AUGUST NEWS

SCHOOL PEST AMENDMENT COULD BE ELIMINATED FROM H.R. 1
WASHINGTON, D.C. — One month after the U.S. Senate approved the addition of the school pest management amendment to the Better Education for Students and Teachers Act (H.R.1), the House Agriculture Committee — which oversees pesticide law — vowed to eliminate it.

The amendment, called the School Environmental Protection Act of 2001 (SEPA), was sponsored by Sen. Robert Torricelli (D-N.J.) and is the result of negotiations between the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), the National Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides(NCAMP)/Beyond Pesticides and other organizations. SEPA requires that schools adopt pest management programs and parent/staff notification when certain pesticide applications are made. (See story, www.pctonline.com/articles/article.asp?MagID=1&ID=1468&IssueID=143)

SEPA was included in the Senate education bill on June 19 by unanimous consent; however, there is no similar language in the House Education Bill. The final version of the education bill must be approved by a Senate-House conference committee, which is expected to meet this month.

The Ag Committee opposed SEPA during an emergency hearing July 18 in response to complaints from some school district officials that said the bill could discourage pest control and add to their paperwork, costs and legal liability.

But many states have already implemented similar pest management practices in their schools. According to an NCAMP press release, with regard to the three major programmatic components of SEPA — posting, notification and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) — Maryland, Massachusetts and Michigan already have statutory requirements in all three areas. Nine states require two of the three major components in SEPA and six states require one component.

"SEPA, as passed by the Senate, takes elements from the experience in over 30 states that have some program and creates a minimum standard of protection across the country," Jay Feldman, executive director, NCAMP said in a press release. "The passage of this legislation will provide all children across the country with a basic level of protection."

Of the amendment’s possible elimination from the education bill, Feldman said those who are trying to overturn the amendment are making a mistake. "This legislation requires schools to adopt IPM practices that minimize risk to children, utilize safer practices and provide safety information to parents and school staff when pesticides are used in the schools," Feldman told PCT.

During the Ag Committee hearing July 18, Torricelli told The Washington Post that Senate Democrats are confident they will prevail in their fight with the House. "This is an example of people advancing the cause of a special interest beyond the interest of the special interest," he said. "This measure is the result of a compromise between educators, parents and the pesticide industry itself," Torricelli said.

WILLIAM BROOME JR. PASSES AWAY
APOLLO BEACH, FLA. — William W. Broome Jr., a longtime member of the pest control industry, passed away on June 23 in Florida.

A graduate of Mississippi State University and a veteran of World War II, Broome was a well-known figure in the pest control industry, holding a number of high-profile positions throughout a distinguished career that spanned more than three decades. Early in his career, Broome worked for Truly Nolen Inc., where he helped develop the lawn care division and eventually worked his way up to manager of the Miami office.

Several years later Broome left the company to become a technical sales representative for Southern Mill Creek Products Inc. (SMCP), a pest control distributor based in Tampa, Fla. While at SMCP, Broome established a training center where he helped educate thousands of PCOs and conducted pest management programs for several well-known amusement parks, including Walt Disney World and Busch Gardens. He eventually was promoted to director of marketing and vice-president, where he helped register dozens of products with EPA.

In 1979, Broome left SMCP, eventually joining Whitmire Research Laboratories as vice president of education and director of the Institute of Technology, a highly regarded technical conference sponsored by the St. Louis-based firm that continues to this day. He retired in the mid-1990s.

FPCA, NPMA ENTER JOINT PARTNERSHIP
MARCO ISLAND, FLA. — The Florida Pest Control Association (FPCA) announced on July 1 that it had entered into a joint partnership with the National Pest Management Association (NPMA). As part of the new alliance FPCA officially changed its name to the Florida Pest Management Association (FPMA).

"I consider this decision to be the most significant development in the history of our association," said outgoing president Jim Taylor. "The joint partnership will further our participation and role in shaping national issues."

In addition to having more of a national presence, Taylor says FPMA members will benefit from a restructured dues schedule, which will begin in 2002. The new schedule reduces the cost of combined membership for pest control companies in both NPMA and FPMA.

