Enforcement Branch

November 7, 2001                                       ENF 2001-048


TO:       County Agricultural Commissioners

SUBJECT:  UPDATE OF SUGGESTED GUIDELINES FOR METHYL BROMIDE 
          COMMODITY FUMIGATION
		  
The Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) is updating the 
methyl bromide commodity fumigation guidelines which includes 
(1) the suggested permit conditions for methyl bromide commodity 
fumigation, (2) work site plan, (3) final permit conditions 
and (4) reference manual.  The suggested permit conditions, 
work site plan, and final permit conditions are attached.  
Because the methyl bromide commodity fumigation reference manual 
is rather lengthy (134 pages), it is not attached.  It can be found 
on DPR's external home page at www.cdpr.ca.gov.  Click on "Programs 
and Services" and then click on "Enforcement and Compliance".  Then 
click on the "Compliance" listing.  A hard copy of the reference 
manual can be down loaded as a PDF file.

The current commodity fumigation guidelines used for issuing 
restricted material permits for methyl bromide for commodity 
fumigations is dated "August 8, 1994" with updates issued in 
enforcement letters ENF 94-049 and ENF 94-075 respectively. As 
you can see, it has been seven years since this package has been 
updated.

The only substantive change will be to the work hour restrictions 
in suggested permit control number 16.  Testing and work hour 
restrictions are required when fumigating or storing fumigated 
commodity within enclosed areas.  New respirator cartridges 
(presently only the 3M Model 60928 Organic Vapor/Acid Gas/P100 
is certified for use against methyl bromide) will be allowed 
and will provide protection in atmospheres containing less than 
5 parts per million of methyl bromide.  These respirators can be 
used in place of the work hour restrictions.  Several other 
sections will be updated, such as contact people and the latest 
U.S. Department of Agriculture pressure test procedure.

DPR requests your comments and suggestions for updating these 
guidelines.  Please submit any comments or suggestions to 
Mr. Vic Acosta of my staff, by November 30, 200l.

If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Vic Acosta at 
(916) 445-3908, or by email at vacosta@cdpr.ca.gov.


Sincerely,

original signed by

Scott T. Paulsen, Chief
Pesticide Enforcement Branch
(916) 324-4100

Attachments--Suggested Permit Conditions and Work Site Plan; 
Final Permit Conditions

cc:  Mr. Daniel J. Merkley, Agricultural Commissioner Liaison 
     Dr. John Sanders, Environmental Monitoring Branch Chief
     Mr. Chuck Andrews, Worker Health & Safety Chief
     Mr. Vic Acosta, Program Specialist


FLEX YOUR POWER!  The energy challenge facing California is real.  Every 
Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption.  
For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, 
see our Web site at www.cdpr.ca.gov.

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