A few days ago Dr. Robert K. Simon received a letter from the USDA in Beltsville, MD from Harold T. Smith, Sr Proj Leader with the APHIS Div (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service). Dr. Simon's letter to him was an inquiry about the status of a Draft EIS published last summer on fruit fly control procedures. Comments had been received until October 12, 1999 and a revision based upon comments was due. Paragraph 2 states as follows.
"Preliminary information received from the EPA indicates that the EPA is considering changing the registration status of malathion because of studies that suggest that it could be a low-level human carcinogen. Such as change would result in a change in the risk analysis, would require review of protection and mitigation measures, would result in the need to inform and involve the public about the change, and could require the preparation of a supplemental draft EIS".