Comment submitted by Stephen Eccles, Chair, Conservation Committee, Virginia Society of Ornithology

The Virginia Society of Ornithology strongly supports the petition to revoke tolerances for 13 pesticides. The EPA has studied all these pesticides, knows how toxic they can be and has banned their use within the US. It would be ironic if foreign agriculturalists could gain an economic advantage over US farmers, if the former may not use these pesticides while the latter can. Such an unfortunate result could be negated by banning the import of agricultural commodities that contain them. Such a ban would also have the very welcome effect of helping the conservation of birds, including many that migrate to Latin America from the US. The VSO believes it is the duty of the EPA to take all reasonable steps to aid in the conservation of US migratory birds.