A new report issued by the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) criticized the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) for its Special Local Needs (SLN) program, which allows states a pathway to pursue and receive exceptions to the strict limitations or rules for crop protection products registered for use by the EPA. The SLN program is authorized by the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).
According to the report, the OIG expressed concerns for the management controls for the program, a lack of consistent processes for states, an appropriate public database for SLNs granted, and protocols for measuring performance related to SLNs granted. The OIG also issued recommendations for the EPA to improve upon the program and its effectiveness. The report stated that EPA agreed with the findings and is taking corrective actions.
More below:
https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2021-02/documents/_epaoig_2020210-21-e-0072.pdf
https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/guidance-fifra-24c-registrations
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2014-title40-vol24/xml/CFR-2014-title40-vol24-part162.xml