compost: nature’s way to grow!...compost: nature’s way to grow! us composting council • po box...
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Compost: Nature’s Way to Grow!
US Composting Council • PO Box 19246, Raleigh, NC 27619
phone: 301.897.2715 • [email protected]• www.compostingcouncil.org
June 26, 2020
Andrew Muench, Chemical Review Manager
Pesticide Re-Evaluation Division, Office of Pesticide Programs
Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.
Washington, DC 20460-0001
Re: USCC Comments of Proposed Interim Decision for Clopyralid--EPA-HQ-
OPP-2014-0167.
Dr. Muench,
The US Composting Council (USCC) advances compost manufacturing, compost
utilization, and organics recycling to benefit our members, society, and the
environment. We believe compost manufacturing and compost utilization are
central to creating healthy soils, clean air and water, a stable climate, and a
sustainable society.
The USCC currently has approximately 768 members, representing over 2000
individuals. Our signature product certification program, the Seal of Testing
Assurance (STA), has over 200 participating compost manufacturers, representing
320 different STA Certified Compost products producing over ten million cubic
yards of compost per year. Using the average published retail price1 that would
have a value of $262 million. Since certified STA manufacturers only make up a
small percentage of all compost manufacturers that represents a only a fraction of
the total worth of the industry’s product sales and does not include multiplier
effects of the value of products that compost is used in, such as retail bagged
potting soil, blends and construction fill topsoil. Furthermore, typical commercial
composters make only 20% of their income on product sales, and the rest is from
service fees for processing organic wastes (collection and tip fees). While an
estimate of the total size and value of the US compost manufacturing industry is
not available, it is clearly a multi-billion dollar industry.
Almost half of US States ban yard trimmings (including grass clippings) from
landfill disposal. Other states have aggressive recycling goals that require (or
strongly encourage) recycling of organic materials such as those generated at
homes, businesses, golf courses, roadways, etc. In the majority of US states,
sending organic materials to composting is the expected resource recovery pathway
and this trend only continues to grow. Both EPA and USDA actively promote
collecting organics for composting and compost use.
1 Composting News August 2019 http://compostingnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/cnprices.pdf
Officers
President
Patrick Geraty St. Louis Composting
Interim Past President
Bob Yost A-1 Organics
Vice President
Brian Fleury WeCare/Denali
Treasurer
Joe DiNorscia Laurel Valley Soils
Secretary
Sarah Martinez Eco-Products
Board of Directors
Eileen Banyra
Community Compost Company
Jeff Bradley Vermeer
Jim Cowhey
JPM Development, LLC
Jeff Dannis Howard County MD
Russell Faldik
New Earth Compost
Tim Goodman NatureWorks
Pierce Lewis
Dirt Hugger
Sarah Martinez Eco-Products
Robert Michitsch, Ph.D.
University of Wisconsin Stevens Point
Bob Schanz
Barnes Nursery
Jennifer Trent Iowa Waste Reduction Center
University of Northern Iowa
Executive Director
Frank Franciosi
Page
US Composting Council • PO Box 19246, Raleigh, NC 27619
phone: 301.897.2715 • [email protected]• www.compostingcouncil.org
2
Compost is a trusted soil amendment and source of fertility for millions of home gardeners and
thousands of commercial growers, and plays a vital role in meeting national goals of waste
reduction and healthy soils. Confidence in the products they purchase is fundamental to a healthy
industry, and trust once lost is difficult to regain. The known presence of persistent herbicides in
only some composts could have a chilling effect on most composts. The STA program has been
working to increase confidence in manufactured compost by standardizing testing and reporting
processes and setting minimum guidelines for basic applications. But those decades of work could
be undone by threats of “killer compost”. It is critical that the EPA better balance the needs of crop
producers who need to control difficult weeds with the needs of home gardeners and organic
growers who rely on compost to improve soil-water dynamics, reduce synthetic chemical use and
improve the overall health of their soil.
The USCC is pleased to see that the EPA has recognized that Clopyralid and other persistent
herbicides are having a deleterious effect on the composting industry, as represented by section
IV.A.3: Measures to Address Potential Compost Contamination. Specific comments on that section
will be provided below. However, the proposed remedies do not go nearly far enough, so some
general comments are in order.
While the benefits of clopyralid use to farmers, applicators and land managers is clearly defined, the
risks via contaminated compost are much less well understood. This is because the risk evaluation
of pesticides has never included the composting pathway, and key questions about that path are
undefined. For example, what is the “No Observed Adverse Effect Level” (NOAEL) for Clopyralid
in compost? How long does the chemical have to be in the composting environment to reach that
level? What is a reasonable time frame that chemicals like Clopyralid should be required to degrade
in to be approved? In order to protect the farm and garden customers of large-scale composters,
three months would be a reasonable answer to that last question, given modern operations and
processing times. While the precise answers to these and related questions will take some time to
answer, they MUST become part of the overall herbicide approval and registration/re-registration
process.
History and costs of incidents
There have been no large scale, nationwide studies of the scope, prevalence or impact of
compost contamination by Clopyralid and other persistent herbicides. For obvious reasons,
composters who discover contamination are very reluctant to publicize that--no one wants to be
associated with “killer compost”, as herbicide-contaminated compost incidents have been called.
