USAID/Albania Amendment to Initial Environmental Examination

105 Pages·2014·1.31 MB·English

DCN: 2014-ALB-007

US Agency for International Development (USAID)
USAID/Albania
Amendment to Initial Environmental Examination (IEE)

Program/Project/Activity Data
Activity/Project Name: Albania Critical Economic Growth Areas (ACEGA)
Conditions created for broad-based sustainable
Assistance Objective: inclusive
economic growth
Program Area: Economic Growth
Country(ies) and/or Operating Unit: USAID/Albania
Originating Office: Date: April 21, 2014
PAD Level IEE: Yes No DCN of Original RCE/IEE: 2013-ALB-012
Supplemental IEE: Yes No
DCN of Amendment(s):
RCE/IEE Amendment: Yes No
If Yes, Purpose of Amendment (AMD): To approve the PERSUAP.
DCN(s) of All Related
EA/IEE/RCE/ER(s):
Implementation Start/End: LOP: FY 2014 - 2016
Funding Amount: LOP Amount: $3,000,000
Contract/Award Number (if known):
Recommended Environmental Determination:
Categorical Exclusion: Positive Determination:
Negative Determination: Deferral:
Additional Elements:
Conditions: Local Procurement:
Government to Government: Donor Co-Funded:

1. Purpose of Amendment

1.1. Purpose of Amendment: To approve the Pesticide Evaluation Report and Safe
Use Action Plan (PERSUAP).

1.2. The “Strengthening Agricultural Vital Subsectors” ( SAVS) is a program funded
by USAID/Albania aiming to stimulate growth in Albania’s agricultural sector.
Activities will be focused on five commodities: greenhouse vegetables,
watermelon, citrus, olives and medicinal and aromatic plants in the districts of
Shkodra, Malësi e Madhe, Lushnja, Fier, Vlora, Saranda, Elbasan and Berat.

AAC-Lushnja’s award intends to promote the increased production and marketing
for selected commodities by advising farmers and agro-businesses to adopt
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efficient technologies, agricultural practices and marketing for all value chains
actors involved. This part is covered under the component 4 and 5 of program
analysis in the approved IEE for the APS – specifically component 4 -
“Strengthening of producer capacity for competitive commercial farming for
selected value chains” and component 5 - “Strengthen capabilities for market
development for Albanian farmers and agro-businesses”.

The environmental analysis done for component 4 of the IEE, foresaw the
preparation and annual update of a Pesticide Evaluation Report & Safe Use
Action Plan (PERSUAP) as specified in the approved IEE (DCN: 2013-ALB-
012). Risks and the reduction or mitigation of risks are the drivers for USAID’s
environmental procedures. Many types of development projects can increase
risks of harm to human health, environment and natural resources, but pesticides
pose some of the most significant of these risks, and if used improperly, can
threaten access to regional and international markets in the EU.

The present 2014 PERSUAP addresses the Condition of the Initial
Environmental Examination (IEE) Negative Determination regarding the potential
financing or use of pesticides, following 22CFR 216.3 (b) Pesticide Procedures.
This PERSUAP will closely inform the technical assistance and capacity building
for SAVS and their partners. It addresses the following key findings and
recommendations:

 PERSUAP/Allowed Pesticides: The 2014 Albania SAVS PERSUAP
evaluates pesticides that could be potentially supported (use on demo trials,
promotion during training, financing, procurement) with project and partner
resources, as well as those that cannot be supported, with reasons that they
cannot be supported.
 Safety Training/Equipment: Recommend that SAVS and partners that
support the use pesticides on demo trials, promote the use of pesticides to
farmers, or procure pesticides for farmers perform pesticide safety training
and use of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE).
 Spray Services: Recommend that SAVS promote and support the concept
and use of pesticide spray services that have well-trained and PPE-protected
spray personnel.
 Good Agriculture Practices: Recommend that SAVS staff promote the use
of state of the art Good Agriculture Practices (GAPs) for each of the three
crops, including use of high yielding and quality seed, soil fertility testing and
conservation, plant nutritional needs to grow healthy crops, proper water use,
crop rotation, clean storage and marketing.
 Pest Management Plans/Integrated Pest Management: Recommend that
SAVS promote the use of state of the art (used by many international, national
and state extension services) pest management plans (PMPs) containing major
pests/diseases/weeds of each target crop, with preventive non-chemical
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) tools/tactics, registered synthetic
pesticides, as well as any artisanal and registered natural pesticides available.
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1.3. All conditions of the original IEE remain in effect. With this Amendment, all
existing reporting requirements shall remain in place, for instance, any monitoring
or reporting timelines stated in the EA or other existing EMMPs remain in place
as do requirements for submittal by the implementing partner of Records of
Compliance with Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plans at the close of
activities.

