UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460 

OCT 1 0 2012 

MEMORANDUM 

OFFICE OF CHEMICAL SAFETY 

AND POLLUTION PREVENTION 

SUBJECT: BEAD Chemical Profile for Registration Review: Prometon (080804) 

FROM: Bill Phillips, Ph.D., Agronomis 

Biological Analysis Branch 

THRU: 

TO: 

d 1 d k h . ;: . .~- 1 A . i't~k_ Jiha A sa e , P .D., Economist v VI"\..A#f 

Science Information and Analysis Branch 

JohnFaulkner,Ph.D.,Economist 

Biological 

Economic Analysis 

and Economic 

Branch 

Analysis Division 

CfY' 

n~fAN\ v' 

(7503P) 

1 ~ 

Arnet Jones, Chief 

Biological Analysis Branc 

Diann Sims, Chief A,l. 

Science Information and Analysis Branch 

Timothy Kiely, Chief C\- \AJ\._~· Economic Analysis Branch 11 V 

Biological and Economic Analysis Divisio 7503P) 

Kaitlin Keller, Chemical Review Manager 

Risk Management and Implementation Branch 3 

Pesticide Re-evaluation Division (7508P) 

Product Review Panel date: October 3, 2012 

INTRODUCTION 

The purpose of this document is to convey usage information and a broad overview of the pest 

management roles of pesticides that are beginning to undergo registration review. The 

anticipated audience consists of the team of EPA staff currently evaluating the registration status 

of prometon, 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 

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Review teams by BEAD. The document is based on information and data available to BEAD as 

of 26 September 2012. 

Prometon is a non-selective triazine herbicide that is classified by the Weed Science Society of 

America as a group five herbicide with the mechanism of action of inhibiting the photosystem II 

part of photosynthesis. 

This herbicide controls broadleaf and grass weeds when applications are made prior to weed 

emergence or postemergence to the weed; however, woody brush or tree weeds are not . 

controlled unless prometon is applied in a mix of oil such as diesel fuel. Use sites are those that 

require total vegetation control resulting in bare ground for between one and two years following 

a single application. The primary means of weed control is through root uptake and therefore 

rain or irrigation is required to move the herbicide into the root zone where it can be taken up by 

plants. 

COMMON FORMULATIONS AND APPLICATION METHODS 

Prometon is formulated as granules, peletted/tabulated, wettable powder, emulsifiable, flowable 

soluble concentrate, and solution-ready-to use. Application methods include boom sprayers, 

handheld nozzle or wand sprayers, knapsack sprayers, and granular spreaders. 

USE SITES 

Agricultural Uses 

There are no agricultural uses for this herbicide. 

Non-Agricultural Uses 

Prometon is currently registered for use on domestic dwellings (outdoor), commercial/industrial 

areas, drainage ditch banks, farm buildings (indoor/outdoor), ornamental turf, residential areas, 

uncultivated non-agricultural areas, airports/landing fields, fencerowslhedgerows, nonagricultural right-of-way, paths/patios, paved areas(private roads/sidewalks), recreational areas, 

and utility poles. 

Non-agricultural uses ofprometon registrations include weed control as a spot treatment around 

the residences, driveways, patios, buildings, storage areas, fences, pumps, machinery, fuel tanks, 

recreational areas, guard rails, airports, military installations, highway medians, pipelines, 

railroads, lumberyards, rights-of-way, and industrial sites (such as transformers, vaults, buried 

cable closures). 

The majority of prometon use is associated with weed control along fencerows and building 

perimeters, with smaller usage on other industrial sites (i.e., pump stations, tanks, pipelines, pipe 

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storage areas), rights-of-way areas (i.e., airports, railroads, and medians), and residential areas. 

Based on usage information provided by the registrant, total annual sales of prometon are 

approximately 550,000 - 600,000 pounds of a.i.: approximately 60% is applied to building 

perimeters or fencerows; 30% is applied to industrial sites; and <1 0% is applied to rights-of-way 

areas. According to the registrant, geographical use areas representing the greatest use include 

the following: Midwest, South, and Southeast, with lower demand in the Northwest and the 

Northeast. Use ofprometon-containing products is restricted in Texas, Colorado, and 

Washington. (EPA RED, 2008) 

DATA NEEDS RELEVANT TO BEAD'S FUTURE WORK ON PROMETON 

Obtaining additional information, such as pounds active ingredient applied, application methods, 

application rates for risk drivers, and application timing, on domestic dwellings (outdoor), 

commercial/industrial areas, drainage ditch banks, farm buildings (indoor/outdoor), ornamental 

turf, residential areas, uncultivated non-agricultural areas, airports/landing fields, 

fencerows!hedgerows, non-agricultural right-of-way, paths/patios, paved areas(private 

roads/sidewalks), and recreational areas, would improve future assessments of the importance of 

prometon and may be required as part of the registration review of this pesticide: 

REFERENCES: 

USEPA. March 25, 2008. Reregistration Eligibility Decision: Prometon. 

http://www .epa.gov I oppOOOO 1 /reregistration!REDs/prometon-red.pdf 

Senseman, S.A. Herbicide Handbook Ninth Ed. 2007. Weed Sci. Soc. of Am. Lawrence, KS 

66044-8897 U.S.A. 

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