MEDIA ADVISORY: USDA, EPA and Stakeholders to Discuss New Report on Honey Bee Health

Release Date: 05/01/2013 Contact Information: Molly Hooven (News Media Only), hooven.molly@epa.gov, 202-564-2313, 202-564-4355

WASHINGTON -- Kathleen Merrigan, Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Bob Perciasepe, Acting Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), alongside top scientists and stakeholders, will host a conference call tomorrow to discuss a new report on the factors contributing to decline in honey bee health in the United States. The report summarizes the latest science and emerging research on honey bee health, as discussed at The National Stakeholder Conference on Honey Bee Health in October 2012.

The new report shows that honey bee decline is the result of multiple factors, including parasites and disease, genetics, poor nutrition and pesticide exposure.

WHO: Kathleen Merrigan, Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture Bob Perciasepe, Acting Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Dr. May Berenbaum, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Zac Browning, Beekeeper Jim Jones, Acting Assistant Administrator, EPA Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Dr. Jeffery Pettis, Bee Research Lead, USDA Agricultural Research Service

WHAT: Honey Bee Health Report press conference call

WHEN: Thursday, May 2, 2013, 11 a.m. EDT

HOW: To participate, please dial in 10 minutes prior to the beginning of the call at 888-603-9220 and give the passcode: USDA.

*** THIS CALL IS FOR CREDENTIALED NEWS MEDIA ONLY***