FPMA also installed Bryan Cooksey III, president, McCall Services, Jacksonville, Fla., as its new president during the association’s annual convention June 25-27. Cooksey says his primary focus as president of FPMA will be on community relations.

He says he wants to see FPMA continue to strategically align itself with other state and national organizations that will work for the success of the pest control industry in Florida. In 2000, FPMA became a founding member of the Florida Professional Applicators Alliance.

Cooksey said that the grass-roots lobbying efforts of FPMA and partners will be critical in coming months because the Florida legislature had 70 new members in the last session.

"In the days ahead we must increase awareness that individuals do make a difference and non-participation can kill an industry," Cooksey said.

At the convention, FPMA also honored Norm Ehmann, vice president emeritus, Van Waters & Rogers, with the Harry Balcome Award, and Truly Nolen, chairman of Truly Nolen of America, with the Pioneer Award.

PATENT DISPUTE CONTINUES FOR BAYER, SYNGENTA
BASEL, SWITZERLAND AND LEVERKUSEN GERMANY — The legal battle between Syngenta Crop Protection and Bayer AG over thiamethoxam patents took a significant turn on June 27 when the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) denied Bayer the right to claim priority of its 1988 Japanese foreign priority date for U.S. patent No. 5,719,146, which covered thiamethoxam.

The decision means that all claims contained in Bayer’s patent are invalid because the compounds claimed were different from those described. The ruling strengthens Syngenta Crop Protection’s claim that it was the first to invent thiamethoxam, a class of neonicotinoid insecticides, according to Syngenta Communications Manager Ken Gordon. "Now the company can move forward and market its thiamethoxam-based products," he said. "The USPTO ruling simply reinforces our position that the Bayer patent was invalid."

Although disappointed in USPTO’s ruling, Bayer said it believes it is still positioned favorably for a legal victory because on May 15, the company received patent No. 6,232,309, which also covered thiamethoxam, according to Bayer Spokesperson Dr. Franz Josef Placke, Leverkusen, Germany.

"The initial patent (No. 5,719,146) had some formal weaknesses, which were due to the practices used to file patents in the United States," Placke told PCT. "Our newest patent (No. 6,232,309) does not have the formal weaknesses as the prior patent. From an intellectual property point of view we are in at least in as good a position as before."

Bayer AG and Syngenta Crop Protection are also involved in a separate patent infringement lawsuit over thiamethoxam in the Louisiana District Court, which was filed in 1998.

Related Article:
"Bayer AG, Syngenta Crop Protection Continue Patent Dispute" July 11, 2001
www.pctonline.com/news/news.asp?ID=714

TORRICELLI SUPPORTERS GATHER IN NEW JERSEY
DUNN LORING, VA. — The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) joined U.S. Sen. Robert Torricelli (D-N.J.) and other supporters on the steps of a local New Jersey high school on June 25 to mark the passage of landmark legislation regarding pest management in schools. The School Environment Protection Act was passed by the U.S. Senate in June as part of a larger education bill. (See story, www.pctonline.com/news/news.asp?ID=729). "Thanks to Senator Torricelli, we have created legislation that includes all the components of a responsible and workable program for managing pests in and around schools and for creating a safer and healthier environment for school children," said Phillip Cooper, chairman of the Government Affairs Committee for the New Jersey Pest Management Association and newly elected member of the NPMA Board of Directors. "This legislation insures the development of thoughtful pest management plans that strike the right balance of managing pests and protecting our children."

The event took place at Central Regional High School in Berkeley Township, Ocean County, N.J.

GREECE BACKDROP FOR FUMIGANT MEETING
THESSALONIKI, GREECE — The 5th International Fumigants & Pheromones Technical Conference and Workshop was held on March 20-22 in Thessaloniki, Greece.

This meeting of fumigators, food processors, pest professionals and researchers from around the world offered an opportunity for information exchange and insights into innovative technologies. The meeting was attended by 170 people from 28 different countries.

Lectures and discussion at the conference focused on a variety of topics, including the future of methyl bromide, controlling pests with carbon dioxide and high pressure, food safety issues, Profume (sulfuryl fluoride) as an alternative to methyl bromide and fumigation with phosphine.

