While Bayer CropScience officials aren’t saying what the phase-out of the pesticide aldicarb means for employees at their Institute plant in West Virginia’s Kanawha Valley, the news doesn’t sound good for workers at a related plant in Georgia.
According to this article from the Tribune and Georgian, Bayer has already announced plans to shut down its Woodbine, Ga., site:
According to company spokesman Greg Coffey, the closure of the Woodbine factory follows an agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to phase out the production of aldicarb, which is marketed as Temik. The insecticide has been used on a variety of crops for 40 years.
“This action will have a direct impact on the company’s Woodbine facility, whose principal activity is the formulation and packaging of the aldicarb-based insecticide Temik, a granular product used by farmers in the United States and around the world for the past 40 years to control damaging pests in a number of crops. Bayer CropScience has no plans at this time to initiate alternative formulation operations at the 84-person facility,” Coffey said.
Officials here in West Virginia continue to monitor the situation with Bayer, and Gov. Joe Manchin’s office gave me this statement about the matter:
The governor has been notified and state officials have been in contact with Bayer CropScience representatives regarding the latest decision by the EPA to phase out the company’s production of Temik. With this announcement being in its preliminary stages, state officials have not been able to determine the extent the phase-out will have at Bayer until more information is made available. The chemical industry is a very significant segment of this state’s economy and is an important means to provide high-end careers for our citizens. The state stands ready to assist in any way to ensure that this industry has continuity and a productive future.
I responded with these follow-up questions for the governor:
Is the governor at all concerned about the health effects of exposure to this pesticide on the public? EPA’s latest risk assessment spells out very serious impacts to children … Has the governor or anyone on his staff reviewed that information, to determine if a product made here in West Virignia is a public health threat?
Melvin Smith, Manchin’s press secretary, replied:
I would defer to DEP to determine what specific information have been reviewed regarding the pesticide. But I can tell you that public safety has and will continue to be a top priority of the governor.
I checked with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, and officials there kicked my question to the state Department of Agriculture, which forwarded this response:
We register that product based on EPA’s scientific determination. We do not independently determine the safety or efficacy of any pesticides; i.e., we have nothing to add to this story. Ken should direct his questions to EPA.
Remember, this is the same state government that doesn’t want EPA telling West Virginia what to do when it comes to regulating coal mining …
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