U.S. Water News Online
DETROIT -- A powerful herbicide that has found its way into waterways in other states soon could be approved for use on Michigan's corn fields.
The manufacturer of Balance Pro has asked the state to allow use of the weed killer on Michigan's crops. Many weeds have become resistant to herbicides already approved for use in the state.
But the Michigan Environmental Council, a coalition of 63 state environmental groups, wants a public hearing before Balance Pro is allowed.
``It's a very persistent substance with some pretty devastating impacts,'' Dave Dempsey, policy adviser for the council, told the Detroit Free Press. ``We will be asking it not be approved without a public hearing and environmental impact statement.''
The federal Environmental Protection Agency gave temporary approval in 1999 for Balance Pro and its active ingredient, isoxaflutole.
Michigan officials passed in 2001 and 2002 on requests by Bayer CropScience to use Balance Pro in the state because of insufficient testing data.
``They have to convince us that it can be used without getting into the groundwater or surface water and without negatively impacting the environment,'' said Keith Creagh, chief deputy director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture.
Creagh expects a staff recommendation on the product within the next 30 days, but the final decision will be made by the department's director, Dan Wyant. Creagh said there are no plans for a public hearing.
Alan Ayers, director of state affairs for Bayer CropScience, said the company will show there is no danger to groundwater and minimal concerns over the chemical's accumulation in the environment.
However, isoxaflutole is classified as a probable human carcinogen. And studies in states, including Iowa and Nebraska, showed that between 62 percent and 88 percent of nearby stream samples had significant amounts of isoxaflutole residue.
Concerns over the chemical led Wisconsin's natural resources department to conclude that ``risks associated with the highly phytotoxic nature of isoxaflutole, the classification of isoxaflutole as a probable human carcinogen and the likelihood of isoxaflutole entering the surface and groundwater greatly outweigh any advantages that the use of this herbicide would provide corn growers.''
Wisconsin allows the chemical's use with several restrictions. Minnesota as well recently approved use of Balance Pro with restrictions, including a prohibition on using it near field drainage tiles.
Don Stubbs, chief of the EPA's registration division, herbicide branch, said recent test results have alleviated many concerns over Balance Pro's effect on aquatic plants and its potential to poison groundwater.
The agency is still reviewing data on its effect on surface water and reservoirs.
Jody Pollok, director of the Michigan Corn Growers Association, said her group supports the use of Balance Pro in Michigan as long as it is proven safe.
``We want to use the best, sound science,'' she said. ``And we want to make sure the producers here in Michigan have the same tools as producers in other states.''
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