Meeting

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, in 
conjunction with the United States Department of Agriculture, will 
facilitate a public meeting with parties engaged in activities to 
reduce potential acute exposure of honey bees and pollinators to 
pesticides. Invited presenters will provide briefings on current 
activities in three key areas related to improving seed treatment 
techniques; reducing the generation of dust that occurs during planting 
operations; and raising awareness of current best management practices 
that are available to mitigate potential acute pesticide exposure to 
pollinators. Pollinators are an important component of agricultural 
production, critical to food and ecosystems, and must be protected so 
that they can continue to play this important role. The intended 
outcome of this meeting is to share information and look for areas of 
collaboration to lessen the unintended impacts of pesticides on 
pollinators during coming and future growing seasons. This meeting 
complements EPA's ongoing work through the Pesticide Program Dialogue 
Committee (PPDC) to support and take action to improve pollinator 
health.

DATES: The meeting will be held on March 5, 2013 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 
p.m. e.s.t.
    To request accommodation of a disability, please contact the person 
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATON CONTACT, preferably at least 10 
days prior to the meeting, to give EPA as much time as possible to 
process your request.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Office of Pesticide Programs 
(OPP), First Floor Conference Center, One Potomac Yard (South Bldg.), 
2777 S. Crystal Dr., Arlington, VA 22202.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Clock-Rust, Environmental Fate 
and Effects Division, (7507P), Office of Pesticide Programs, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., 
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (703) 308-2718; fax 
number: (703) 305-6309 email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Does this action apply to me?

    You may be potentially affected by this action if you are engaged 
in activities to reduce potential exposure of honey bees and 
pollinators to pesticides. This action is directed to the public in 
general, and may be of particular interest to, but is not limited to 
the following entities: Agricultural workers and farmers; beekeepers; 
pesticide industry and trade associations; environmental, consumer, and 
farm worker groups; animal welfare organizations; pesticide users and 
growers; pest consultants, state, local and tribal governments and 
academia. If you have questions regarding the applicability of this 
action to a particular entity, consult the person listed under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

B. How can I request to participate in this meeting?

    This meeting is open to the public and seating is limited. Please 
use the following email address to make a reservation for seating: 
[email protected]. Persons interested in attending the meeting 
remotely should contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT to obtain details to access the webinar of this meeting. 
Comments may be made during the public comment session of the meeting; 
invited presenters will provide briefings and information on their 
current activities.

II. Background

    EPA is convening a public meeting to facilitate the exchange of 
information among parties engaged in various activities related to 
improving the safety of pollinators around agricultural crops. While 
there are several factors affecting honey bee health, pesticides are 
among these variables; and, new research is rapidly becoming available 
on practices and technology aimed at reducing exposure of pollinators 
to pesticides. Specifically, this summit will focus on the pesticide 
treated seed, including the technology of seed treatment and the 
management of dust that can be associated with planting treated seed 
and which may lead to pesticide exposure to bees. The public meeting 
will also include best management techniques associated with commercial 
agriculture and bees. This summit complements EPA's on-going work with 
the PPDC Workgroup on Pollinator Protection, which is addressing 
pesticide labeling, best management practices, enforcement, 
communication and education. This public summit is being held to 
increase the awareness among the participants and the public of the 
rapidly changing understanding of, and response to protecting 
pollinators at agricultural crops.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Pesticides and pests.

    Dated: February 7, 2013.
Steven Bradbury,
Director, Office of Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 2013-03332 Filed 2-12-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P