However, several informal reports provide strong anecdotal evidence
1. USCC Confidential reporting form. In 2014, as part of an effort to educate composters on
this issue, the USCC developed a confidential incident reporting form2. Two major incidents this
spring of 2020, in North Carolina and Oregon, have stimulated a flurry of submissions. The list of
incidents reported as of the comment submission date is attached as appendix A. The most up-to-
2 Unfortunately, all the incidents submitted between 2015 and mid-2019 were lost over several website
transitions.
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US Composting Council • PO Box 19246, Raleigh, NC 27619
phone: 301.897.2715 • [email protected]• www.compostingcouncil.org
3
date version of the results can be viewed and downloaded here:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/a4fbewk1zxxb9wc/USCC%20PH%20confidential%20reporting%20for
m%20submissions%20for%20EPA.xlsx?dl=0. Many of the incident reporters sent additional photos
and supporting evidence. These can be found at
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/figs4kb89q47dn6/AADjtr3mcKrcOCVVrk6DSbpqa?dl=0. The
USCC can supply contact info of incident reporters at the request of the EPA.
2. Scotts MiracleGro® screening of composts for inclusion in their products
Scotts Miracle-Gro (SMG) began an investigation into persistent herbicides in compost through an
extensive quality monitoring program in 2017. Historically, quality monitoring was done through
analytical lab testing. However, once we began to better understand the scope of herbicide
persistence, the cost of analysis ($200 for a single persistent herbicide) became prohibitive. In
addition, SMG observed a very low correlation between the herbicide concentrations reported
through analytical testing and phytotoxicity symptoms observed on plants. This was attributed
to the small volumes of compost used for analytical testing that likely were not representative of
large compost volumes. To remedy this, SMG pivoted to relying on the use of bioassays to
determine the presence and severity of herbicides in composts. The initial step was to establish an
internal clover bioassay phytotoxicity scale based on the method developed and published by
Woods End Research Labs. Then, we internally validated our rating scale, demonstrated
repeatability, and trained clover injury raters. With this sampling method, SMG has tested over 150
different compost samples, and continues our sampling currently to ensure the quality of our
products.
The summary data from the years 2017-2019 are presented below. Because our detection method is
a bioassay for persistent herbicides, not analytical testing, this dataset shows the presence of any
persistent herbicide, not just clopyralid. It should also be noted that there is bias in this data as this
is not a random sampling of all composts on the market. The composts tested in our bioassays are
pre-screened to have a nutrient composition deemed acceptable for potential inclusion in SMG
products. Additionally, we are not screening randomly, but are targeting enhanced learnings about
where to expect problems and are focusing our efforts in these locations. Accordingly, the reduction
in herbicide hits in 2019 is most likely not due to composters having less herbicide in their
products. A more likely explanation is that we are learning from our internal testing and getting
more selective on where we go to obtain compost.
SMG will continue to screen and monitor our suppliers for the presence of persistent herbicides in
compost as part of our quality monitoring program to ensure that we are providing our consumers
with high quality products. While we have taken steps internally to manage and mitigate this
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US Composting Council • PO Box 19246, Raleigh, NC 27619
phone: 301.897.2715 • [email protected]• www.compostingcouncil.org
4
problem, we urge the EPA to consider this issue and implement strategies to improve this systemic
problem with the nation’s compost supply before it gets worse.
3. Ohio State University study of Commercial Composts
To determine the prevalence of herbicide contamination in US composts, compost samples
were obtained from 70 different commercial composting facilities in the US and Canada in 2014.
All were USCC members and represented some of the largest commercial and municipal
composting facilities in North America. The samples collected were of ready-to-sell finished
compost. Each compost was tested for herbicide phytotoxicity symptoms using a potting media
bioassay using four bean seeds as an indicator species. Herbicide phytotoxicity symptoms including
loss of apical dominance, leaf curling and leaf malformation were observed during growth in a
greenhouse for 35-50 days. Plant height, dry weight, leaf number and average leaf weight were also
measured. Results showed that beans grown in three of the 70 composts (4%) displayed severe
phytotoxicity symptoms. Leaf curling and loss of apical dominance were observed in plants grown
in 4 of the composts. Samples displaying phytotoxicity symptoms were chemically tested and found
to contain picloram, clopyralid and/or aminopyralid herbicides at concentrations greater than 6 ppb.
Negative control composts had less than 1 ppb of these compounds. The positive composts were
from three different regions of the US.
4. One moderately-sized compost manufacturer located in Sonoma County, CA, reported:
a. Feedstocks included: Green debris, dairy manure, horse manure, poultry manure,
coco coir, peat moss, grape pomace and rice hulls.
b. In 2002 and 2012, composts contaminated with phytotoxic levels of Clopyralid, and
in 2009 with Aminopyralid, resulting in a total of more than $320,000 in expenses to
remediate customer damage. The aftermath will likely last for years made local and national
news).
c. A $100,000/year testing program was initiated for incoming feedstocks and finished
compost materials. The manures were segregated on the provider site for testing. The piles
were broken into predetermined sizes and blended via a loader and samples taken from each
pile for lab analysis. No manure would be allowed to enter the composting operation
without passing testing.
d. Horse manure was contaminated with Clopyralid that ranged from 4PPB to well over
40PPB. Horse manures failed testing 80% of the time, while chicken and cow failed 20%.
