UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460 

MAY 2 3 2014 

MEMORANDUM 

OFFICE OF CHEMICAL SAFETY 

AND POLLUTION PREVENTION 

SUBJECT: BEAD Chemical Profile (BCP) for Registration Review ofMecoprop Chemical 

Case [Includes Mecoprop (03150 1 ); Mecoprop-potassium (031503 ); Mecoprop 

dimethylamine salt (031519); MCPP-P, DMA salt (031520); Mecoprop-PFROM: 

THRU: 

potassium (1 19046); and MCPP-p (129046)] 

Leonard Y ourman, Plant Pathologist P 

Biological Analysis Branch ~ ( 

Rafael A. Prieto, Environmental Protection Specialist 

Science Information and Analysis Branch 

Elizabeth Hill, Economist 

Economic Analysis Branch 

Biological and Economic Analysis Division (7503P) 

Arnet Jones, Chief 

Biological Analysis Br 

Diann Sims, Chief 

Science Information and Analysis Branch 

Timoth

Economi

y 

c 

Ki

Analysis 

ely, Chief 

Branch ~ \AA. ( ~ Biological and Economic Analys· Division ( P) 

TO: Kaitlin Keller, Chemical Review Manager 

Risk Management and Implementation Branch 3 

Pesticide Re-evaluation Division (7508P) 

Peer Review Panel: May 7, 20 14 
INTRODUCTION 

The Biological and Economic Analysis Division (BEAD) Chemical Profile (BCP) provides an 

overview of the pest management roles and quantitative usage information for mecoprop and 

similar herbicides. The BCP includes summaries of previous BEAD products and available 

public and/or private use and usage data for mecoprop to describe the role ofthis chemical in 

pest management. Additional information on use is available in the mecoprop Label Use 

Information System (LUIS) reports. Information provided in this BCP may be used by 

stakeholders (e.g., users and registrants), OPP risk assessors, and OPP risk managers, and the 

general public during the Registration Review process of this pesticide. 

USE SITES 

Various forms of the mecoprop family of herbicides are registered. Mecoprop (MCPP) (03 150 1) 

is registered for use on residential lawns. 

Mecoprop-potassium (031503) is registered for use on lawns and turf. 

Mecoprop dimethylamine salt (031519) is registered for use on lawns and turf, rights-of-way and 

nonagricultural uncultivated areas. 

MCPP-P, DMA salt (031520) is registered for use on rights-of-way, airport landing fields, lawns 

and turf, ornamentals, outdoor building premises, drainage ditch banks, outdoor construction 

areas, nonagricultural uncultivated areas and recreational areas. 

Mecoprop-P-potassium (1 19046) is registered for use on lawns and turf. 

MCPP-p (129046) is registered for use on rights-of-way, airport landing fields, lawns and turf, 

ornamentals, outdoor building premises, outdoor construction areas, nonagricultural uncultivated 

areas and recreational areas. 

FORMULATIONS AND APPLICATION METHODS 

Mecoprop (031501) is formulated as a granular for broadcast applications. 

Mecoprop-potassium (031503) is formulated as a liquid-ready to use (RTU) for broadcast and 

spot treatment applications. 

Mecoprop dimethylamine salt (031519) is formulated as granular, liquid soluble concentrate, 

flowable concentrate, and liquid-ready to use (RTU) for broadcast, spot treatment, spray and 

foliar treatment applications. 

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MCPP-P, DMA salt (031520) is formulated as granular, liquid soluble concentrate, flowable 

concentrate, liquid-ready to use (RTU), emulsifiable concentrate, and pressurized liquid for 

broadcast, spot treatment, spray, foliar treatment, basal bark treatment, basal spray treatment, 

crack and crevice treatment, high-volume (dilute) spray, and low-volume (concentrate) spray 

applications. 

Mecoprop-P-potassium (119046) is formulated as emulsifiable concentrate, liquid-ready to use 

(RTU), and liquid soluble concentrate for broadcast and spot treatment applications. 

MCPP-p (129046) is formulated as granular, liquid soluble concentrate, solid soluble 

concentrate, flowable concentrate, liquid-ready to use (RTU), emulsifiable concentrate, and 

wettable powder/dust for broadcast, dust, foliar treatment, low volume (concentrate) spray, soil 

broadcast treatment, spot treatment, and spray applications. 

HISTORY OF MECOPROP AND BEAD PRODUCTS 

A search of the BEAD database for previous BEAD products for mecoprop indicates that there 

are no benefits assessments or Section 18 Emergency Exemption Requests for any mecoproptype herbicides. Recent Section 18 Emergency Exemption Requests might suggest that a 

chemical is important for the uses granted in the request; however, a lack of Section 18 

Emergency Exemption Requests is not an indication of the relative importance of the chemical. 

In 2007, BEAD conducted a preliminary evaluation ofmecoprop use and potential alternatives 

(Phillips and Lee, 2007). This document concluded that individual alternatives to mecoprop are 

hard to determine since mecoprop herbicides are typically included in tank mixes with other 

herbicide active ingredients. Dicamba, 2,4-D, and dichlorprop are noted as possible alternatives 

to mecoprop. 

