Josh Stamper, MDA, welcomed participants to the meeting, explained the purpose of the committee, and emphasized the importance of discussion and member feedback. PMPC Members and MDA leadership introduced themselves.
Kate Hall (meeting facilitator), MDA, went through housekeeping items and presented background slides on PMPC. The presentation provided an overview of the MDA’s Pesticide Management Plan, “common detection” and “surface water pesticide of concern” designations, and select comments received from members the previous year. The MDA’s Indigenous Land Acknowledgement statement was read.
Josh Stamper, MDA, welcomed participants to the meeting, explained the purpose of the committee, and emphasized the importance of discussion and member feedback. PMPC Members and MDA leadership introduced themselves.
Kate Hall (meeting facilitator), MDA, went through housekeeping items and presented background slides on PMPC. The presentation provided an overview of the MDA’s Pesticide Management Plan, “common detection” and “surface water pesticide of concern” designations, and select comments received from members the previous year. The MDA’s Indigenous Land Acknowledgement statement was read.
MDA Presenter: Dave Tollefson
The presentation provided an overview of the MDA’s monitoring program and introduced the main sections of the 2024 report. Changes to the 2024 analyte list were highlighted along with groundwater and surface water program design elements.
Questions/Comments:
A member asked if the MDA has looked at the effectiveness of reverse osmosis (RO) in removing any other herbicides beyond cyanazine and if it recommended for drinking water wells with elevated concentrations of 4-hydroxychlorothalonil. The MDA noted that RO is effective for many pesticides; however, the MDA does not have data on the effectiveness of RO for 4-hydroxychlorothalonil specifically.
- A member asked whether there was specific guidance for comparing detected concentrations to health-based guidance values when evaluating pesticides for common detection status. The MDA explained that the guidance in the Pesticide Management Plan lists several factors to consider in evaluating a pesticide for common detection status, including concentration. However, no specific thresholds are given (e.g., 50% of a reference value). The member expressed a need for more clear language about considering concentrations with respect to health-based values.
A member noted that the Pesticide Management Plan deals with water but ignores the nonaquatic environment despite the impacts of pesticides on land. The MDA clarified that the Pesticide Management Plan and the PMPC, which was established by the plan, is intentionally focused on water quality and that impacts of pesticides outside this context is beyond the scope of the meeting.
MDA Presenter: Dave Tollefson
The presentation provided an overview of the MDA’s monitoring program and introduced the main sections of the 2024 report. Changes to the 2024 analyte list were highlighted along with groundwater and surface water program design elements.
Questions/Comments:
A member asked if the MDA has looked at the effectiveness of reverse osmosis (RO) in removing any other herbicides beyond cyanazine and if it recommended for drinking water wells with elevated concentrations of 4-hydroxychlorothalonil. The MDA noted that RO is effective for many pesticides; however, the MDA does not have data on the effectiveness of RO for 4-hydroxychlorothalonil specifically.
- A member asked whether there was specific guidance for comparing detected concentrations to health-based guidance values when evaluating pesticides for common detection status. The MDA explained that the guidance in the Pesticide Management Plan lists several factors to consider in evaluating a pesticide for common detection status, including concentration. However, no specific thresholds are given (e.g., 50% of a reference value). The member expressed a need for more clear language about considering concentrations with respect to health-based values.
A member noted that the Pesticide Management Plan deals with water but ignores the nonaquatic environment despite the impacts of pesticides on land. The MDA clarified that the Pesticide Management Plan and the PMPC, which was established by the plan, is intentionally focused on water quality and that impacts of pesticides outside this context is beyond the scope of the meeting.
