It hasn't been given much publicity, except by word of mouth. But the word seems to be getting around about a fairly new grant program at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Although not part of any formal program by any means, the fund is administered by EPA's Stratospheric Protection Division and would be used for overhead expenses were it not being allocated to test replacements for methyl bromide.

"Our first grants were awarded to strawberry and tomato growers. We selected these growers because we knew that methyl bromide is used extensively on these two crops," says William B. Thomas. Head of the methyl bromide program at EPA, Thomas has awarded about $550,000 since 1993 to growers and others seeking replacements for methyl bromide. It's too early yet to evaluate the success of any of the projects, he says.

"Overall, we distribute about $150,000 each year, with an average grant of about $25,000-$40,000," Thomas explains. "We started the program after hearing growers say that they felt powerless in the search for something to replace methyl bromide. At that time, growers were concerned about availability of information on what alternatives might be out there and what research was actually being done to test them."

The EPA doesn't tell growers how to use the money, Thomas says, but it does ask for feedback on results. The only criteria that must be met to be eligible for grant funds is that the organization be nonprofit. No funds are allocated to commercial companies. Studies funded so far include chemical as well as nonchemical alternatives to methyl bromide.

"We're not trying to compete with USDA's research grant program, nor are we funding any kind of basic research on methyl bromide alternatives," he says. "We're just trying to help out those growers who might not otherwise be able to try an alternative to this chemical they have relied on for so long."

Some of the projects funded through EPA include:

• sponsoring grower-defined investigations of potential alternatives for strawberry production at the farm level in California in collaboration with the California Strawberry Commission.
  
  
• helping the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Research and Education Foundation evaluate alternatives to methyl bromide for growing tomatoes in plastic mulch, and helping University of Florida scientists study potential alternatives for tomato growers.
  
  
• supporting a survey by the Washington State Tree Fruit Association to define and implement nonchemical treatments for postharvest cherries.
  
  
• funding an investgation of soil solarization in southern California nursery production by the University of California at Riverside.
  
  
• supporting an Oregon State University study of possible methyl bromide alternatives for forest tree nurseries.
  

Thomas says that EPA has also helped fund the annual International Research Conference on Methyl Bromide Alternatives and Emissions Reduction since the conferences first began in 1994.

To apply for a grant, simply send a two-page summary of the proposed project--along with a preliminary budge--to William B. Thomas, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Atmospheric Programs, Mail Code 6205J, 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460; Fax, (202) 233-9637, voice, (202) 233-9179; e-mail, thomas.bill@epamail.epa.gov.

"One way of protecting the environment is to help find alternatives to methyl bromide," Thomas says.