Rice hulls failed testing 40-50% of the time. Incoming green debris was segregated into
piles for grinding and blending. In 4 years of performing this type of incoming testing no
green debris failed testing. Clopyralid was removed from the residential market in 2002.
5. Green Mountain Compost
a. The Green Mountain Compost facility is owned and operated by the Chittenden
Solid Waste District (CSWD) in Williston, Vermont was the epicenter of a widespread,
unintentional release of herbicide-containing compost to over 500 customers in late 2011
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US Composting Council • PO Box 19246, Raleigh, NC 27619
phone: 301.897.2715 • [email protected]• www.compostingcouncil.org
5
and early 2012. All told, the District realized over $800,000 in direct expenses related to the
event and spent more than a year rebuilding the compost business and repairing damage to
the brand.
b. Aminopyralid was determined to be the main culprit in this outbreak, and it was
believed to have entered the facility via horse manure and bedding. However, extensive
testing of feedstocks and finished products conducted by Dow AgroSciences as part of the
investigation identified the presence of potentially damaging concentrations of Clopyralid in
all of the commercial horse feeds tested as well as in all of the horse manure samples
submitted from all over the County where the facility is located. Clopyralid was detected in
all of the 21 separate commercial horse feed samples analyzed with concentrations ranging
from 1 ppb to 623 ppb with an average of 175 ppb. Clopyralid was in all 11 horse manure
samples analyzed with concentrations ranging between .67 – 34.8 ppb with an average of
14.3. Foodwaste samples taken randomly from different compost input streams and sent to
a commercial lab in early 2013 also resulted in samples that all showed the presence of
Clopyralid, including a concentration of 42 ppb in a sampling of bread and grain items
sampled from a local elementary school. The conclusion from all of the related testing was
that composts being made using inputs of commercially available animal manures
(particularly horse manures) and conventional grocery, restaurant, and cafeteria wastes
would all be likely to contain some level of residual Clopyralid content.
c. Early analysis efforts for the 2012 CSWD incident were severely hampered by the
lack of dependable lab analyses available nationwide. Inaccurate analysis of Clopyralid and
related pyridine compounds in compost and manure-based matrices remains commonplace
amongst public and private labs throughout the country. The participation of Dow
AgroSciences and their willingness to provide analysis in-house was the only reason that
CSWD was able to conduct a proper investigation. The availability and affordability of
reliable testing remains a major obstacle for herbicide in compost incidents now eight years
later.
General recommendations
In order to prevent herbicide contamination of compost, protect the investment in green
spaces, steward the US food production, continue diverting organics from landfills, maintain
consumer confidence in compost products, and protect the nation’s compost manufacturers, the
USCC makes the following recommendations:
1. Limit pesticide application to non-harvested crops, and prohibit use on turf (see comments
on IV.3.A below for specifics on turf prohibition) and all other uses that can be expected to
be collected for composting. Current tolerances for clopyralid residuals on harvested crops,
which range from single parts per million up to 500 ppm3, are hundreds of times higher than
the level of adverse effects in compost, since those levels were established based on human
3 https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2019-title40-vol26/xml/CFR-2019-title40-vol26-
part180.xml#seqnum180.431
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US Composting Council • PO Box 19246, Raleigh, NC 27619
phone: 301.897.2715 • [email protected]• www.compostingcouncil.org
6
and environmental risk assessments that do not include the compost pathway. Until those
limits can be established, the herbicides must stay where they are used.
2. Change the registration process for herbicides to require an evaluation of compostability and
persistence in compost. This requires developing the test methods and standards for
registrants that must be met in order for an herbicide to receive approval. The manufacturer
will need to evaluate each active ingredient and their residual damage after the composting
process to determine levels of plant toxicity. This compost residual test must include a plant
bioassay of several sensitive host plants.
3. Require the development of test methods for compost and similar difficult matrices that
independent labs can use to affordably identify contamination by this class of herbicides at
the 1 part per billion detection limit. Currently only a very small number of labs have the
capacity and offer the analysis, and those are very expensive ($300 per test). While
bioassays can indicate whether a compost might be contaminated to the level that can cause
damage, it cannot tell which herbicide(s) is(are) the culprit(s).
4. Assign liability to all members of the supply chain: pesticide applicator, land owner,
property manager, and pesticide product distributor, for damages from compost
contaminated by Clopyralid, since per the label is should not be present in compost at
damaging levels. Liability should include removal or remediation of soils or compost
contaminated by Clopyralid-treated materials that have been moved off-site from where it
was applied. Penalties and fines for misuse need to be established and penalty amounts
listed on the label.
5. Limit application of Clopyralid to professional licensed applicators--no retail sales
(including internet sales) of Clopyralid products;. As with other controlled products, that
allows controlled distribution and tracking of products sold, and education of applicators on
allowed and disallowed applications. Manufacturers should provide documented training to
professional certified applicators.
6. Require training for state extension agents and educators of licensed pesticide applicators on
label restrictions, pesticide application, and identification of plant damage by Clopyralid
contamination.
