Media Advisory: EPA’s Pollinator Summit on March 5

EPA News Release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 4, 2013

Media Advisory: EPA’s Pollinator Summit on March 5

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will hold a public meeting with key stakeholders to collaborate on activities to protect honey bees and other pollinators from pesticide risks.

Bees are an important component of agricultural production and are critical to food and ecosystems. The summit will be an opportunity to advance our collective understanding and efforts to protect them.

The EPA has been working aggressively to protect honey bees and other pollinators. The summit is part of the agency’s ongoing collaboration with beekeepers, growers, pesticide manufacturers and federal and state agencies to manage potential risks to bees.

WHAT:              EPA and USDA Pollinator SummitWHO:               Officials from EPA, USDA, agricultural workers and farmers; beekeepers; pesticide industry and trade associations; environmental, consumer, and farm worker groups; animal welfare organizations; pesticide users and growers; pest consultants; state, local and tribal governments and academia.

WHEN:             Tuesday, March 5, 2013, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST

WHERE:           Live streamed webinar will be conducted over Adobe Connect:https://epa.connectsolutions.com/crosspollinate/ 
This meeting is also open to the public at 2777 S. Crystal Dr., Office of Pesticide Programs, First Floor Conference Center, One Potomac Yard (South Bldg.), Arlington, VA 22202. Seating is limited. Comments may be made during the public comment session of the meeting; invited presenters will provide briefings and information on their current activities.

For seating reservations, please email Pollinator_Summit@epa.gov. For further information or to request accommodations of a disability, please contact Mary Clock-Rust (Clock-Rust.mary@epa.gov).

More on the Pollinator Summit, full agenda and instructions on how to access the webinar:http://www.epa.gov/oppfead1/cb/csb_page/updates/2013/pollin-summit.html

More on pollinator protection: http://www.epa.gov/opp00001/ecosystem/pollinator/index.html

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