1.4. This project is currently in compliance.

2. Recommended Environmental Threshold Decision Clearances:

_
Approval : ____________________________________ ___________________
Marc ELLINGSTAD, Acting Mission Date
Director

Clearance: ____________________________________ ___________________
Kristaq V. JORGJI , Mission Environmental Date
Officer

Clearance :
____________________________________ ___________________
Kristaq V. JORGJI, Activity Manager AOR Date

Concurrence:
____________________________________ ___________________
Mark Kamiya Date
E&E Bureau Environmental Officer

Distribution:
IEE File
MEO (to also provide a copy to AOR/COR)

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FOR THE
“STRENGHTENING AGRICULTURAL VITAL SECTORS” (SAVS)
PROJECT
( IEE’S DCN: 2013-ALB-012)

IMPLEMENTED BY AAC-LUSHNJA, ALBANIA

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2014 Albania Strengthening Agricultural Vital Subsectors (SAVS) Program PERSUAP

(Pesticide Evaluation Report & Safe Use Action Plan)

For:

Albanian Agriculture Competitiveness (AAC)-Lushnja

Dates of Study:

February 10-21, 2014

By:

Alan Schroeder, PhD, MBA
Environmental Assessment Professional
[email protected]
Business cell phone: [phone]
Skype VOIP: happywildwarthog

and

Astrit Balliu, PhD
Agricultural University of Tirana
Horticultural Department (Head)
Koder Kamez 1029, Tirana, Albania
Phone: [phone]
[email protected]

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ACRONYMS

AAC Albania Agriculture Competitiveness (DAI Project)
AACL Albanian Agricultural Competitiveness –Lushnja (Albanian NGO)
AI Active Ingredient (reference to chemical/s in pesticides)
AOR Agreement Officer’s Representative (USAID)
APS Annual Program Statement (USAID)
BEO Bureau Environmental Officer (USAID)
BMP Best Management Practice
BT Bacillus thuringiensis (a bacteria that produces a toxin that is used as a pesticide)
CCD Colony Collapse Disorder
CFR Code of Federal Regulations (USA)
CLI Crop Life International (private sector pesticide companies trade association)
COP Chief of Party (USAID)
COR Contracting Officer’s Representative (USAID)
DAI Development Alternatives Incorporated
DCN Document Number (USAID documentation system)
E Emulsion (a pesticide formulation)
EA Environmental Assessment
EC Emulsifiable Concentrate (pesticide formulation)
EC50 Effective Concentration 50 (acute toxicity measure)
EMMP Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan (USAID)
EPA US Environmental Protection Agency (also known as USEPA)
ESP Environmental Services Payment (WB)
ETOA Environmental Threats and Opportunities Analysis (biodiversity/forestry study)
EU European Union
FAA Foreign Assistance Act
FAO Food and Agriculture Organization (United Nations)
FDA Food and Drug Administration (USA)
FIFRA Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (USA)
FRAC Fungicide Resistance Action Committee
G Granular (a pesticide formulation)
GAP Good Agriculture Practice
GlobalGAP Global Good Agriculture Practices, a certification system
GMO Genetically Modified Organism
GUP General Use Pesticide
Ha Hectares
HRAC Herbicide Resistance Action Committee
HT Highly Toxic
ID Identification
IEAP International Environmental Assessment Professional
IEE Initial Environmental Examination (USAID)
IGR Insect Growth Regulator
IP Implementing Partner
IPM Integrated Pest Management
IPMP Integrated Pest Management Plan (WB)
IRAC Insecticide Resistance Action Committee
LC50 Lethal Concentration 50 (acute toxicity measure)
LD50 Lethal Dose 50 (acute toxicity measure)
M&E Monitoring and Evaluation
MEO Mission Environmental Officer (USAID)
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MOA Ministry of Agriculture
MRL Maximum/Minimum Residue Level/Limit
MSDS Material Safety Data Sheet
MSL Meters above Sea Level
MT Moderately Toxic
NAT Not Acutely Toxic
NCAT National Center for Appropriate Technology (USA)
NEPA National Environmental Policy Act (USA)
NGO Non-Governmental Organization
NIFA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USA)
OD Oil Dispersion (a pesticide formulation)
PAN Pesticide Action Network (pesticide NGO)
PEA Programmatic Environmental Assessment (USAID)
PER Pesticide Evaluation Report
PERSUAP Pesticide Evaluation Report and Safe Use Action Plan
pH log of Hydrogen concentration, measure of acidity
PHI Pre-Harvest Interval
PIC Prior Informed Consent (a treaty, relates to toxic pesticides)
POPs Persistent Organic Pollutants (a treaty, relates to toxic persistent pesticides)
PMP Pest Management Plan
PMT Project Management Team (WB)
PNT Practically Non-Toxic
PPE Personal Protection Equipment
QC Quality Control
R&D toxin Reproductive and Developmental toxin
REA Regional Environmental Advisor
Reg 216 Regulation 216 (USAID Environmental Procedures)
REI Re-Entry Interval (safety period after pesticide spraying)
RUP Restricted Use Pesticide
SAVS Strengthening Agricultural Vital Subsectors Program
SC Suspension Concentrate (a pesticide formulation)
SL Soluble Liquid (a pesticide formulation)
S&C Standards and Certification
SO Strategic Objective
SOW Scope of Work
ST Slightly Toxic
SUAP Safe Use Action Plan
UC University of California
UN United Nations
UNEP United Nations Environment Program
USAID United States Agency for International Development
USDA United States Department of Agriculture
USEPA US Environmental Protection Agency (also known as EPA)
VHT Very Highly Toxic
WB World Bank
WDG Water Dispersible Granule (a pesticide formulation)
WHO World Health Organization (United Nations)
WP Wettable Powder (a pesticide formulation, usually for fungicides)
WPA Wildlife Protected Areas