7. Require pesticide manufacturers to supply steps to remediate contaminated compost and
garden soil. Several tactics, including use of activated charcoal, and certain biochars and
wood ashes, have shown promise. The herbicide manufactures must be responsible for
developing and providing that remediation.
Specific comments
III. A. Tolerances.
The tolerances published in the CFR are established based on risks to human health, thus are
as high as 500 ppm on grass forage. This is around 100,000 times the level of impact in compost,
so it is no wonder that horse bedding can be a likely source of contamination in compost.
Furthermore, not all potential sources of contamination are listed. For example, rice hulls are
frequently used in dairy bedding and directly in compost production as a bulking agent, but no
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US Composting Council • PO Box 19246, Raleigh, NC 27619
phone: 301.897.2715 • [email protected]• www.compostingcouncil.org
7
tolerance is listed. At least one major composter reported rejecting 50% of rice hull loads due to
herbicide contamination.
IV. A. 3. Measures to Address Potential Compost Contamination
a. Expansion of Residential Turf Prohibition
The expansion of the prohibition of the use of Clopyralid from residential lawns to school
lawns are a good start, but are arbitrary and insufficient. That prohibition should be extended to all
lawn, including parks, playgrounds, cemeteries, golf courses, and commercial lawns. There could
be an exemption for grass clippings that are kept on-site, either by grasscycling in place or
composting on site, so the herbicide does not leave the property.
b. Compost Prohibition, Notification, and Recordkeeping
Given the number of reported incidents of impacts on non-target species from home and
community gardeners and commercial vegetable growers, a number that is certainly a small fraction
of the actual number of incidents, strengthening and expanding the prohibited uses is critical. The
notification of the prohibition should be expanded from the pesticide applicator and landowner and
include the land manager, and the owner and manager must be required to notify the purchasers and
users of crops and byproducts. Further, responsibility for damages from compost contaminated by
clopyralid must extend through the supply chain, and penalties for non-compliance developed and
listed as part of the notifications.
We do not support the exemption of notification from public lands applications. Public
lands may be leased and managed by private companies, and the prohibition must be communicated
to them and the recipients of products from those lands.
Recommended changes to proposed language (page 18)
· “This product is persistent and may be present in plant materials for months after
application. Do not IT IS ILLEGAL TO use, or allow to be used, treated plant material
or manure from animals that have grazed or consumed forage from treated areas for
compost, mulch, or mushroom spawn. Applicators must document that they have
advised property owners/operators of the property, land managers, or AND customers, in
writing, of this prohibition. Applicators must keep the records of notification for two
years. This record must include date of application, the name of the applicator, the EPA
registration number of the product applied, information on the area(s) treated, and a copy
of the notification. Records must be made available to State Pesticide Regulatory
Official(s), and to EPA upon request. Applications to public land are exempt from this
notification requirement.”
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US Composting Council • PO Box 19246, Raleigh, NC 27619
phone: 301.897.2715 • [email protected]• www.compostingcouncil.org
8
With regards to the proposal to extend holding time or PHI for treated crops, the time that is
required must be long enough so that residual levels are low enough so that post-composting levels
are below the NOAEL, or absent an established NOAEL, below detection levels.
c. Education and Stewardship Plans
In alignment with our comments above, it is important that the educational materials be
distributed not only to land owners but accompany clopyralid along the supply chain to the compost
manufacturer so they can make informed decisions about feedstock inclusion and markets for the
finished compost.
d. Revision of Compost Pictogram
The revised pictogram is an improvement, but the
wording below the top picture (circled in red) is misleading,
since it seems to imply that it only applies to applications on
“non-cropland, rights of way and natural area” when in fact is
it the lifted crops, whether for grain or forage, that carry the
clopyralid to the compost pile.
Summary
Clopyralid, like other persistent herbicides, may be a boon to growers and turf managers, but
are becoming the bane of composters, home gardeners, and organic growers. The USCC calls for
the EPA to
1. Limit the application of persistent herbicides like Clopyralid to non-harvested crops, and
prohibit use on turf
2. Change the registration process for herbicides to require an evaluation of compostability and persistence in compost
3. Require the development of test methods for compost and similar difficult matrices that independent labs can use to affordably identify contamination by this class of herbicides at the 1 part per billion detection limit.
4. Assign liability to all members of the supply chain: pesticide applicator, land owner, property manager, and pesticide product distributor, for damages from compost contaminated by Clopyralid
5. Limit application of Clopyralid to professional licensed applicators
6. Require training for state extension agents and educators of licensed pesticide applicators on Clopyralid label restrictions
7. Require pesticide manufacturers to supply steps to remediate contaminated compost and garden soil.
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US Composting Council • PO Box 19246, Raleigh, NC 27619
phone: 301.897.2715 • [email protected]• www.compostingcouncil.org
9
The USCC has appreciated the opportunity to dialogue with the EPA in the past on this issue, and
look forward to continuing to work with the Office of Pesticide Programs to restrict the use of these
valuable chemicals to applications that will not harm composts used by the nations gardeners,
home-owners, turf managers and organic vegetable growers.
