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CALIFORNIA FARMERS MAY GET PESTICIDE WAIVER

WASHINGTON, DC - California farmers might get more opportunities to use methyl bromide despite international plans for phasing out the chemical, according to the Modesto Bee, quoting sources in the Bush Administration. Farmers, though, appear unconvinced. And lawmakers, urged on by some of California's biggest farm groups, are looking into the possibility of extending the phase-out set for 2005 under the Montreal Protocol.  Agreed to by more than 180 countries, the Montreal Protocol is designed to protect Earth's ozone layer. Countries are phasing out production and use of ozone-depleting chemicals, including methyl bromide.  That's a problem for California growers, who value it as a highly effective fumigant used on more than 100 crops. The state's farmers in 2001 applied 6.6 million pounds to 60,000 acres, making methyl bromide the fourth most heavily used pesticide in the state.  Methyl bromide use is declining, though. In California, for instance, Department of Pesticide Regulation records show methyl bromide use fell by half between 1998 and 2001.  Even so, farmers say no good alternative has been found despite $146 million in US Agriculture Department research. "We're trying to find alternatives that work in more than one place," said Rodney Brown, the department's deputy undersecretary for research. "It's very difficult." At a recent hearing of the House Energy and Air Quality Subcommittee, administration officials showed little enthusiasm for renegotiating the 1988 treaty. If the treaty stays intact, farmers suggest Congress can at least slow things down. The California Walnut Commission, the Turlock Fruit Co., the California Tomato Commission and dozens of other farm groups said in a recent letter that extending the methyl bromide phaseout is "absolutely warranted." Previous legislative efforts to extend the phaseout haven't worked, but Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Vista) suggested that an additional growing season could be tacked on. More aggressive proposals would extend the deadline to 2010. Another solution is provided in the treaty itself, which permits countries to seek "critical-use exemptions" that permit limited methyl bromide use after the 2005 deadline. The Bush administration sought exemptions covering 16 uses, including on strawberries and walnuts as well as in food processing. "At this rate, only a handful of commodities will receive exemptions," complained Rep. George Radanovich (R-Mariposa). Administration officials stressed that final decisions on exemptions won't be made until mid-November.

US, SINGAPORE SIGN ENVIRONMENTAL COOPERATION MEMO
 
WASHINGTON, DC - The US and the Republic of Singapore have signed a Memorandum of Intent on Cooperation in Environmental Matters "as a further confirmation of the close bilateral relations between the two countries." Paula Dobriansky, Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs, and Chan Heng Chee, the Ambassador of the Republic of Singapore to the United States, signed the Memorandum in Washington, DC on behalf of the two governments. The Memorandum, which is associated with the environment chapter of the recently signed United States-Singapore Free Trade Agreement, "encourages bilateral cooperation in environmental protection. It also reflects both countries' commitment to enhance their capacities to protect the environment and promote sustainable development in concert with the strengthening of bilateral trade and investment relations," according to a press release issued at the time of the signing. The Memorandum will provide a framework for the two countries to cooperate in promoting sustainable environmental policies, practices and measures in support of sustainable development. Bilateral cooperative activities envisaged include technical information sharing, exchange of experts, capacity-building training, and joint research projects. Possible areas of cooperation are expected to include improvements in energy efficiency; natural resource management; endangered species conservation; public / private partnerships; and environmental education. Under the Memorandum, the US and Singapore also intend to cooperate on "activities aimed at promoting regional exchange of information on environmental best practices, and capacity building forthird countries in Asia." Both the US and Singapore agree that the conclusion of the Memorandum of Intent "will further reinforce bilateral relations and provide an additional means to benefit from each other's experiences in environmental protection."

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