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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHandouts_Regular_6/10/2021CO Lori McWilliams From: Robert Shaw <vot.rshaw.eac@gmail.com> Sent: Thursday, June 10, 2021 10:59 AM To: Lori McWilliams; Frank D'Ambra; Kyle Stone; Laurie Brandon; Molly Young; Bruce Prince; Jeremy Allen; 'Keith Davis'; Jeremy Allen Cc: 'Tom Bradford' Subject: [EXTERNAL] Item #9 at Village Council Meeting Tonight - Ordinance 8-21 (revisions to Pesticide Management) Attachments: We sent you safe versions of your files; Pesticide Info. revised 2.pdf Mimecast Attachment Protection has deemed this file to be safe, but always exercise caution when opening files. '"This Email was sent from an external source. Please be mindful of its content'" Hello all, At last month's Council meeting, Tom Bradford (EAC Chair) was asked by Council if the EAC could produce a summary of Pesticide Information that could be disseminated to the public by Village staff via social media and other means. Attached is the document I developed (reviewed by Gary Stanford from the Dept. of Agriculture) and was approved by the EAC at our meeting yesterday. I also want to briefly address proposed changes to pesticide management as documented in Ordinance 8-21 as I have one small additional recommendation for a change. Below is how Pesticide Management is currently proposed to be addressed in our Codes. The substantive change that has been made is in paragraph (1) which now cites the States Structural Pest Control Act. My suggested change is to paragraph (2) in BOLD immediately below how it is currently written. (d) Pesticide management. (1) The use of pesticides by commercial entities in Florida is regulated by The Structural Pest Control Act, Chapter 482 of the Florida Statutes. The Structural Pest Control Act, as amended from time to time, preempts all regulations and operations of pest control services, including the pesticides used pursuant to labeling and registration approved under Part I of Florida Statutes Chapter 487, to the State of Florida. In accordance with Sec. 482.032, Florida Statutes, the Village acknowledges its statutorily imposed duty to assist authorized state inspectors and agents in the enforcement of applicable state law and associated rules adopted by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. (2) All landscape applications of pesticides, including "weed and feed" products, for hire should be made in accordance with state and federal law and with the most current version of the Florida -Friendly Best Management Practices for Protection of Water Resources by the Green Industries, as amended. PROPOSED REVISION TO (2) All 'for -hire' landscape applications of pesticides, including "weed and feed" products and herbicides for weed control, must be performed in accordance with the training, licensure and/or certification requirements of the Structural Pest Control Act, Chapter 482 (F.S.). Shaw dm�- (3) Property owners and managers are encouraged to use an Integrated Pest Management Strategy as currently recommended by the OF/IFAS Extension publications. (4) When using pesticides, all label instructions of state and federal law should be adhered to. Robert Shaw Vice -Chair Environmental Advisory Committee Village of Tequesta The Florida Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) regulates the use of pesticides and licenses the pest control industry under Florida's Structural Pest Control Act. While this statute affords the state pre-emption authority on pesticide regulations in Florida, it also dictates municipalities to assist in the enforcement of rules cited in the Structural Pest Control Act. Therefore, Tequesta recently revised the Pesticide Management section within the Village's code of ordinances to be consistent with this Act. Important Information Regarding Pesticide Regulations, Use & Safety CAUTION Pf ESTIC0E APPLfCATION' KEEP OFF - A pesticide is used to prevent, destroy or control insects, fungi, weeds or other plant or animal life. Therefore, insecticides, fungicides and herbicides are all considered pesticides. - For your health and safety and for the protection of our environment, insure that any business and/or their personnel you hire, are properly trained, licensed and/or certified. If you are applying pesticides to your own lawn or landscape, they may only be used in accordance with the registered labels and labeling or as directed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency or FDACS. - If you are hiring a business to apply pesticides to your lawn or landscape, they may fall under two different categories; a pest control business or a landscape maintenance business. - If you are hiring a pest control business or a landscape maintenance company, insure that the company is licensed to perform pest control, is properly trained (passed a state exam) with a Certified Operator, and has a vehicle and/or trailer that is permanently marked with the licensee's name. - If you are hiring a landscape maintenance company that does not have a pest control business license nor a Certified Operator, be aware that they are limited as to what scope of service they can provide in terms of pesticide/herbicide application. These landscape maintenance companies cannot make "weed-n-feed" applications or use granular fertilizers with pesticides incorporated within them. However, personnel with these landscape maintenance companies may be able to apply herbicides (weed killer) in a very limited capacity. These personnel must hold a "Limited Certification" issued by the State of Florida to do such application. For your information, Tequesta passed a Resolution in 2020 to eliminate the use of Glyphosate-based herbicides (e.g. Roundup) on all Village public property. - To search to check if your current individual pesticide applicator or pest control company is licensed, go to*******aessearch.freshfromflorida.com/ - To search all licensed pest control companies by county and category (search under lawn & ornamental), go to********ceu.freshfromflorida.com/LiceiiseeReport.asi)x- If you have a complaint involving pesticide application, contact FDACS at (850) 617-7996 or Tequesta's Code Compliance Dept. at 561-768-0519. If you would like to learn about health and environmental effects of pesticides, contact FDACS at (850) 617-7917. Finally, consider a landscape without the need for an abundance of pesticides. Over -use or misuse of pesticides can create a sterile landscape and could potentially endanger your health. Yards with native plantings, less lawn and a florida friendly design can improve the health of our local environment and the diversity of our local ecosystem.