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Table of Contents 
ACRONYMS 6
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 11
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 12
COMPILATION OF 12‐FACTOR ANALYSIS PRIMARY CONCLUSIONS & ACTIONS 13
TABLE 1: INSECTICIDES (KILL INSECTS) 2014 PERSUAP ANALYSES FINDINGS 15
TABLE 2: ACARICIDES (KILL MITES AND TICKS) 2014 PERSUAP ANALYSES FINDINGS
16
TABLE 3: MOLLUSCICIDES (KILL SLUGS AND SNAILS) 2014 PERSUAP ANALYSES
FINDINGS 17
TABLE 4: NEMATOCIDES (KILL NEMATODES) 2014 PERSUAP ANALYSES FINDINGS 17
TABLE 5: RODENTICIDES (KILL RATS, MICE AND VOLES) 2014 PERSUAP ANALYSES
FINDINGS 17
TABLE 6: FUNGICIDES (KILL FUNGAL DISEASES) 2014 PERSUAP ANALYSES FINDINGS
17
TABLE 7: HERBICIDES (KILL WEEDS) & PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS (PGR)
ANALYSES FINDINGS 19
HOW TO USE THIS PERSUAP EFFICIENTLY 20
UPDATE THE REPORT ANNUALLY AND AMEND THE REPORT IN TWO YEARS 20
SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION 21
1.1 PURPOSE, SCOPE & ORIENTATION 21
1.2 USAID ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS DEVELOPMENT 21
1.3 22 CFR 216.3(B) (REGULATION 216) 22
1.4 THE PESTICIDE EVALUATION REPORT AND SAFER USE ACTION PLAN
(PERSUAP) 22
1.5 INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT—USAID POLICY 23
1.6 ALBANIA SAVS/SUB‐GRANTEES/PARTNERS PERSUAP METHODOLOGY 23
SECTION 2: BACKGROUND 24
2.1 ALBANIA COUNTRY AND AGRICULTURE BACKGROUNDS 24
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2.2 AACL SAVS PROJECT BACKGROUND 27
2.3 INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT AND PERSUAP PRECEDENTS 28
2.4 ALBANIA PESTICIDE SYSTEM RISKS AND AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT 29
SECTION 3: PESTICIDE EVALUATION REPORT (PER) 31
3.1 FACTOR A: USEPA REGISTRATION STATUS OF THE PROPOSED PESTICIDE 31
3.2 FACTOR B: BASIS FOR SELECTION OF PESTICIDES 33
3.3 FACTOR C: EXTENT TO WHICH THE PROPOSED PESTICIDE USE IS, OR COULD BE,
PART OF AN IPM PROGRAM 34
3.4 FACTOR D: PROPOSED METHOD OR METHODS OF APPLICATION, INCLUDING
THE AVAILABILITY OF APPLICATION AND SAFETY EQUIPMENT 35
3.5 FACTOR E: ANY ACUTE AND LONG‐TERM TOXICOLOGICAL HAZARDS, EITHER
