New Structural Pest Control Regulations to Protect Water Quality Take Effect

Print this Article | Send to Colleague

Protecting surface water from pesticide contamination in urban runoff is the intent of the Department of Pesticide Regulation's (DPR) new restrictions on businesses that provide structural pest control, effective July 19.

These landmark regulations are the first of their kind in California to protect water quality from structural pest control applications. Pest control businesses and maintenance gardeners apply more than 70 percent of the pyrethroids targeted by the new rules.

The restrictions cover 17 pyrethroid insecticides. In addition to decreasing the amount of insecticides used, the regulations prohibit pest control applicators and maintenance gardeners from making applications when it rains, when puddles are present and over drains and natural drainage areas.

The regulations reflect changes suggested by our stakeholders during a series of workshops and meetings over the past two years. We appreciate the support of the Pest Control Operators of California as we developed the regulations and recognize that many businesses were already following these practices.

We're enthusiastic about an online educational video on the new regulations being produced by the Pyrethroid Working Group to help pest control professionals better understand the new requirements. The group is an alliance of companies that manufacture pyrethroid insecticides and is working together to address a wide range of issues specific to pyrethroids.

A DPR senior environmental scientist in our Enforcement Branch observed the video shoot to ensure its accuracy. The video features Jim Steed, owner of Neighborly Pest Management in Sacramento, and applicator Erik Jacobson who volunteered their time and expertise. The video will be posted soon on the group's website  - click here.

Our new regulations are generally equivalent to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's new label requirements, but are more restrictive in the following situations:

· Perimeter treatments can only be made up to two feet from the base level of vertical structures (versus three feet on the label) and only out to three feet from the base of a structure on horizontal soil and other soft surfaces (no label restrictions).

· Broadcast treatments cannot be made within two feet of horizontal impervious surfaces.

The pyrethroids being restricted are bifenthrin, bioallethrin, S-bioallethrin, cyfluthrin, beta-cyfluthrin, gamma-cyhalothrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, cypermethrin, deltamethrin, esfenvalerate, fenpropathrin, tau-fluvalinate, permethrin, phenothrin, prallethrin, resmethrin and tetramethrin.

The regulations were prompted by surface water monitoring data which indicated that pesticides were exceeding levels toxic to some small aquatic organisms. We are optimistic that the restrictions will result in a significant reduction in pesticide runoff into our urban waterways.

Brian R. Leahy is director of the California Department of Pesticide Regulation.

Pest Control Operators of California
www.pcoc.org

The Voice of PCOC digital magazine