Pesticides and Integrated Pest Management
Contents
- About Pesticides
- Washington Laws and Regulations
- Pesticide Licensing and Education for Public Employees
- Use of Pesticides
- Integrated Pest Management
- Disposal of Pesticides
About Pesticides
A pesticide is any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any pest. Pests can be insects, mice and other animals, unwanted plants (weeds), fungi, or microorganisms like bacteria and viruses. Though often misunderstood to refer only to insecticides, the term "pesticide" also applies to herbicides, fungicides, and various other substances used to control pests. Under federal law, a pesticide is also any substance or mixture of substances intended for use as a plant regulator, defoliant, or desiccant. [From EPA What is a Pesticide]
Pesticides and their uses are regulated by the federal and state governments. The use of pesticides can be harmful to humans and to the environment. Recent studies documenting the presence of pesticides in area streams and effects of pesticides on salmon have resulted in public policies designed to reduce chemical use in homes and private and public gardens.
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has cited Portland, Oregon's Parks Integrated Pest Management Program as a model. NMFS believes that, if jurisdictions would broadly adopt a similar approach to eliminating and limiting chemical use in their parks and other areas, it would help conserve listed fish. (Citizens Guide to the 4(d) Rule, Limit No. 11 
)
- What is a Pesticide?, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Pesticide Programs
- Integrated Pest Management, Washington State Department of Agriculture
- Pesticides: Endangered Species Protection Program (ESPP), EPA Office of Pesticide Programs
Washington Laws and Regulations
The use of pesticides under state law is governed by the Washington Pesticide Application Act, Ch. 17.21 RCW, which authorizes the Department of Agriculture to regulate pesticide application and use. This chapter preempts cities and counties from regulating pesticide application and use, except the first class cities and the counties in which they are located, which can regulate structural pest control operators, exterminators, and fumigators. The Washington Pesticide Control Act, Ch. 15.58 RCW authorizes the Department of Agriculture to regulate formulation, distribution, storage, and disposal of pesticides. This chapter does not preempt cities and counties from regulating these activities, so long as the local regulations do not conflict with state law. See AGO 1993 No. 5.
- Ch. 15.58 RCW - Washington Pesticide Control Act
- Ch 17.15 RCW - Integrated Pest Management
- Ch 17.21 RCW - Washington Pesticide Application Act
- Ch. 70.104 RCW - Pesticides - Health Hazards
- Ch.16-228 WAC - General pesticide rules.
- Ch. 16-233 WAC - Worker protection standards
- Aquatic Pesticide Permits, Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE), Water Quality Program
Pesticide Licensing and Education for Public Employees
Government employees who apply any restricted use pesticide or a general use pesticides by means of an "apparatus" (defined in RCW 17.21.020(4)), are required to have a public operator license. RCW 17.21.220. See:
- Pesticide Licensing & Education, Washington State Department of Agriculture
- Public Operator License, Washington State Department of Ecology
- WSU Urban IPM and Pesticide Safety Education Program, Washington State University (WSU) Extension
- Frequently Asked Questions, WSU Urban IPM and Pesticide Safety Education Program
Use of Pesticides
- Pesticide Illness Prevention, Washington State Department of Health
- Pesticides and Schools, King County Local Hazardous Waste Management Program - Parent Notification Law
- Urban IPM Pesticide Safety Education Program,Washington State University
- Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency
- WSDA Pesticide Management Division, Washington State Department of Agriculture
- Bainbridge Island Municipal Code Ch. 16.30 - Pest Management and Pesticide Use
Integrated Pest Management
- NSF Center for Integrated Pest Management, National Science Foundation Center for Integrated Pest Management
- Pest Management, USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture
- Urban Pesticide Education Strategy Team - The Urban Pesticide Education Strategy Team (UPEST), formerly known as the Urban Pesticide Initiative, was formed in 1991 by EPA Region 10, state agencies and Washington State University Extension to jointly address urban pesticide issues.
- Integrated Pest Management Page, Washington State University
- Western Integrated Pest Management Center, United States Department of Agriculture
- King County
- An Executive Order requiring certain King County departments, offices, and agencies to conduct pest and vegetation management activities in accordance with the Tri-County IPM model policy and supporting guidelines, document code No.: PUT 8-17 (AEO), 1999
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM) (), Department of Executive Services, Finance and Business Operations Division, Procurement and Contract Services Section, Environmental Purchasing Program, 2009
- King County Integrated Pest Management Planning, Hazardous Waste Management Program
- King County Integrated Pest Management for Noxious Weeds, Noxious Weed Board
- Kittitas County Interlocal Cooperative Agreement () between Kittitas County Weed Board and Kittitas County Weed District #1 for a Coordinated Integrated Pest Management Program, adopted 03/2010
- Pierce County Stormwater Management and Site Development Manual, Volume IV, Source Control, 2008
- Implement IPM Measures () - See Section 5.2, Source Control BMPs, S.8
- Example of an IPM Program () - See Appendix IV-B
- Implement IPM Measures (
- Portland, OR Parks Pest Management Program
- Seattle
- Washington State Integrated Pest Management Implementation Handbook (), Version 2, prepared by Interagency Integrated Pest Management Coordinating Committee, 04/2002
Disposal of Pesticides
- Safe Disposal of Pesticides, Environmental Protection Agency
- Waste Pesticide Disposal Program, Washington State Department of Agriculture
- King County Proper Disposal of Hazardous Products - See Pesticides
Related MRSC Resources
MRSC Index – Pesticides, herbicides, agricultural chemicals, integrated pest management