Respectfully
Frank Franciosi
Executive Director
Printed: 6/26/2020Appendix A: PH incidents subm
itted to the USCC
page 1
Date/Time
Submitted
Details/Evidence of Event
Where
did the event take place? (eg, garden, field, lab, etc)*
Where
event occurred
County where
event occurred
Date adverse effects first observed
Ending date of observed adverse effects
Please provide details about the plants affected during this event below
.
Is there any evidence of herbicide use/m
isuse: (please choose 1)
How big is
your com
posting operation (tons/year or cubic yards/year)?
What
feedstocks w
ere used in the manufact
uring of the com
post?
Which of
your feedstock(s) do you suspect are the source(s) of persistent herbicide
6/25/2020 13:13We purchaIn our yardO
regonMulnom
ah6/1/2020
still going oWe boughtU
ndetermiNA
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ardenHom
e gardJohnston Mid M
ay Still happe
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6/24/2020 17:12suspect preG
arden/ veHome
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6/15/2020Ongoing
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ndetermi8 yards
Na
Na
6/24/2020 17:01Purchased garden
My hom
e Multnom
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ay (3‐4 wIt is ongoinDragon ToMisuse/intna
nana
6/24/2020 11:34Tainted co
Garden
523 BurlingDurham20‐M
ayCurrent
Curling tomMisuse/un
Na
Na
Na
6/24/2020 11:34Tainted co
Garden
523 BurlingDurham20‐M
ayCurrent
Curling tomMisuse/un
Na
Na
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6/23/2020 13:16Bought “O
ur home 4728 SW
3Multnom
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6/16/2020 23:42New
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ately6/16/20 (toTomatoes U
ndetermiN/A
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arden Hom
eMultnom
aJune 3 2020
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isuse/unNa
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atoes agarden bed1773 NW 9W
ashingto6/11/2020
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1
Printed: 6/26/2020Appendix A: PH incidents subm
itted to the USCC
page 2
Date/Time
Submitted
6/25/2020 13:136/24/2020 17:296/24/2020 17:126/24/2020 17:016/24/2020 11:346/24/2020 11:346/23/2020 13:166/22/2020 17:406/22/2020 15:056/20/2020 17:586/17/2020 23:076/17/2020 21:306/17/2020 17:596/17/2020 17:596/17/2020 10:516/17/2020 0:03
6/16/2020 23:426/16/2020 20:596/16/2020 18:086/16/2020 17:096/16/2020 16:266/16/2020 11:236/16/2020 1:076/16/2020 0:21
Do you have any evidence to support this suspicion? If so, what is it?
Where
did you get the suspected tainted com
post?
How
much did
you get?When did
you get it?
Herbicides applied to adjacent law
n or property
Ethylene toxicity in a greenhouse environment
I give the USCC
permissio
n to share the contents of this form
with
the U.S.
EPANA
NA
NA
NA
No
No
YesYes, departTriangle la
5 cubic yarMar‐20
YesYes
YesAm
erican s6 yards04 end
YesNo
Yesna
Dean's Inn4.5 cubic y
16‐Apr‐20Yes
YesYes
Na
Sands and 2 cu. yards28‐Apr
No
YesYes
Na
Sands and 2 cu. yards28‐Apr
No
YesYes
We had theBest but in
3 cubic yar14‐Apr
YesYes
YesN/a
Deans inno1 cubic yar4/18/2020No
No
YesNA
McFarlane
1 unit29‐M
ay‐20Yes
YesYes
Na
Deans inno3/4 and th4/12/20 an
No
No
YesN/A
Dean's: 646 or 7 yardEither 4/6/2Yes
YesYes
n/aDean Innov7 yards
3.17/20Yes
YesYes
Confirmed
Dean's Inn2 yards
5/9/2020No
No
YesConfirm
edDean's Inn
2 yards5/9/2020
No
No
YesDeans Inno1.5 cu yarddelivered 5/N
oNo
YesNa
Grim
m’
4 yards2/20/2020
YesYes
YesNa
Dean Innov1 yard 5/21/1930
YesYes
Yesn/a
Deans Inno1 yard4/21/2020
YesYes
YesNA
NA
NA
No
No
Yesn/a
Dean's Inn20 cubic yaordered on
YesYes
YesN/A
Dean Innov2.5 yards4/1/2o
YesYes
YesNa
Dean Innov1 1‐2 yards27‐Apr‐20
YesYes
Yestest result through Po4 yard
5/5/2020No
No
Yesnot applicaDean's Inn
2 cubic yar3.31.20No
No
Yes
Compost users only
2
Printed: 6/26/2020Appendix A: PH incidents subm
itted to the USCC
page 3
Date/Time
Submitted
Details/Evidence of Event
Where
did the event take place? (eg, garden, field, lab, etc)*
Where
event occurred
County where
event occurred
Date adverse effects first observed
Ending date of observed adverse effects
Please provide details about the plants affected during this event below
.
Is there any evidence of herbicide use/m
isuse: (please choose 1)
How big is
your com
posting operation (tons/year or cubic yards/year)?
What
feedstocks w
ere used in the manufact
uring of the com
post?
