For Immediate Release: June 28, 2002

Contact: , American Bird Conservancy, 202/234-7181 ext. 207
, Associate Director, Media Relations, Defenders of Wildlife, (202) 772-0237

EPA Reverses Decade-old Decision to Allow Resumption of Bird-Killing Pesticide Use

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has granted a request by Louisiana rice growers to use 1,500 pounds of granular carbofuran (trade name Furadan) to combat rice weevil. The granular formulation of this highly toxic chemical has been responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of birds, including Bald Eagles, and was phased out from legal use, beginning in 1991, for that reason.

EPA initially intended to grant the "emergency use" application of three tons of active ingredient, enough to cover 10,000 acres of rice fields, without seeking public comment or alerting conservation groups. After pressure from American Bird Conservancy (ABC), Defenders of Wildlife, National Audubon Society, NRDC, Sierra Club, and other groups, EPA capitulated and agreed to allow only enough pesticide to cover 2,500 acres. They have subsequently will open a five-day public comment period, beginning Thursday, before they decide whether to grant carbofuran use for the remaining 7,500 acres.

Laboratory data verify that carbofuran is among the most highly toxic pesticides to birds. One tiny granule can kill a bird, and more than fifty species, including Bald and Golden Eagle, Eastern Bluebird, Great Horned Owl, Red-tailed Hawk, Kestrel, Northern Pintail, and Blue-winged Teal, have been documented as having died from carbofuran poisoning. EPA estimated that prior to cancellation of the granular formulation, up to two million birds were killed each year by carbofuran. No other substance listed under the EPA's Ecological Incident Investigation System has killed more birds. Scientists at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) stated that "there are no known conditions under which carbofuran can be used without killing migratory birds. Many of these die-off incidents followed applications of carbofuran that were made with extraordinary care.". Scientists from around the country concur.

"The decision to allow the resumption of carbofuran use after years of well documented, science-based proof of its dangers, sets a dangerous precedent and once more puts birds at extreme and unnecessary risk," said Gerald Winegrad, Vice President for Policy at ABC. "Let us hope that concerns raised by so many environmental groups help EPA make the right decision and deny further applications for granular carbofuran use."

Caroline Kennedy, Director of Special Projects at Defenders of Wildlife noted that "In addition to birds, carbofuran is responsible for many documented incidents of killing other wildlife, such as mammals and aquatic species, and should not be used-it's unsafe at any speed."

The timing of this decision is of further concern to environmentalists as they have learned from one EPA representative that the overall registration of carbofuran will be up for review at the end of the year. Although the granular use of the chemical has been the primary cause for concern with regard to bird deaths, biologists are also investigating the likelihood that flowable carbofuran is equally hazardous.