1. PURPOSE
The purpose of this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Defense
(D--D) is to form a working partnership to promote environmental stewardship
by adopting integrated pest management strategies to reduce the potential
risks to human health and the environment associated with pesticides.
II. BACKGROUND
1. In June 1993, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced
their joint initiative to. reduce the risks, to people and the environment,
associated with pesticides, while assuring the availability of cost-effective
pest management tools for the agricultural sector and other pesticide users.
This announcement was made in conjunction with the publication of the 1993
National Academy of Science's Report, entitled "Pesticides in Children's
Food." A major thrust of this joint agency initiative has be@n to
encourage the voluntary adoption of integrated pest management (IPM) and
alternative technologies that are thought to be safer than traditional
methods. In August 1994, the EPA and USDA signed a memorandum of understanding
to "cooperate in providing for agricultural pest management that is
conducted in the most environmentally sound manner possible, with sufficient
pest management alternatives to reduce risks to human health and the environment,
to reduce the incidence of pest resistance to pesticides, and to ensure
economical agricultural production. By the year 2000, EPA, USDA, and FDA
are committed to the goal of enrolling 75 percent of U.S. agricultural
acreage in integrated pest management programs."
2. Shortly after the USDA/EPA/FDA announcement, the Deputy Under Secretary
of Defense (Environmental Security) directed the Armed Forces Pest Management
Board (AFPMB) to cooperate fully with these agencies in their initiative
and to develop a strategy to reduce pesticide risk within the DoD. Key
elements of this strategy are eliminating unnecessary pesticide use by
fully implementing IPM, substituting safer pesticides, and fostering research
on non-chemical and "least toxic" control methods. The DoD is
committed to fully implementing IPM as a tool to help achieve a 50% reduction
in its pesticide use by the end of fiscal year 2000. To help achieve this
reduction and to support the EPA, USDA, and FDA effort to fulfill their
goals for the Nation, it is in the interest of DoD and EPA to enter into
this cooperative MOU to broaden respective opportunities to support or
stimulate the accomplishment of the public purpose of developing, demonstrating,
and implementing IPM strategies that reduce the use and risk of pesticides
to the citizens of the United States.
III. RESPONSIBILITIES OF BOTH PARTIES
1. The DoD agrees to arrange, through coordination by the AFPMB, suitable
locations on DoD installations where innovative IPM techniques can be demonstrated
to control pests.
2. The DoD also agrees, where possible and practical, to provide the
necessary personnel and equipment to implement these techniques. These
control techniques shall include, but not be
limited Lo, the following: physical, mechanical, cultural, biological,
and educational and use of less toxic pesticides such as biopesticides.
3. DoD further agrees to promote the use of IPM on DoD-controlled golf
courses with the objective of eventually having all DoD courses practicing
IPM.
4. The EPA agrees to recommend and provide the necessary technical background
information and support on the above mentioned IPM techniques, including
recommendations on safer pesticides and IPM implementation, and, when possible
and practical, provide on-site consultation on the use of such techniques.
5. The EPA also agrees, subject to the availability of funds, to fund
or co-fund with DoD seed grants for selected IPM research projects to be
performed on DoD installations. The grants will be jointly reviewed and
selected by DoD and EPA to assure that they are technically appropriate
and conform to the statutory requirement to support or stimulate the accomplishment
of a public purpose and not be for the exclusive use or sole benefit of
the Federal government.
6. As a special initiative, both parties agree that, in addition to
the public concerns about environmental pollution from pesticides, a stronger
market for food commodities produced by IPM techniques provides a strong
incentive for the adoption of IPM strategies by growers. Therefore, to
support the year 2000 goal of enrolling 75 per cent of agricultural acreage
in-the U.S. in IPM programs, both parties agree to promote the cost effective.
acquisition of commodities produced using IPM techniques.
7. Both parties agree to share information on IPM training, methods
to collect usage data, and ways to evaluate pesticide risk.
8. Both parties also agree, through the regular meetings of the AFPMB,
to plan, execute, and evaluate progress on this MOU.
9. Both parties also agree to designate a Project Officer with responsibilities
for coordinating activities associated with this MOU.
IV TERMS OF AGREEMENT
This MOU does not commit either party to obligate funds or personnel,
and it shall remain valid for five years unless revoked in writing by either
party.
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
/SIGNED/
Deputy Administrator
Date: 3/20/96
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
/SIGNED/
Deputy Under Secretary of Defense
(Environmental Security)
Date: 3/20/96
