INTRODUCTION

REASON FOR STUDY

At the request of the Appropriations Committee, U.S. House of Representatives, the Environmental Protection Agency has undertaken a review of the 1972 decision cancelling many of the registrations of ᎠᎠᎢ . The specific language of the request is contained in both the 1974 report of the Appropriations Committee and the November 6, 1973 Congressional Record (H 9619):

"The Agency was also directed to initiate a complete
and thorough review, based on scientific evidence of
the decision banning the use of DDT. This review of
DDT must take into consideration all of the costs and
benefits and the importance of protecting the Nation's
supply of food and fiber."

To this end, the Agency assembled a team of scientists and economists to review the relevant scientific and economic data.

HOW UNDERTAKEN

This review centered on the key findings of the Administrator in his Decision released June 14, 1972 (Appendix IA). The initial assemblage and evaluation of the information was under the direction of the Criteria and Evaluation Division, Office of Pesticide Programs. Comments and suggestions for the final report were given by scientists at offices elsewhere in EPA.

The review was divided into four major areas for purposes of conducting the review by multidisciplinary teams and for presentation of findings:

The following methodology was used in reviewing various aspects of the Administrator's Decision:

1. Ascertain the Administrator's findings in his 1972 Opinion
(Factual Findings Section).

2.

3.

4.

Review the information available to the Administrator in support of these findings at the time of his decision.

Conduct information searches using relevant data banks for more
recently published articles and current research projects in
EPA and elsewhere.

Evaluate available scientific studies and data on DDT in light of
the key findings of the Administrator in his 1972 Opinion to
determine which of the following best describes the current
data situation: a) no new data since the decision in 1972;
b) new data confirm (or deny) 1972 findings.

WHAT THE REPORT DOES AND DOES NOT DO

The aim of this report was to provide a detailed review of the literature and data relating to the findings which supported the 1972 decision, and to impacts it had on social, economic, and environment variables since it became effective January 1, 1973. The review was of the data supporting the various findings of the Administrator rather than of the overall decision itself, which involved weighing of various social, economic and environmental factors.

DDT REGULATORY HISTORY: A BRIEF SURVEY

A brief survey of the regulatory history involving DDT is presented in Appendix IB. The summary covers the period from early actions by USDA to restrict DDT use in the late 1950's to EPA actions since 1972, such as those involving temporary registration for use against the pea leaf weevil (1973) and applications for emergency use of DDT against the tussock moth in forests (1974) and against the tobacco budworm on cotton (1975).

SUMMARY

This summary consists of an introductory survey and a matrix summarizing results in tabular form for each major review area: fish and wildlife effects, human effects, residue monitoring, and economic (benefit) aspects. The matrices summarize results of the review, finding-by-finding in the 1972 order. The detailed analyses that led to the results summarized in Part II are presented in Part III, arranged in the same order.