California Code of Regulations › Title 3 - Food and Agriculture › Division 6 - Pesticides and Pest Control Operations › Chapter 2 - Pesticides › Subchapter 4 - Restricted Materials › Article 4 - Field Fumigation Use Requirements › Section 6447.3 - Methyl Bromide Field Fumigation Methods

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a) The
					 methyl bromide field soil fumigation must be made using only the methods
					 described in this section. However, within the San Joaquin Valley, Southeast
					 Desert, or Ventura ozone nonattainment areas, the following methods are
					 prohibited during the May 1 through October 31 time period: (2), (4), and (6);
					 and if applied as alternating fumigated and unfumigated areas (strip
					 fumigation), methods (3) and (5). In addition to labeling requirements for each
					 of these methods, the following requirements shall apply:
(1) (Reserved)
(2) Nontarpaulin/Deep/Broadcast.
(A) Broadcast equivalent application rate
					 must not exceed 400 pounds of methyl bromide per acre.
(B) Forward-curved chisel must be used with:
1. An application tractor equipped with an
					 air fan dilution system, and the injection depth must be at least 20 inches;
					 or
2. Closing shoes and compaction
					 roller and the injection depth must be at least 24 inches.
(C) Injection spacing must be 68 inches or
					 less.
(D) The soil must not be
					 disturbed for at least four days (96 hours) following completion of injection
					 to the application block.
(3) Tarpaulin/Shallow/Broadcast.
(A) Broadcast equivalent application rate
					 must not exceed 400 pounds of methyl bromide per acre.
(B) Application must be made using an
					 application tractor equipped with an air fan dilution system, and with a plow
					 consisting of horizontal v-shaped blades mounted by a vertical arm to the tool
					 bar. The fumigant must be injected laterally beneath the soil
					 surface.
(C) Injection depth must
					 be at least 10 and no greater than15 inches.
(D) Injection spacing must be 12 inches or
					 less.
(E) The tarpaulin must be
					 laid down simultaneously (with fumigant injection) by tarpaulin-laying
					 equipment mounted on the application tractor.
(F) If using a tarpaulin that has been tested
					 for permeability and determined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to
					 qualify for at least 60 percent buffer zone reduction credit, the tarpaulin
					 must not be cut or perforated until a minimum of nine days following completion
					 of injection to the application block.
(G) Tarpaulin removal shall begin no sooner
					 than 24 hours after tarpaulin cutting has been completed.
(4) Tarpaulin/Shallow/Bed.
(A) Broadcast equivalent application rate
					 must not exceed 250 pounds of methyl bromide per acre.
(B) Rearward-curved (swept-back) chisels must
					 be used with either:
1. Closing shoes and
					 compaction roller. The closing shoes must cover the chisel marks with soil just
					 ahead of the compaction roller, and the tarpaulin must be laid down
					 simultaneously (with fumigant injection) by tarpaulin-laying equipment mounted
					 on the application tractor; or
2.
					 Bed shaper. The chisels must be placed with the injection point under the bed
					 shaper, and the tarpaulin must be laid down simultaneously (with fumigant
					 injection) by tarpaulin-laying equipment mounted on the application tractor;
					 or
3. Combination bed former and
					 bed shaper. The chisels must be placed between the bed former and the bed
					 shaper. The tractor with the tarpaulin-laying equipment must immediately follow
					 the application tractor.
(C) Injection depth shall be between 6 and 15
					 inches. The injection depth to preformed beds must not be below the bed
					 furrow.
(D) Injection spacing must
					 be 12 inches or less.
(E) If using
					 a tarpaulin that has been tested for permeability and determined by the U.S.
					 Environmental Protection Agency to qualify for at least 60 percent buffer zone
					 reduction credit, the tarpaulin must not be cut or perforated until a minimum
					 of nine days following completion of injection to the application
					 block.
(F) If tarpaulins are
					 removed before planting, tarpaulin removal shall begin no sooner than 24 hours
					 after tarpaulin cutting has been completed. The entry restricted period must be
					 at least six days, or 10 days if using tarpaulin described in (E).
(G) If tarpaulins are not to be removed
					 before planting, the application block entry restricted period must either:
1. consist of the five-day period plus an
					 additional 48 hours after holes have been cut for planting if using a tarpaulin
					 not described in subsection (E); or
2. consist of a nine-day period plus an
					 additional 48 hours after holes have been cut for planting, if using a
					 tarpaulin described in subsection (E); or
3. be at least 14 days. If this option is
					 chosen, the methyl bromide air concentration underneath the tarpaulin must test
					 less than five parts per million before planting
					 begins.
