Thank you for your interest. The comment period is closed.

Oregon Department of Agriculture is taking public comments until October 22nd at 5 p.m. on proposed rules that would restrict chlorpyrifos. Tell them you want a full ban. Thank you to the 100+ NCAP supporters who have already submitted comments! If you haven't commented, there is still time before October 22.

Información sobre cómo comentar en español aquí.

Chlorpyrifos is a dangerous insecticide, widely used on a variety of crops, including strawberries, apples, wheat, and Christmas trees. Chlorpyrifos is a neurotoxin – damaging the brains and nervous systems of those who are exposed. Farmworkers, rural communities, children, pregnant mothers and endangered wildlife are especially at risk. The Oregon Department of Agriculture has proposed new rules to strengthen protections for Oregonians from pesticides containing chlorpyrifos.

During the open comment period it’s important that as many Oregonians as possible show the ODA that we care about protecting human and environmental health from chlorpyrifos exposure. NCAP supports ODA in taking steps to protect Oregonians from a highly hazardous pesticide. However, we are advocating that the rules must fully phase out all uses of chlorpyrifos by December 31, 2023. 

HOW TO SUBMIT COMMENTS

Please email your comments (in any language) during the open comment period to: [email protected]

CLICK HERE TO HAVE AN EMAIL AUTO-POPULATED FOR YOU TO EDIT AND SUBMIT - BE SURE TO SIGN THE EMAIL AND ADD TEXT FROM BELOW (OR YOUR OWN WORDS) TO THE MESSAGE!

WHAT TO INCLUDE IN YOUR COMMENT

I support ODA in taking steps to protect Oregonians from a highly hazardous pesticide. However, the rules must fully phase out all uses of chlorpyrifos by December 31, 2023. I strongly believe in this, because:

• Granular forms of chlorpyrifos will continue to contaminate our food and drinking water, harm farmworkers, cause cancer, and impair children's neurodevelopment. 
• According to the EPA, in an average diet, Americans unknowingly consume high amounts of chlorpyrifos, resulting in exposures many times levels EPA deems safe. Shockingly, children ages one to two consume chlorpyrifos in food at levels 140 times their “safe” level, according to EPA estimates.
• In 2017, the National Marine Fisheries Service determined that this chemical jeopardizes the survival and recovery of all listed salmon and steelhead in Oregon, Washington and California. 
• Many growers in Oregon already utilize cost-effective, ecosystem-based alternatives that reduce insect pressure without the use of a neurotoxin.
• The EPA is not following the advice of its own scientists in finalizing a federal ban. Oregon has an opportunity to step up and protect kids, farmworkers and endangered salmon with a total ban.

Additionally using your personal story, you can add why it is so important to you that Oregon phase out the use of chlorpyrifos pesticides by 2023 and provide the strongest possible protections for farmworkers and children in the meantime.

COMMENT DEADLINE: OCTOBER 22, 2020 at 5:00 p.m.

Alternatively, you can mail your comments to:

Amy Bingham 
Chlorpyrifos 2020 Rulemaking Comment
Directors Office, Oregon Department of Agriculture
635 Capitol St NE
Salem, OR 97301-2532

RULEMAKING SUMMARY

See the full 2020 Chlorpyrifos proposed rules here.

Adopt OAR-603-057-0545 places limitations on the insecticide chlorpyrifos. 

• As of December 31, 2023, it is prohibited to use, deliver, distribute, sell, offer or expose for sale pesticide products containing chlorpyrifos, except granular forms, seed treatments and pest emergencies.
• All products that contain chlorpyrifos are restricted-use and require a certified and licensed applicator to purchase and apply such products. 
• Prohibits use of chlorpyrifos in an enclosed space production structure (i.e., greenhouse, hoop house)
• Prohibits and limits certain uses starting in 2020, and requires a minimum restricted re-entry interval of four days to protect workers from being required to go back into a sprayed area too soon. 
• Increases respirator protection for applicators and requires records of chlorpyrifos applications. 
• Provide increased no-spray buffers from sensitive areas and permanent waterways (includes homes, farm worker housing, schools, etc), which are considerably larger than those stated on the label.

Many thanks to PCUN and Beyond Toxics for their efforts to ban chlorpyrifos as members of the ODA chlorpyrifos workgroup!