UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460 

DEC 13 201Z 

MEMORANDUM 

OFFICE OF CHEMICAL SAFETY 

AND POLLUTION PREVENTION 

SUBJECT: BEAD Chemical Profile for Registration Review: Sulfometuron-methyl (122001) 

FROM: 

THRU: 

Sunil Ratnayake, Biologist ~ . A-., . () 

Biological Analysis Branch l; ,. '"W~ ~ 

Jihad Alsadek, Economist fwe_. ~ fn' ~.(/~a.hL Science Information and Analysis Br ch 

Stephen Smearman, Economist j 1 () 

Economic 

Biological 

Analysis 

and Economic 

Branch 

Analysis 

·~

Division (7503P) 

~ 

Arnet Jones, Chief 

/! ~ ~ 

Biological Analysis Branch . ""· 

Diann 

Science 

Sims, 

Information 

Chief 

and 

0~ Analysis Branch 

TO: Russell Wasem, Chemical Review Manager 

Risk Management and Implementation Branch 1 

Pesticide Re-evaluation Division (7508P) 

Product Review Panel date: May 30, 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 sulfometuron-methyl, 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 ofMay 22, 2012. 

Sulfometuron-methyl was originally registered as a pesticide active ingredient in the United States in 

February 1982 (USEPA, 2008). This herbicide belongs to the sulfonylurea herbicide family· and it 

provides a broad spectrum pre and post-emergence control of annual and perennial grasses and 

broad-leaf weeds in many non-agricultural sites described below. Similar to other sulfonylurea 

herbicides, the mode of action of this herbicide is inhibition of acetolactate synthase (ALS) enzyme 

which is needed for the production of branch chained amino acids required for the growth and 

development of plant cells. 

COMMON FORMULATIONS AND APPLICATION METHODS 

Sulfometuron-methyl is formulated as a water dispersible granular and soluble concentrate. This 

herbicide is applied using ground or aerial (helicopter only) application methods. 

USE SITES 

Agricultural Use Sites 

Sulfometuron-methyl is not labeled for agricultural use sites. 

Non-Agricultural Use Sites 

Sulfometuron-methyl is registered for use on non-crop areas, airports, asphalt paving, bare 

ground, barrier strips, fence rows, farm yards, industrial sites, lumber yards, railroads, right-ofway, roadsides, sewage disposal areas, swamps, tank farms, forest trees, ornamental lawns and 

turf, drainage systems, drained canals, uncultivated areas, loading docks (outdoor) and storage 

areas (outdoor). 

USAGE 

Sulfometuron-methyl is registered for use in non-agricultural areas as a general weed and brush 

control herbicide for terrestrial use only. 

There is limited information on non-agricultural sites. BEAD did find that in 2006 there was use 

ofsulfometuron-methyl by Lawn Care Operators (LCOs) totaling an estimated 38,000 lbs. a.i. 

(Kline and Company, Inc., 2006). BEAD also found that sulfometuron-methyl was applied to 

over 1.5 million non-agricultural acres in the late 1990's and that sulfometuron-methyl was 

considered one of the top ten herbicides for forestry and timberland between 2001 and 2006. No 

other data or more recent information is available. 

BIOLOGICAL ASPECTS RELEVANT TO SULFOMETURON-METHYL 

Sulfometuron-methyl belongs to the sulfonylurea herbicide family and it provides a broad spectrum 

pre- and post-emergence control of annual and perennial grasses and broad-leaf weeds. This 

herbicide inhibits the. enzyme acetolactate synthase (ALS) and interferes with the production of 

amino acids required for plant growth. Presence of many weed species resistant to ALS inhibitors 

has been reported in the United States (Heap et al. 2011). The control of weed species resistant 

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to sulfometuron-methyl may be achieved by tank mixing a compatible registered herbicide with 

a different mode of action to sulfometuron. 

It has been reported that sulfometuron-methyl can persist in soil more than a year and damage 

rotational crops. Drift from the application of sulfometuron-methyl has resulted in widespread crop 

damages (Cox, 2002). Application timing of this herbicide depends on the target plant and 

application may be made at any time the ground is not frozen. The applied herbicide must move 

to the root zone for pre-emergent control of weeds and adequate soil moisture is necessary for 

the effectiveness of this herbicide. 

HISTORY OF BEAD ASSESSMENTS FOR SULFOMETURON-METHYL 

There were no section 18's assessments found in the BEAD data base. A RED for sulfometuronmethyl was completed 09/18/2008. 

An assessment for sulfometuron-methyl entitled "Benefits of Sulfometuron methyl for 

Vegetation Management for Rights of Way and Non-Crop Sites was completed 08/28/2008. 

It summarizes the use sites as follows to control unwanted vegetation, remove trees and brush 

under power lines, improve visibility along highways, and reduce competition from other plants 

for forest and warm season turf grass establishment. The most recent usage data available to 

BEAD dates from the late 1990's and indicates that sulfometuron methyl was one ofthe top 10 

products based on acres treated for: forestry, roadside, railroad, electric utilities, and pipeline and 

industrial usage. At the time, sulfometuron methyl was applied to over 1.5 million acres. Little 

recent data are available for these sites. Compared to agricultural uses, they represent a small 

proportion of total pesticide use and demand for usage information is low. C8lifornia pesticide 

usage reports for forestry/timberland (2001 -2006) indicate that sulfometuron was one of the top 

1 0 herbicides for that site during that time period. 

INFORMATION THAT MAY BE USEFUL FOR BEAD'S FUTURE WORK ON 

SULFOMETURON-METHYL 

Obtaining additional information on the following items would improve future BEAD 

assessments of the importance of sulfometuron-methyl and may be required as part of the 

registration review of this pesticide. 

Additional information for the use of sulfometuron-methyl on non-agricultural sites such as: 

ornamental forest trees, loading docks (outdoor), storage areas (outdoor) would improve future 

BEAD assessments of the importance of sulfometuron-methyl and may be required as part of the 

registration review of this pesticide. · 

REFERENCES 

California Department of pesticide regulation, 2010. 

http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/pur/purmain.htm. Accessed on May 23, 2012. 

Cox, C. 2002. Herbicide Fact Sheet. Sulfometuron-methyl. J. ofPesticide Reform. 22:4. Pp. 15-

19.http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/BOARD/docs/FFAC 120707 Comment JPR Oust.pdf?ga=t. 

Accessed on May23, 2012. 

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' I 

Heap, I, H. Glick, L Glasglow, and W. Vencill. 2011. Herbicide Resistant Weeds by Country 

and Site of Action. 2011. http://www.weedscience.org/summary/countrysummary.asp. Accessed 

on May 21,2012. 

Kline and Company, Inc., 2006. 

Proprietary Data, 2000-2010. 

USDOE-Bonneville Power Administration, 2000. 

http:/ I efw. bpa. gov I environmental services/Document Library/Vegetation Management/sheets/S 

ulfometuron.pdf . Accessed on May 21, 2012. 

USEPA. 2008. Benefits ofSulfometuron-methyl for Vegetation Management for Rights of Way 

and Non-Crop Sites (PC CODE 122001). 

USEPA. 2008. Sulfometuron-Methyl. Registration Eligibility Decision. 

http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1!REDs/sulfometuron methyl red.pdf. Accessed on May 21, 2012. 

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