Which of
your feedstock(s) do you suspect are the source(s) of persistent herbicide
Compost producers only
6/15/2020 21:08We have e
Home gardM
ultiple arMultnom
a5/16/2020
N/A
The followUndeterm
iN/A
N/A
N/A
6/15/2020 20:47I purchasedG
ardenDurham
, NDurham
Early May
ongoing 12 tom
ato Undeterm
inana
na6/15/2020 17:50
I received 3Garden, ra
Durham, N
Durham Co
Apr‐20Still occurinI received 3U
ndetermiI am
not a I am not a I am
not a 6/15/2020 12:40
March 202G
arden Durham
, NDurham
20‐Mar
N/a
Tomatoes,M
isuse/unN/a
N/a
N/a
6/15/2020 10:24I ordered 4garden
N. PortlandM
ultnoma
20‐AprN/A
My plants tU
ndetermi4 yards
N/A
N/A
6/14/2020 19:39Plants are G
ardenDurham
, NDurham
1‐JunOngoing
Tomatoes,U
ndetermiN/a
N/a
N/a
6/13/2020 21:03Vegetable raised gardportland o
multnom
amarch 2020`
ongoingseeds: m
arMisuse/un
2 yards of c0none
6/13/2020 14:21We purchaHom
e gardPortland, OMultnom
aEarly M
ayCurrently oPeas, tom
aUndeterm
in/an/a
n/a6/13/2020 1:34
curling of lgarden andPortland, OMultnom
alate M
ayongoing
first noticeMisuse/un
NA
nana
6/12/2020 23:45Curling andG
ardenOregon
Multnom
a21‐M
ayOngoing
Spinach anMisuse/un
NA
NA
NA
6/12/2020 21:24I w
as sold my hom
e Portland, OM
ultnomaDiscovered O
DNA
My bio assM
isuse/unNA
NA
NA
6/12/2020 17:55I purchasedHom
e gard680 E. ExetClackamas
3/31/2020Still ongoinVeggies (spU
ndetermiNA
NA
NA
6/12/2020 15:37I bought soM
y home gM
y home
Multnom
a15‐Apr
Still occurrTomatoes U
ndetermiN/A
N/A
Deans Soil6/12/2020 15:23
Product: DGarden
Portland, OMultnom
aMay 28th, 202
N/A
Tomatoes,M
isuse/unN/A
Unknow
nUnknow
n6/12/2020 13:49
1 yard of Fhom
e gard5903 SE 49Multnom
a5/24/2020
ongoingpeas, tom
aUndeterm
inot a prodnot a prod
not a prod6/12/2020 12:17
I noted sunRaised bedSE PortlandMultnom
aApr‐20
Ongoing w
Cool weathU
ndetermiI have a co
Whatever W
hite light6/12/2020 6:41
tomatoes whom
e gardClayton, NCJohnston
late April to eanonetom
atoes: Undeterm
i0N/A
N/A
6/12/2020 2:16I purchasedBackyard cLos AngeleLos Angele
6/7/2020########
One w
eek Undeterm
iWe purchaW
e purchaI suspect th6/11/2020 19:19
Bought comMy garden
Portland, omultnom
a1‐M
aycurrently sI bought coM
isuse/unn/a
n/an/a
6/11/2020 18:58Soil tested Spread ove########
clackamas
18‐May
Current Beans and M
isuse/un4N/a
NA
6/11/2020 16:07DiscoveredG
ardenGarden
Multnom
a13‐M
ayN/A ongoinO
bserved cMisuse/un
N/A
N/A
N/A
6/11/2020 13:08I bought W
Soil deliverContaminaM
ultnomaApproxim
atelyOngoing ‐ nI have visibU
ndetermina
nana
6/11/2020 8:20We purchavegetable aHillsborougO
range Co15‐M
ay‐20June 11, 20W
e plantedUndeterm
in/an/a
n/a6/11/2020 2:17
Delivery ofGarden, re
Portland, OMultnom
a6/8/2020
Ongoing
Peas, squaMisuse/un
2 yards WhI believe haU
nknown
3
Printed: 6/26/2020Appendix A: PH incidents subm
itted to the USCC
page 4
Date/Time
Submitted
6/15/2020 21:086/15/2020 20:476/15/2020 17:506/15/2020 12:406/15/2020 10:246/14/2020 19:396/13/2020 21:036/13/2020 14:216/13/2020 1:34
6/12/2020 23:456/12/2020 21:246/12/2020 17:556/12/2020 15:376/12/2020 15:236/12/2020 13:496/12/2020 12:176/12/2020 6:416/12/2020 2:16
6/11/2020 19:196/11/2020 18:586/11/2020 16:076/11/2020 13:086/11/2020 8:206/11/2020 2:17
Do you have any evidence to support this suspicion? If so, what is it?
Where
did you get the suspected tainted com
post?
How
much did
you get?When did
you get it?
Herbicides applied to adjacent law
n or property
Ethylene toxicity in a greenhouse environment
I give the USCC
permissio
n to share the contents of this form
with
the U.S.
