Pesticide Advisory Committee Meeting Summary
Guyer Conference Room, MDA Laboratory, East Lansing
May 4, 2007

Present:            Jim Johnson, Brian Rowe, Gary King, Roger Wabeke, Abby Schwartz, Russ Ives, Bill Weil, Mike Schiffer, Phil Korson, Carolyn Randall

Guest:               Carol Osborne

Jim Johnson welcomed everyone to the meeting.  He appreciated the willingness of the committee to move the meeting date to today.   The members of the committee introduced themselves.  Gary King is the new Pesticide Enforcement Manager. 
Action Item:  Add Gary King to e-mail list for PAC.

Minutes from the January 19, 2007 meeting were reviewed.  There were no corrections.  A motion was made to approve the minutes as written.  The motion was seconded and carried.

Roger Wabeke voiced a concern about the use of quaternary ammonium chloride-based disinfectant products.  He noted that on each quarterly report given by Abby Schwartz, Michigan Pesticide Illness and Injury Surveillance Project Quarterly Report, there is an incident involving this chemical.  He asked if the committee could possibly do anything to change the label by adding wording about possible adverse health effects.  Brian Rowe said the committee could make recommendations to the MDA director who could then forward the recommendations on to EPA who registers the products.
Action Item:  After research on the data (Abby), findings in Michigan (Brian and Abby), identify other organizations (Roger) – Brian Rowe will compile the data and report back to the committee in July.

Pesticide Surveillance Update – Abby Schwartz distributed the Pesticide Illness and Injury Surveillance Project Quarterly Report.  The report cases were discussed.  Abby was asked if she could report the surveillance information in a different format and if she could add environmental information.
Action Items:  Abby will include a table showing the incident reporting rather than individual case reports and she will also include information about environmental cases and add the age of the individual if the information is available.

PPPM Update – Brian Rowe gave the committee an update on division activities:

• 15 staff members have been laid off, 8 of which were core inspection staff as a result of decreased funding for Emerald Ash Borer activities by the USDA. 
• Gary King was the deputy director for EAB; he is now the new Pesticide Enforcement Manager. 
• Dr. Brian Hughes, pesticide registration manager and MDA toxicologist left MDA for a position with the Florida Department of Public Health. 
• Registration manager position open.  The governor’s directives necessitate more documentation to start to process to fill open positions.  Brian has forwarded justification for the position to Ken Rauscher who will forward it to Director Irwin. 

Many committee members voiced accolades for Brian Hughes, the work he has done on, for, and with the PAC, MDA, and the public sector.  All agreed that he will be missed.  Thank you Brian Hughes for all of your hard work. 

The PAC supports refilling the pesticide registration manager and the toxicologist positions.

Brian Hughes had submitted all Section 18 requests before he left MDA.  All but two have been approved by EPA.  These remaining requests are for late season uses.

Brian Rowe was asked about the honey bee colony problem this year.  Mike Hansen, Region 5 Supervisor, is the department contact for bees.  No explanation has been found for the disappearance of honey bees from their hives.

MSUE Pesticide Education Update – Carolyn Randall distributed a copy of the Second Quarter Report and Pesticide Notes June – December Issue.  Highlights include:

• Project GREEEN grant will allow for Spanish translation of the Michigan Core Manual Supplements.
• Questions and Answers about Fleas brochure written.
• John Stone hired to conduct 10 pesticide applicator training seminars.
• MSUE/MDA In-service conducted March 7, 2007.
• Hired part-time employee (1-2 days per week) to assist Carolyn.

Pesticide Notes is available at:  www.pested.msu.edu

Enforcement Report – Brian Rowe discussed the pesticide enforcement report that was e-mailed to committee members.  There was much discussion about how to use the information, what type of information the committee would like to see, historic information, etc.
Action Item:  July Agenda Item – review of a new pesticide enforcement report, which will add a “closed case column” and “why” column.  Discussion will center on how the closed case data can be used for action and what action will be needed to get there.

Pesticide Section Update – Brian Rowe gave an update on the pesticide section activities:
Staff issues – since last quarter

• Pesticide Registration Manager position vacant – Brian Hughes moved to Florida
• Pesticide Applicators Business Licensing support position vacant – Rosemary Williams retired

Regulation 637

• Public hearing possibly by end of summer

Internet pesticide sales

• Federal money (EPA) received for project.  Procedures written by Dr. Hughes and two inspectors.  Regions will be assigned types of products for monitoring sales on the web.

Groundwater fees

• Draft legislation to collect groundwater fees from out of state sales of pesticides sold in Michigan is progressing.

Mold control in homes

• Brian discussed this issue.  There is increased use of antimicrobials in air handling systems in homes.  PPPM is considering options to regulate the use of antimicrobial pesticides for mold control in air handling systems…. more to follow.

Organic Agriculture in Michigan Report – Carol Osborne of the Michigan Organic Food and Farm Alliance distributed “Organic Agriculture in Michigan 2006 Survey Report”.  This is a collaborative effort between Michigan State University and Michigan Organic Food and Farm Alliance.  The survey was distributed to organic farmers, processors, and handlers in Michigan.    Ninety-seven farmers and 19 processors returned the survey.  This booklet gives a sampling of what organic farming looks like in Michigan.  This is the first time this information has been collected.  Most Michigan organic farmers have transitioned from traditional farms to organic.  Most organic farms have been organic for 10 years or more.  Eighty percent are field crop producers, a small amount are fruit and vegetable growers.  The next steps include identifying transition issues and providing resources to the transitioning farmers.  This report is available at:  www.moffa.org

Miscellaneous – Russ Ives distributed a copy of a proclamation stating the week of May 6, 2007, is Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Awareness Week in Michigan.  No one on the committee had ever seen this before.  Many questions were asked.  There was concern voiced about the references.  Brian Rowe will contact the MDA press office for information.  He will try to find out who sponsored the proclamation.  Brian will also forward the distributed information to EPA for their comments and review.  After review of information, the committee can forward recommendations to Director Irwin.
Action Item:  July Agenda Item - Brian Rowe will collect information about who sponsored, where did this come from, etc.  He will present his findings at the July meeting.