HUMAN OR ENVIRONMENTAL, ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROPOSED USE, AND
MEASURES AVAILABLE TO MINIMIZE SUCH HAZARDS 36
3.6 FACTOR F: EFFECTIVENESS OF THE REQUESTED PESTICIDE FOR THE PROPOSED
USE 37
3.7 FACTOR G: COMPATIBILITY OF THE PROPOSED PESTICIDE USE WITH TARGET
AND NON‐TARGET ECOSYSTEMS. 39
3.8 FACTOR H: CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH THE PESTICIDE IS TO BE USED,
INCLUDING CLIMATE, GEOGRAPHY, HYDROLOGY, AND SOILS 41
3.9 FACTOR I: AVAILABILITY OF OTHER PESTICIDES OR NON‐CHEMICAL CONTROL
METHODS 43
3.10 FACTOR J: HOST COUNTRY’S ABILITY TO REGULATE OR CONTROL THE
DISTRIBUTION, STORAGE, USE, AND DISPOSAL OF THE REQUESTED PESTICIDE 44
3.11 FACTOR K: PROVISION FOR TRAINING OF USERS AND APPLICATORS 44
3.12 FACTOR L: PROVISION MADE FOR MONITORING THE USE AND EFFECTIVENESS
OF EACH PESTICIDE 45
SECTION 4: PESTICIDE SAFER USE ACTION PLAN (SUAP) 47
4.1 INTRODUCTION 47
4.2 ALLOWED PESTICIDES 47
4.3 USAID FIELD MONITORING REQUIREMENT 51
4.4 SUMMARY OF COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS (SAFER USE MEASURES) 51
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ANNEX 1: MATRIX OF ALBANIA SAVS CROPS WITH PRIMARY PRODUCTION
CONSTRAINTS, PERSUAP‐RECOMMENDED PEST PREVENTION GAP/IPM TACTICS &
PERSUAP‐RECOMMENDED CURATIVE TOOLS AND TACTICS 53
ANNEX 2. GUIDELINES FOR PEST MANAGEMENT PLANS (PMPS) FOR ALBANIA CROPS
AND BENEFICIARIES 68
ANNEX 3. ELEMENTS OF INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT (IPM) PROGRAM 71
ANNEX 4. BOTANICAL ACTIVE INGREDIENTS IN PESTICIDES, REPELLENTS, AND BAITS
REGULATED BY USEPA 74
ANNEX 5. NATURAL PESTICIDES THAT HAVE BEEN COMMERCIALIZED 76
ANNEX 6. ACUTE TOXICITY OF PESTICIDES: EPA AND WHO CLASSIFICATIONS 77
ANNEX 7: PERSUAP ANALYSES OF ACTIVE INGREDIENTS IN PESTICIDES REGISTERED
IN ALBANIA 79
ANNEX 8. TRAINING TOPICS AND SAFE PESTICIDE USE WEB RESOURCES 87
ANNEX 9. FIELD MONITORING FORM FOR FARMER BEST PRACTICES INCLUDING GAP
AND IPM OPTIONS 89
ANNEX 10: FARM AND PROJECT RECORD KEEPING ASSOCIATED WITH PESTICIDE USE
91
ANNEX 11: PERSUAP REFERENCES 94
ANNEX 12: 2013 ALBANIA REGISTERED PESTICIDES LIST 96
ANNEX 13: 2013 ALBANIA SAVS PROJECT EMMP 103

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