EPA
Compost users only
N/A
Dean’s 4 yards
3/21, 4/12,YesYes
Yesna
sand and s3 cubic yar6‐Apr
No
No
YesI am
not a The Rock S3 yards24‐M
ar‐20Yes
YesYes
Rock Shop 5 yards Middle of MYes
YesYes
N/A
Dean Innov4 yardsApr‐20
YesYes
YesRock Shop,1.5 yards
Mar‐20
No
No
YesSource is reDean Innov2 yards
Mar‐20
YesYes
Yesn/a
Dean's Inn3.5 cubic y
4/11/2020Yes
YesYes
naDean Innov1 yard
4‐May‐20
No
No
YesNA
Dean’s2 yds
14‐AprYes
YesYes
NA
Deans Inno1/2 yardDelivered 4
YesYes
YesNA
NA
NA
NA
YesYes
YesYes pictureDeans Inno4 yards
March 30thN
oNo
YesN/A
Dean's Inn4 Yards
2/28/2020No
YesYes
not a prodDean Innov2 yards
4/14/2020Yes
YesYes
Oregon DeIn bags at l4 bags (uns
9‐Mar‐20
YesYes
YesN/A
Triangle Latwo 1/2 cu
March 14 a
No
No
YesI suspect thThe com
po5 yards5‐Jun‐20
YesYes
Yesn/a
Dean in Po3 yards
april 7th, 20YesYes
YesPositive te
Dean’s 4 yards
18‐AprYes
YesYes
N/A
Deans Inno2 cubic yar3/26/2020Yes
YesYes
naDeans ‐ the4 yards
3/24/2020No
No
Yesn/a
Nazo Lands8 cubic yar15‐M
ar‐20Yes
YesYes
Unknow
nDean’
s 2 yards Wh4/30/2020
No
No
Yes
4
Printed: 6/26/2020Appendix A: PH incidents subm
itted to the USCC
page 5
Date/Time
Submitted
Details/Evidence of Event
Where
did the event take place? (eg, garden, field, lab, etc)*
Where
event occurred
County where
event occurred
Date adverse effects first observed
Ending date of observed adverse effects
Please provide details about the plants affected during this event below
.
Is there any evidence of herbicide use/m
isuse: (please choose 1)
How big is
your com
posting operation (tons/year or cubic yards/year)?
What
feedstocks w
ere used in the manufact
uring of the com
post?
Which of
your feedstock(s) do you suspect are the source(s) of persistent herbicide
Compost producers only
6/10/2020 22:17Tom
ato, suGarden
Milw
aukie Clackamas
3‐JunOn going
Lots of leafMisuse/un
Na
Na
Na
6/10/2020 21:30Slow
growtGarden
Portland, OMultnom
a5/5/2020
Ongoing
Tomatoes M
isuse/unNA
NA
NA
6/10/2020 21:10Plants w
enBackyardMy house m
ultnomaMay 21st
N/a currenTom
atoes Misuse/un
N/a
Don’t kDon’
t k6/10/2020 21:02
Herbicide cRaisedbedsMilw
aukie Clackamas
5/15/2020Ongoing
See aboveMisuse/un
Very smallU
nknown. Soil purcha
6/10/2020 20:30I used a so
My raised gPortland, OM
ultnoma
5/12/2020Not applicaTom
atoes Undeterm
iNot applicaN
ot applicaNot applica
6/10/2020 20:29I purchasedG
arden Portland OM
ultnoma
4/30/2020Still seeing
Plants leavUndeterm
i2 cubic yarDairy Dairy
6/10/2020 20:21Delivery ofU
rban raisePortlandMultnom
a15‐M
aypresent
Tomatoes M
isuse/unN/A
N/A
N/A
6/10/2020 19:46Plants in thIn m
y homPortland o
Multnom
a30‐Apr
Continues Abnormal gRegistered
None
Purchased White light
6/10/2020 19:36Confirm
edRaised bedRaised bedM
ultnomaLate M
ayOngoing
Tomato, vaM
isuse/unN/A
N/A
N/A
6/10/2020 19:29Please see garden
portland omultnom
aapprox. 5/20
still observPlease see Misuse/un
n/an/a
n/a6/10/2020 19:23
Observed dG
arden9427 N
E CaMultnom
aMay 17 2020
June 5 202Stunted grM
isuse/intn/an/a
n/a6/10/2020 19:22
Leaves of pGarden
Milw
aukieClackam
as10‐M
ayStill ongoinCurled tom
Undeterm
iN/A
N/A
N/A
6/10/2020 19:19Tom
atoes Home gardCom
post wOrange Co
As soon as starIt is still onSunflow
ersUndeterm
iIt came froU
nknown
Unknow
n 6/10/2020 19:19
3/17 delivePortland, Omy hom
e gMultnom
a4/30/2020
ongoingpeas deforU
ndetermii don't kno
unknown
unknown
6/10/2020 19:17Am
inopyraGarden
Damascus,Clackam
as4/30/2020
N/a
Twisted anM
isuse/unNa
Na
Na
6/10/2020 18:50I ordered FSm
all FarmPortland O
Multnom
aMarch 10th
No end datPeas badlyM
isuse/unI have a ha? I don't knThe m
ixes 6/10/2020 18:45
On 3/28/20G
arden & gM
y home M
ultnomaMay 4th, 2020
ContinuingTomatoes M
isuse/intN/A
As this is pHorse &
co6/10/2020 17:44
June 26, 20Backyard gNotice of hM
ultnomaMay 10 2020
ongoing timTomatoes M
isuse/unn/a
n/an/a
6/10/2020 16:56Evidence o
