UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY WASHINGTON , D

.C

. 20460 

## JAN 

## J6 

## 2012

MEMORANDUM OFFICE OF CHEMICAL SAFETY AND POLLUTION PREVENTION 

### SUBJECT: BEAD Chemical Profile for Registration Review: Metribuzin (101101) 

### FROM:

THRU: Sunil Ratnayake, Biologist 

# /l !l Biological Analysis Branch (

_ 

## IwL N\rJ 

## J;---" Rafael Prieto, Environmental Protection Specialist II 

# L 

# f**~** Science Information and Analysis Branch Andrew Lee, Economist Economic Analysis Branch Biological and Economic Anal Arnet Jones, Chief Biological Analysis Bran Diann Sims, Chief**~.Ji,UA-~'::r""""­** 

### Science Information and Analysis Branch 

## " Timothy Kiely, Chief

# ~ \ A A 

# J.. Economic Analysis Branch

### VV'-I'\~ Biological and Economic Analy ' Division (7503P) 

### TO: Dana Friedman, Chemical Review Manager Risk Management and Implementation Branch 2 Pesticide Re-evaluation Division (7508P) 

### p'

roduct Review Panel date: January 4, 2012 INTRODUCTION The purpose ofthis document is to convey usage information and a broad overview ofthe pest management roles ofpesticides that are beginning to undergo registration review. The anticipated audience consists ofthe team ofEPA staffcurrently evaluating the registration status ofMetribuzin, and eventually the general public. This document builds upon the data already provided in the "Usage and Label Use Data Packages" that are also provided to Registration Review teams by BEAD. The
.document is based on information and data available to BEAD as ofDec. 21, 2011.Metribuzin was fIrst registered in the U.S. in 1973 (USEPA, 1998) and it belongs to the herbicide family oftriazinones. The herbicides in this family inhibit the photosynthesis of susceptible weeds. Metribuzin is widely used for selective control ofbroadleafand grassy weeds in a wide range of sites including 

### turfgrass, vegetables, and fIeld crops. It is applied as pre-plant, pre-emergence, post-emergence, and post harvest treatments. Metribuzin can be tank mixed with other compatible herbicides to achieve a wider spectrum ofweed control. 

### USE SITES Agricultural Use Sites Metribuzin is labeled for use on asparagus, forage and fodder grasses, forage legumes and fodder non-grass, fruiting vegetables, grain crops, root and tuber vegetables, seed and pod vegetables, and on sugarcane. Non-Agricultural Use Sites Metribuzin is labeled for use on ornamental lawns and 

### turf, uncultivated non-agricultural areas, and other outdoor sites (e.g., airports, athletic fIelds, fencerows, industrial areas, lumber yards, military installations, parking areas, rights-of-way, and roadsides). 

### COMMON FORMULATIONS AND APPLICATION METHODS Metribuzin is formulated as dispersible granules, wettable powder, emulsifIable and flowable concentrate. Metribuzin can be applied as pre-plant, pre-emergence, post-emergence, and post-harvest treatments. 

### USAGE Based on private market pesticide usage data, metribuzin's annual agricultural usage averaged 1.4 million pounds ofactive ingredient 

### (A.I.) for 3.8 million acres from 2006-2010. From 2006 to 2010, sugarcane (35%), potatoes (25%), soybeans (24%), and alfalfa (9%), accounted for the largest percentage ofusage in terms oftotal pounds ofactive ingredient applied. In terms oftotal acres treated during this same timeframe, soybeans (44%), potatoes (23%), and sugarcane (13 %) accounted for the largest markets. From 2006 to 2010, the states with the most agricultural usage in terms ofpounds a.i. applied were: Louisiana (31 %), Idaho (12%), Washington (8%), and Florida (6%). The states with the mos, t total area treated were Louisiana (11 %), Ohio (11 %), Idaho (10%), and Washington (9%). (Proprietary data, 2006-2010)


### USE TRENDS Figure 1 depicts usage trends, in terms ofpounds a.i. applied, for metribuzin's top crops. Overall, the chart below shows that the use ofmetribuzin has remained virtually steady from 1998 through 2010. (Proprietary data, 1998-2010)

2

### Figure 1. Pounds ofMetribuzin A lied (1998-2010 on Agricultural Sites.

Ci 11\ "CI C ::;, o Q. 1,250,000



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## .... o N • Soybeans

• Potatoes


### o Sugarcane

• Alfalfa
II Other

Other refers to: winter wheat, com, tomatoes, asparagus, dry beans/peas, fallow, fresh/green/sweet peas, pastureland, carrots, watermelons, sunflowers, barley, peppers, spring wheat, cabbage, snap/bush/ pole/string beans, strawberries, apples, wine grapes, squash, sweet corn, pasture/range, and pumpkins. Source: Proprietary Data, 1998-2010. 

### Figure 2. Total Pounds ofMetribuzin Applied (1998-2010).

2,500,000 ,--------------------------------------------------------------

o = 

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### .... o 

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Source: Proprietary Data, 1998-2010.



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...... o ""Figure 3. Pounds metribuzin on sugarcane and soybeans. 1,250,000

- Soybeans

- Sugarcane

- Other

Of)Cb 0)0)0)**~f;J~ ~~**  

### .....**~~'), ~~'?** **~~ ~~<-,** **~do ~&-** **~~Cb ~~O)** **~** .....**~ ~** **~ ~** **~ ~** **~ ~** **~ ~** **~ ~** **~ ~**  Year

Other refers to: potatoes, alfalfa, winter wheat, com, tomatoes, asparagus, dry beans/peas, fallow, fresh/green/sweet peas, pastureland, carrots, watermelons, sunflowers, barley, peppers, spring wheat, cabbage, snap/bush/ pole/string beans, strawberries, apples, wine grapes, squash, sweet com, pasture/range, and pumpkins.
. Source: Proprietary Data, 1998-2010. Table 1. Metribuzin Usage on Non-Agricultural Sites (Pounds 

### A.I.) 1999 2002 2004 2006 GolfCourses 1,834 13,042 1,553 3,044 Institutional Turf 7,700 19 NA 42 Lawn Care Operators NA 1,329 NA NA

TOTAL (Ibs. a.i.) 9,534 14,390 1,553 3,086 NA 

### = not available Source: Kline & Co., Inc. 1999,2002,2004, and 2006.