EPA Authorizes Critical Uses of Methyl Bromide for 2007

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News for Release: Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2006

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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

 

EPA Authorizes Critical Uses of Methyl Bromide for 2007

 

Contact: John Millett, (202) 564-4355 / millett.john@ epa.gov

 

(Washington, D.C. - Dec. 12, 2006) In accordance with the Clean Air

Act and Montreal Protocol, EPA has issued final methyl bromide

production and import critical use exemptions for 2007. EPA also

authorized uses that qualify for the 2007 critical use exemption. The

exemptions for continued production and import of methyl bromide will

honor the U.S. commitment to obtain methyl bromide for American

farmers, in a manner consistent with the Montreal Protocol, while

protecting the ozone layer.

 

This action is authorizing 6,230,655 kilograms (6,230.7 metric tonnes,

or 24.4 percent of baseline) of methyl bromide for approved critical

uses during 2007, such as strawberry and tomato production, as well as

commodity fumigation. The United States originally requested an amount

equivalent to 29 percent of historic 1991 baseline consumption. A

total of 26.4 percent of baseline, or 6,749,060 kilograms (6,749

metric tonnes), was authorized at the 17th Meeting of the Parties in

Dakar, Senegal, in December 2005. The authorized amount was adjusted

was to account for the increased use of alternatives among methyl

bromide users.

 

Critical use exemptions are permitted under the Montreal Protocol for

circumstances where there are no technically and economically feasible

alternatives to methyl bromide. Further, the Clean Air Act Amendments

of 1990 direct the EPA to issue regulations to implement the

provisions of the Montreal Protocol within the United States.

 

Allowance decisions for 2008 were made at 18th Meeting of the Parties

to the Montreal Protocol in New Delhi, India during Oct. 30-Nov. 3,

2006. For 2008, the U.S. request was revised to 23 percent of

baseline, and a total of 21 percent was authorized. EPA is beginning

the notice-and-comment rulemaking process for the 2008 calendar year.

 

More information on the final rule: http://www.epa. gov/ozone/ mbr

 

 

 

 

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