Garden
3934 NE 16M
ultnoma
15‐May
Ongoing
SunflowersM
isuse/unNot hom
e I don’t U
nknown
5/16/2020 10:37Large scaleG
ardenApex,N
CWake
April 30thMay 16th
Tomato an
Undeterm
iNot com
poNot com
poNot com
po12/30/2019 8:15
Suspected Garden be
Maryville, TBlount
Jun‐19Still occurinG
reen beaUndeterm
iNA
NA
NA
7/2/2019 15:26My husbanHom
e gardRimrock ReKittitas/Ya
ApproximatelyO
ngoingApproxim
aUndeterm
iNA
NA
NA
7/13/2015 12:56Received reG
ardensSouth CaroYork
5/1/2015Plants m
osUndeterm
i100+ tons Horse manhay
7/2/2015 11:32I put som
eGarden
KentuckyMadison
8/1/2014The plants U
ndetermined: (not enough inform
ation wa
5
Printed: 6/26/2020Appendix A: PH incidents subm
itted to the USCC
page 6
Date/Time
Submitted
6/10/2020 22:176/10/2020 21:306/10/2020 21:106/10/2020 21:026/10/2020 20:306/10/2020 20:296/10/2020 20:216/10/2020 19:466/10/2020 19:366/10/2020 19:296/10/2020 19:236/10/2020 19:226/10/2020 19:196/10/2020 19:196/10/2020 19:176/10/2020 18:506/10/2020 18:456/10/2020 17:446/10/2020 16:565/16/2020 10:3712/30/2019 8:157/2/2019 15:26
7/13/2015 12:567/2/2015 11:32
Do you have any evidence to support this suspicion? If so, what is it?
Where
did you get the suspected tainted com
post?
How
much did
you get?When did
you get it?
Herbicides applied to adjacent law
n or property
Ethylene toxicity in a greenhouse environment
I give the USCC
permissio
n to share the contents of this form
with
the U.S.
EPA
Compost users only
Dean innov2yrds 5‐Apr
No
No
YesNA
Deans Inno2.5y yds4/6/2020
YesYes
YesYes. Labs rDeans Inno2 yds
30‐AprYes
YesYes
PicturesDean’
s 1.5 cubic y5/5/20202
YesYes
YesNot applicaDean’
s 2 cubic yar5/4/2020
YesYes
YesTesting do
Dean innov2 cubic yar11‐Apr
YesYes
YesDean's Inn
Split a 3 yaDelivered 3Yes
YesYes
Data from Deans inno4 yards
03/2020‐04No
No
YesN/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
No
No
Yestests confirI ordered s4 units
4/21/2020Yes
YesYes
Dean's, Wh2 yards
April 21 202No
YesYes
N/A
Dean’s 2.5 yards
4/2/2020Yes
YesYes
From M
cG8 yards thaM
archYes
YesYes
YES. EPA teDean Innov3 yards3/17 and 4/Yes
No
YesNa
Dean Innov1 yard4/17/2020
No
No
YesDepartm
enDean Innov8 yardsmultiple da
No
No
YesYes, O
regoDean Innov4 yards
28‐Mar‐20
YesYes
Yesn/a
Dean Innov4 yards ‐ I uApril 26 202No
No
YesODA testedDean’
s4 yards
2/28/20, 4/YesYes
Yesoster
Triangle la5 cubic yarApril 10 202Yes
YesYes
NA
Out of Ede
1 full scoopMay‐19
YesYes
YesMRM
Land15 yards1‐M
ay‐19Yes
YesYesYes
s given to dLocal farm100 bales olate w
inter YesYes
Yes
6
Printed: 6/26/2020Appendix A: PH incidents subm
itted to the USCC
page 7
Date/Time
Submitted
Details/Evidence of Event
Where
did the event take place? (eg, garden, field, lab, etc)*
Where
event occurred
County where
event occurred
Date adverse effects first observed
Ending date of observed adverse effects
Please provide details about the plants affected during this event below
.
Is there any evidence of herbicide use/m
isuse: (please choose 1)
How big is
your com
posting operation (tons/year or cubic yards/year)?
What
feedstocks w
ere used in the manufact
uring of the com
post?
Which of
your feedstock(s) do you suspect are the source(s) of persistent herbicide
Compost producers only
1/12/2015 12:58Purchased In a covereArkansas
Washingto
5/1/2014########
We transp
Undeterm
ined: (not enough information w
a
7
Printed: 6/26/2020Appendix A: PH incidents subm
itted to the USCC
page 8
Date/Time
Submitted
1/12/2015 12:58
Do you have any evidence to support this suspicion? If so, what is it?
Where
did you get the suspected tainted com
post?
How
much did
you get?When did
you get it?
Herbicides applied to adjacent law
n or property
Ethylene toxicity in a greenhouse environment
I give the USCC
permissio
n to share the contents of this form
with
the U.S.
EPA
Compost users only
s given to determine use/m
isuse)Yes
8