Jill Schroeder
Professor of Weed Science
New Mexico State University
Box 30003 MSC 3BE
Las Cruces, NM 88003
jischroe@nmsu.edu
Phone: 575-646-2328
EPA LIAISON REPORTS TO WSSA BOARD

OTHER REPORTS REPORT:  EPA TOUR OF WEED RESISTANCE MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES IN MISSOURI, ILLINOIS, AND ARKANSAS. August 15-17, 2011
A field tour was organized for U.S. EPA representatives to observe and discuss the problems with and management of glyphosate-resistant weeds that are now infesting Arkansas, Illinois, and Missouri among several other states. Participants included representatives from all of the divisions within the EPA Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP), USDA Office of Pest Management Policy, and the Weed Science Society of America (WSSA).

REPORT:  EPA TOUR OF SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL NEW MEXICO AGRICULTURE, RANGELAND, AND RIPARIAN AREAS. August 2-5, 2010
Pesticide applications in New Mexico riparian areas will be covered under the federal NPDES permit; however, the extent of waters of the U.S. relative to irrigation districts is unclear. Therefore, to provide information about an ecosystem that contrasts with Florida, Jill Schroeder and Bonnie Rabe, NMDA Division Director Ag and Environmental Services, invited EPA Headquarters staff from OPP and OW to New Mexico on a fact finding tour of riparian, agricultural, and rangeland areas of this land-locked, arid state.

REPORT:  U.S. EPA FLORIDA AQUATIC PESTICIDE TOUR
This report covers the background, objectives, tour itinerary, summary, and recommendations derived from the southern Florida aquatic pesticide fact finding tour during May 11-14, 2009. The purpose of this fact-finding field tour was to provide key EPA headquarters staff with a better understanding of how aquatic pest management decisions involving pesticides are regulated, applied and monitored by state and federal authorities.


WSSA ACADEMIC SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT

The WSSA Board of Directors created the position of Academic Subject Matter Expert (SME) in May, 2007. This liaison position is a partnership between WSSA and the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Herbicide Registration Section. Our first EPA Liaison was Dr. Steve Dewey, Utah State University. Steve’s last visit to EPA is this December, 2008. Dr. Jill Schroeder, New Mexico State University, has been selected by WSSA’s EPA Subject Matter Expert Nomination Committee to replace Steve based on a competitive assessment of applicants. Jill’s first visit to EPA is this December to overlap with Steve’s and her term continues for the next 2 years.

The vision for this position is to develop a liaison between the academic Weed Science community and the EPA in order to assist the Agency in addressing crop and noncrop weed control issues that directly impact the weed management practitioner. The WSSA/EPA SME is expected to learn the registration and reregistration processes at the EPA, become familiar with the Agency’s scientific committees and how they operate, and develop a basic understanding of how EPA Office of Pesticide Programs risk assessments are conducted. With this background, the WSSA/EPA SME would represent the WSSA membership to EPA and provide critical input on topics such as the utility of label mitigations for herbicide use, spray drift management, invasive species management near endangered species, and the role of weed control in land management. It was expected that the WSSA SME would also meet with other appropriate federal and state personnel who are responsible for the control of invasive weeds on public lands in order to utilize their expertise when questions arise on herbicide labeling and use applications.

WSSA greatly appreciates Steve Dewey’s many accomplishments in this area. Real contributions to the Agency have been made in expanding their understanding of the practical aspects of weed control in both managed crop systems and invasive species control over the past 18 months. WSSA also welcomes the addition of Jill Schroeder to EPA’s staff to continue and build this relationship for the benefit of both EPA and WSSA.

November 24, 2008