DEQ denies that EPA has already OK’d use fungicide vs bud rot

Contrary to an earlier report, the permit to use chemicals to help kill the bud rot disease that is devastating the betel but industry of Saipan has yet to be approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, according to Division of Environmental Quality director John I. Castro.

Castro’s statement contradicts what Northern Marianas College-Cooperative Research Extension and Education Service agriculture consultant Isidoro Cabrera said Tuesday that the application had already been approved by U.S. EPA, albeit verbally.

Castro said he had just signed the application for approval to use the chemicals and it has not been submitted to EPA. He also clarified that the document will be forwarded to U.S. EPA Washington office, not to the Region IX office in California.

He said he is not aware of what Cabrera had described as a 90-day verbal agreement given to CREES to start purchasing the fungicide.

“They didn’t mention that to me,” he said. He said purchasing the chemicals now is not possible. “They cannot buy [the chemicals] yet until it is approved [by EPA],” he said.

Cabrera said yesterday that CREES director Anthony Benavente had informed them about the verbal agreement between EPA and the extension office but that he would verify again with the director about this.

However, as far as the effectivity of the permit to buy the chemicals, Cabrera said this was pre-approved by EPA Thursday last week.

Cabrera earlier said that the official permit will be released after 90 days and that the CNMI would be able to use the chemicals for five years, starting April 15, 2005 until April 14, 2010. When the permit expires, the college will have to apply for an extension or re-issuance of the permit, he added.

CREES is applying for a permit to purchase the chemicals Fosphite and Kocide 4.5 LF. Cabrera explained that it is necessary to obtain EPA approval because the use of the two pesticides against the bud rot disease is not included on the list of their official uses.

The bud rot disease on Saipan was first noticed in February this year among the betel nut trees in Papago and in two areas on Capitol Hill. It has now spread to Mt. Tapochao, As Lito, As Mahetog, Donne, Kagman, Tanapag, San Vicente, and most recently to the villages of Dandan and Rapugao Hill.

Cabrera said that CREES is prepared to purchase the chemicals immediately since the Office of the Governor has already approved a budget of $10,000 since March 3.

CREES initially asked for permission to use Kocide 45 LF only, but visiting plant pathologist Dr. George Wall of the University of Guam advised Benavente last month to also acquire Fosphite to help combat the disease.

He had said the chemical would help in the prevention of the bud rot disease because the product has low toxicity and could actually be injected inside the tree’s trunk. Also, it poses minimal risk to the environment.