USAGE 

The vast majority of mecoprop use is for non-agricultural uses, primarily for residential 

lawns, with smaller uses for commercial turf, such as for golf courses (Table 1). A 

relatively small amount of the various chemical formulations is for agricultural pastureland. 

T a bl e 1 M . ecoprop u se on T ur f&O rnamen t as, I 2012 

Chemical Turf & Ornamental US 2012 (Lbs) 

MCPP 643,000 

Mecoprop 136,000 

Mecoprop-p 18,000 

Total 797,000 

Source: EPA Propnetary Data, 2012 

Agricultural Usage 

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The agricultural use for mecoprop is for pasture and rangeland. A BEAD proprietary database 

for 2003 to 2012 indicates very little use on pasture. A survey of several hundred farms resulted 

in limited use for only three of those years (2004, one sample; 2006, three samples; 2007, two 

samples). 

CHEMICAL AND USE CHARACTERISTICS 

MCPP (mecoprop), MCPA, and the chlorophenoxy family ofherbicides (which includes 2,4-D) 

are used primarily as residential herbicides to control broadleaf weeds in lawns. Premixing with 

2,4-D provides an overall greater range of targeted weeds than each ingredient would provide if 

used independently (Phillips and Lee, 2007). For example, the MCPP-p 4 Amine label lists "less 

susceptible" weeds such as knotweed, morning glory, black medoc, and some others. A label 

with MCPP-p with 2,4-D and 2,4-DP-p includes those species and several more as susceptible to 

the product. According to Phillips and Lee (2007) MCPP-p is "an integral part of a weed 

management program in professional and homeowner turfgrass and is primarily formulated with 

fertilizers and other herbicides. In addition, this herbicide is the only phenoxy herbicide that is 

not phytotoxic to bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.) turf and will control white clover (Trifolium 

repens L.) and other BL W [broadleafweeds]." 

According to Fishel (2005): 

MCPA has many of the same use pattems as 2,4-D, and most products containing MCPA are 

premixed with 2,4-0 and other herbicides. It is also available in amine and ester formulations. 

It is used as a specialty herbicide in the United States on a small scale. MCPA is less injurious 

to cereal grain crops and has been labeled for weed control use in small-seeded legumes, such as 

clover. It was first registered in the United States in 1973. 

MCPP acts relatively slowly compared to the other chlorophenoxy herbicides. In most cases, it 

is prepackaged with other herbicidal active ingredients. 

ROLE OF MECOPROP IN PEST MANAGMENT 

BEAD did not fmd substantive additional usage information beyond what was described in the 

previous Registration Eligibility Decision (RED) (EPA, 2007) and a BEAD memo from the same 

period (Phillips and Lee, 2007). BEAD does not have updated usage information for pasture use 

and cannot confirm figures listed in the 2007 RED. According to the RED (EPA, 2007): 

The majority of MCPP-p use is associated with residential lawns, with smaller usage on other 

recreational turf and non-agricultural grassy areas. Based on usage information provided by the 

MCPP-p Task Force (also referred to as the Task Force), total annual domestic usage ofMCPP-p is 

approximately 5 million pounds: >97% are applied to residential lawns, 2% is applied to golf 

courses, and <1% is applied to turf farms and other uncultivated non-agricultural land. According to 

the Task Force, geographical use areas for applications to turf in roughly descending order: 

Midwest, Northeast, South, Northwest, and West. MCPP-p is often co-formulated with other 

chlorophenoxy herbicides, including 2,4-D and dicamba. 

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DATA NEEDS 

The Agency currently does not have important information on MCPP. Obtaining the following 

information may improve future assessments conducted by the Agency related to the use and 

importance of mecoprop. 

• Total pounds active ingredient applied on residential, ornamental, turf, rights-of-way, 

and pastureland including updated usage information reported in the 2007 RED (i.e., 

5 million lb used) 

• Percent crop/site treated 

• Application rates: typical and maximum 

• Frequency of application 

• Application Intervals 

• Methods of application 

• Target or niche pests 

• Efficacy information/product performance 

REFERENCES 

EPA. 2007. Registration Eligibility Decision for Mecoprop-p (MCPP). Aug. 29, 2007. 

http:/ /www.epa.gov/oppsrrd 1 /reregistration!REDs/mcpp red.pdf 

Fishel, F. M. 2005 (revised 2013). Pesticide Toxicity Profile: Chlorophenoxy Herbicides. 

University of Florida Extension Publ. PI-83. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pi 120; 

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/PIIPI12000.pdf 

Phillips, W. and Lee, A. 2007. A Preliminary Evaluation ofMecoprop (MCPP-p) and 

Dichlorprop (2,4-DP-p) Use and Potential Alternatives. BEAD memo, Aug. 21, 2007. 

EPA Proprietary Data, 2012. (pesticide usage data) 

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