RISE: PESTICIDES IN SCHOOLS NOT TOP CONCERN FOR PARENTS
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Most parents do little to no thinking about pests or the use of pesticides in their children’s schools, but when raised, these issues strike a deep emotional cord. That’s one of the findings from focus group discussions with parents conducted by Cogent Research on behalf of RISE (Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment)..

When asked which environmental quality issues in their children’s schools concerned them most, parents mentioned air quality, asbestos, lead and mold/fungus problems but not pests or pesticides.

"While pesticides are clearly not top concerns for parents, this research shows they do become easily concerned when the subject of pesticides is raised," said Allen James, RISE president.

The qualitative research was conducted among parents of kindergarten and elementary school children in four cities — Cambridge, Mass.; Raleigh, N.C.; Chicago; and, Los Angeles in April 2001.

"This research helps RISE and our industry gain an understanding of parents’ perceptions and attitudes about pests and the use of pest control products in and around schools," James said.

While pesticide use in schools is not a top concern for parents, neither is the health and safety threats posed by pests. "While parents have an aversion to pests — primarily because they view them as an indication of unsanitary conditions — they know surprisingly little about the actual health hazards associated with even the most common pests," James said.

Other findings from the parent focus group discussions include:

• Rats and roaches are perceived by parents as the worst pests — they carry diseases (non-specific), promote unsanitary conditions (droppings) and pose a general threat to a child’s well being.

• Lacking knowledge and information about pesticides, parents default to erroneous assumptions and misperceptions about pesticides, such as: all pesticides are sprayed, pesticides used in school are industrial strength, school janitors are responsible fore applying pesticides and applications are widespread (the entire school building) and random (not part of a strategy or plan).

• Parents know little about IPM, but when given its legal definition, they see it as a logical, common-sense approach to controlling pests.

• When asked about pre-notification of pesticide applications in schools, most parents want a general understanding of what’s being done, but are not interested in knowing about every application.

PREMISE AVAILABLE TO ALL PEST MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONALS
KANSAS CITY, MO. — Bayer’s Premise® Insecticide is now available for purchase and use to all licensed pest management professionals. Previously, only pest management professionals who completed the Premise authorization program were eligible to purchase the product.

During the initial launch, Bayer established the Premise authorization program to train professionals on all facets of the product to help them achieve the best results possible. Only pest management professionals who completed the program were authorized to purchase Premise.

"The objectives of the authorization program have been met. It’s time to allow everyone in the pest management industry convenient access to Premise," said Jennifer Remsberg, the residential market manager, Bayer Corporation’s professional care division.

The following is a list of new or updated industry Web sites.

E-mail jdorsch@pctonline.com with new sites.

• Pest Control Web site for kids — www.ars.usda.gov/is/kids/globalscitech/index.html

• Syngenta Professional Products — www.syngentaprofessionalproducts.com

COMINGS & GOINGS
Edgardo Vega joins Bell Laboratories as its southern technical representative.

Bob Belmont has been hired as training/technical director in pest prevention for Massey Services.

Jerry Hatch is the new regional technical specialist in the Midwest for Whitmire Micro-Gen Research Laboratories.

J.F. Oakes Sales & Marketing LLC recently announced the appointment of Steve Goscinsky as the new territorial sales manager for the northeast region.

Chris McCloud has been promoted to vice president of operations for McCloud Services, Schaumburg, Ill., while Dave Ervin has been promoted to district manager for the company in Decatur, Ill.

There have been several recent changes and additions at Bayer Corporation, Professional Care:

Cathy Fuhrman is the new commercial market manager and will handle all marketing responsibilities for pretreat products and the commercial market.

Jennifer Remsberg, residential market manager, is responsible for marketing all pest management products and programs.

Steve Ehart has moved from market manager to brand manager for all Bayer pest management products.

Michael Daly joined Bayer as the turf and ornamental brand manager.

Reneé Holmes, communications manager, has been appointed Accolades program director.

Neil Cleveland now serves as sales manager for the eastern region.

Mike Ruizzo is a sales manager for the western region and Rich Burns, director of sales, is responsible for Florida.