EPA expanding regulation of pesticide drift from farms, lawns

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency stepped up efforts to reduce pesticide drift today, proposing additional warning labels for herbicides and insecticides applied on everything from farms to golf courses to residential lawns. The agency also says it plans to impose much tighter conditions on when high-risk pesticides can be applied, with labels that may require no-spray zones and application in low wind speeds, at low release heights and in larger droplet size -- all aimed at cutting pesticide drift. The EPA is also requesting comment on a petition filed recently by environmental and farm worker organizations. The petitioners asked the agency to evaluate children's exposure to pesticide drift and to adopt interim requirements for "no-spray" buffer zones near homes, schools, day-care centers and parks. Oregonian