December 24, 2007

ISSUE 1198

METHYL BROMIDE CRITICAL USE EXEMPTION ALLOCATION RULE FOR 2008 ANNOUNCED

The U.S. EPA is announcing the availability of the allocation rule associated with production and importation of methyl bromide for critical use exemptions (CUEs) as approved by the U.S. Clean Air Act and the Montreal Protocol during calendar year 2008.

This decision authorizes use of 4,813,452 kilograms (18.9% of the 1991 baseline level) of methyl bromide for approved critical uses in 2008, with only 3,083,763 kilograms (12.1% of baseline) to be supplied from new production. The remaining portion, 1,729,689 kilograms (6.8% of baseline), is available from existing stocks (that methyl bromide produced before Dec. 31, 2004).

This notice means that for 2008 the production of methyl bromide in the U.S. will be almost 88 percent less than that produced in 1991. After the Oct. 2006 Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol, which authorized the use of 5,355,946 kilograms (21.0% of baseline) in the U.S., EPA took it upon itself to reduce that previously authorized amount to account for issues such as the unused methyl bromide from preceding years, effectively reducing more than 500,000 kilograms of methyl bromide that would have otherwise potentially been available.

For additional information, producer members may contact FFVA’s Environmental & Pest Management Division at (321) 214-5200.