I questioned whether the EPA considers pollinators to be insignificant. In fact, new rules regarding pollinators have be implemented. 

It is not without passing interest that California and Florida have had mandatory apiary registration for decades so that beekeepers can be notified in advance of pesticide application or other emergencies. New York State beekeepers on the other hand repealed mandatory registration, a law which was intended to protect the bee industry. They regarded it as an infringement on their rights to keep their apiary locations secret and hidden from regulatory agencies. 

The rules clearly state that "The application is made in accordance with an active state-administered apiary registry program where beekeepers are notified no less than 48-hours prior to the time of the planned application so that the bees can be removed, covered or otherwise protected prior to spraying" "Every effort should be made to notify beekeepers no less than 48-hours prior to the time of the planned application."

I wonder how many beekeepers have read through this material and made themselves familiar with the legal protections therein:

New Pollinator Protection Application Restrictions for Foliar Applied Neonicotinoids 

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS

APPLICATION RESTRICTIONS EXIST FOR THIS PRODUCT BECAUSE OF RISK TO BEES AND OTHER INSECT POLLINATORS. FOLLOW APPLICATION RESTRICTIONS FOUND IN THE DIRECTIONS FOR USE TO PROTECT POLLINATORS.

Look for the bee hazard icon in the Directions for Use for each application site for specific use restrictions and instructions to protect bees and other insect pollinators.

This product can kill bees and other insect pollinators.

Bees and other insect pollinators will forage on plants when they flower, shed pollen, or produce nectar. Bees and other insect pollinators can be exposed to this pesticide from:
• Direct contact during foliar applications, or contact with residues on plant surfaces after foliar applications
• Ingestion of residues in nectar and pollen when the pesticide is applied as a seed treatment, soil, tree injection, as well as foliar applications. 

When Using This Product Take Steps To:
• Minimize exposure of this product to bees and other insect pollinators when they are foraging on pollinator attractive plants around the application site.
• Minimize drift of this product on to beehives or to off-site pollinator attractive habitat. Drift of this product onto beehives or off-site to pollinator attractive
habitat can result in bee kills.

Information on protecting bees and other insect pollinators may be found at the Pesticide Environmental Stewardship website at: http://pesticidestewardship.org/PollinatorProtection/Pages/default.aspx.

Pesticide incidents (for example, bee kills) should immediately be reported to the state/tribal lead agency. For contact information for your state, go to: www.aapco.org/officials.html. Pesticide incidents should also be reported to the National Pesticide Information Center at: www.npic.orst.edu or directly to EPA at: [log in to unmask]

DIRECTIONS FOR USE
See individual crops for specific pollinator protection application restrictions. If none exist under the specific crop, for foliar applications, follow these application directions for crops that are contracted to have pollinator services or for food/feed & commercially grown ornamentals that are attractive to pollinators:

FOR CROPS UNDER CONTRACTED POLLINATION SERVICESi
Do not apply this product while bees are foraging.ii Do not apply this product until flowering is complete and all petals have falleniii unless the following condition has been met. If an application must be made when managed bees are at the treatment site, the beekeeper providing the pollination services must be notified no less than 48-hours prior to the time of the planned application so that the bees can be removed, covered or otherwise protected prior to spraying.iv

FOR FOOD CROPS AND COMMERCIALLY GROWN ORNAMENTALS NOT UNDER CONTRACT FOR POLLINATION SERVICES BUT ARE ATTRACTIVE TO POLLINATORSv
Do not apply this product while bees are foraging.vi Do not apply this product until flowering is complete and all petals have fallenvii unless one of the following conditions is met:
• The application is made to the target site after sunsetviii
• The application is made to the target site when temperatures are below 55 ̊Fix
• The application is made in accordance with a government-initiated public health responsex
• The application is made in accordance with an active state-administered apiary registry program where beekeepers are notified no less than 48-hours prior to the time of the planned application so that the bees can be removed, covered or otherwise protected prior to sprayingxi
• The application is made due to an imminent threat of significant crop loss, and a documented determination consistent with an IPM plan or predetermined economic threshold is met. Every effort should be made to notify beekeepers no less than 48-hours prior to the time of the planned application so that the bees can be removed, covered or otherwise protected prior to spraying.xii

http://www.freshfromflorida.com/content/download/35554/832609/Citrus_Bee_Statements_Guidance_FINAL_3-13-14.pdf

PLB

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