(5)
					 Tarpaulin/Deep/Broadcast.
(A) Broadcast
					 equivalent application rate must not exceed 400 pounds of methyl bromide per
					 acre.
(B) Forward-curved chisels
					 must be used with either:
1. An air fan
					 dilution system on the application tractor; or
2. Closing shoes and compaction
					 roller.
(C) Injection
					 depth must be at least 20 inches.
(D) Injection spacing must be 66 inches or
					 less.
(E) The tarpaulin must be
					 laid down simultaneously (with fumigant injection) by tarpaulin-laying
					 equipment mounted on the application tractor.
(F) If using a tarpaulin that has been tested
					 for permeability and determined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to
					 qualify for at least 60 percent buffer zone reduction credit, the tarpaulin
					 must not be cut or perforated until a minimum of nine days following completion
					 of injection to the application block.
(G) Tarpaulin removal must begin no sooner
					 than 24 hours after tarpaulin cutting has been completed.
(6) Drip System -- Hot Gas.
A hot gas application through a subsurface drip
						irrigation system to tarpaulin-covered beds may be used if all of the following
						criteria are met:
(A) Broadcast
					 equivalent application rate must not exceed 225 pounds of methyl bromide per
					 acre.
(B) The fumigant must be
					 injected beneath the soil surface at a minimum depth of one inch.
(C) The portion of the drip system used in
					 the fumigation must be physically disconnected from the main water supply
					 during the fumigation to prevent possible contamination of the water
					 supply.
(D) All fittings and
					 emitters underneath the tarpaulin must be buried in the soil to a minimum depth
					 of one inch.
(E) Prior to the start
					 of the fumigation, all drip tubing must be checked for blockage, and the
					 irrigation system connections and fittings checked for blockage and leaks using
					 pressurized air and/or water. The end of each drip tubing must be placed under
					 the tarpaulin prior to introduction of fumigant.
(F) The tarpaulin must be placed and
					 inspected for tears, holes, or improperly secured edges prior to fumigating.
					 Repairs and adjustments must be made before the fumigation begins.
(G) Prior to the start of the fumigation, all
					 fittings above ground and outside of the tarpaulin must be pressure-tested with
					 compressed air, water, or nitrogen gas to a maximum pressure of 50 pounds per
					 square inch. A soap solution must be used to check the fittings for leaks if
					 using air or nitrogen. All apparent leaks must be eliminated prior to the
					 fumigation. All drip tubing with emitters connected to the distribution
					 manifold not covered by the tarpaulin must be sealed to prevent fumigant loss
					 through the emitters.
(H) Prior to
					 introducing the fumigant, the drip system must be purged of water by means of
					 pressurized gas, such as CO2 or nitrogen.
(I) The drip system must be purged prior to
					 disconnecting any line containing the fumigant.
(J) After purging, drip tubing must be
					 pinched off and then disconnected from the distribution manifold. All
					 disconnected tubing leading into the treated field must be secured to prevent
					 gas from escaping.
(K) All fittings
					 used for connecting or disconnecting the heat exchanger to the irrigation
					 system manifold must be of a positive shut-off design.
(L) All persons must wear the eye protection
					 specified on the label when working with a manifold system or tubing containing
					 the fumigant under pressure.
(M)
					 The entire fumigation system (heater, valves, and manifold) must be purged of
					 the fumigant at the end of each day's fumigation.
(N) If using a tarpaulin that has been tested
					 for permeability and determined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to
					 qualify for at least 60 percent buffer zone reduction credit, the tarpaulin
					 must not be cut or perforated until a minimum of nine days following completion
					 of injection to the application block.
(O) If tarpaulins are removed before
					 planting, tarpaulin removal shall begin no sooner than 24 hours after tarpaulin
					 cutting has been completed. The entry restricted period must be at least six
					 days, or 10 days if when using tarpaulin described in (N).
(P) If tarpaulins are not to be removed
					 before planting, the application block entry restricted period must either:
1. consist of the five-day period plus an
					 additional 48 hours after holes have been cut for planting, if using a
					 tarpaulin not described in subsection (N); or
2. consist of a nine-day period plus an
					 additional 48 hours after holes have been cut for planting, if using a
					 tarpaulin described in subsection (N); or
3. be at least 14 days. If this option is
					 chosen, the methyl bromide air concentration underneath the tarpaulin must test
					 less than five parts per million before planting
					 begins.