ATTACHMENT 2

7. SAFETY & EMERGENCY

7.1n LEAST TOXIC PEST MANAGEMENT POLICY (CON’T)

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to formalize the Town’s current Integrated Pest Management practices and to provide a structure for supervising the implementation of these practices. In addition, the goal of this policy is to clearly state the Town’s intent to minimize the use of conventional chemical pesticides on Town owned properties by providing methods for documenting pest control practices and setting specific goals for reductions in conventional chemical pesticide applications.

Policy Overview

For the purposes of this policy, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is defined as a “sustainable approach to managing pests by combining biological, cultural, physical and chemical tools in a way that minimizes economic, health and environmental risk.” Least Toxic IPM is further defined here as a form of IPM that specifically acknowledges the benefits, and actively pursues the use of alternative pest prevention and control methods so as to minimize the use of potentially more toxic conventional chemical pesticides.

This policy provides for the designation of an IPM Coordinator, responsible for policy supervision and record keeping, details a methodology for undertaking pest control measures, and provides specific direction for the oversight of private contractors working on Town properties. This policy also identifies the levels of hazard associated with various chemical pesticides, as established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and imposes defined limits on the use of these chemicals.

Applicability

This policy applies to the activities of Town employees working on Town owned properties and,

as specifically noted herein, to private contractors working on Town owned properties. This policy does not apply to private citizens, utility company employees, or employees of the State of North Carolina working on private property or on easements or rights-of-way under their jurisdiction. Also specifically exempt from this policy is the spot application of prepared wasp or hornet sprays by employees who may otherwise be at risk of insect stings, and the use of antimicrobials, such as those used for cleaning and sterilizing public facilities.

Town of Chapel Hill Administrative Policies and Procedures Manual

July 1999

7. SAFETY & EMERGENCY

7.1n LEAST TOXIC PEST MANAGEMENT POLICY (CON’T)

IPM Coordinator

The Town Manager will designate an IPM Coordinator for the town. The IPM Coordinator is responsible for implementation of this policy, for the record keeping necessary to assure that it is being followed, and ultimately, for assuring that all pest prevention and control measures undertaken on Town owned property are consistent with the policy. Specific responsibilities of the IPM Coordinator include:

Designating IPM Supervisors in various Town departments as needed to oversee specific pest control initiatives, including individual pest control contracts;

Training the IPM Supervisors, and assisting any other Town employee as needed, in implementation of this policy, including providing specific recommendations for pest prevention and alternative methods of control;

Reviewing and approving any and all requests for conventional chemical pesticide applications by Town employees on Town properties;

Ensuring that all IPM Supervisors have pesticide labels and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) available for all pesticides used under their supervision or oversight, including those applications made by private contractors;

Ensuring that all Town employees assigned to apply chemical pesticides have a current North Carolina Pesticide Applicators License, and are supervised to assure that all applications are made in a manner consistent with the applicable pesticide labels;

Compiling records of pest control practices as provided by the IPM Supervisors on a quarterly basis, including records of alternative control trials; and

Providing recommendations to the Town Manager for specific annual goals to be met towards reducing conventional chemical pesticide applications.

In addition to these specific responsibilities, the IPM Coordinator is expected to maintain a knowledge of new alternative pest prevention and control methods and is responsible for discontinuing the use of any chemical pesticide currently in use, if new information becomes available that indicates that it is unacceptably hazardous.

Town of Chapel Hill Administrative Policies and Procedures Manual

July

1999

7. SAFETY & EMERGENCY

7.1n LEAST TOXIC PEST MANAGEMENT POLICY (CON’T)

Pest Control Methodology

As stated previously, the purpose of this policy is to minimize the use of conventional chemical pesticide applications. To that end, the following two step process, involving pest prevention and alternative pest control measures, should precede any request to, or decision by, the IPM Coordinator to utilize conventional chemical pesticides.

Pest Prevention:

All efforts should be made to prevent pests from reaching a level where pest control measures are deemed to be necessary. In the Landscape Maintenance Program these efforts should include, for example, selecting resistant varieties, replacing pest infested plants, adjusting mowing heights and frequencies, and the use of mulch and other cultural practices to reduce weed competition.

In the Building Maintenance Program these efforts should include, for example, the repair of cracks and screens to minimize pest access, the careful oversight of custodial contracts to provide the most sanitary environment possible and, where spot infestations occur, consideration of restrictions on where food is stored and/or consumed.

Alternative Pest Control Methods:

Whenever pests reach a level where control measures arc merited, consideration of alternative pest control techniques should always precede the consideration of conventional chemical approaches. In the Landscape Maintenance Program, these measures should include, for example, the use of selective bacterial agents, and the use of physical weed control measures including hand weeding, hoeing and flaming using propane torches. In the Building Maintenance Program these measures should include, for example, the use of boric acid baits for ant control and sticky strips for flying insect control where these approaches are effective.

Overall, the Town’s Least Toxic Integrated Pest Management policy is dependent on following a pest control methodology that utilizes the expertise of the Town’s IPM Coordinator to help minimize the need for conventional chemical pesticide applications. In as much as the Town’s

IPM Coordinator must approve all chemical pesticide applications by Town employees, it is incumbent upon all Town staff to work with the IPM Coordinator to take the measures necessary to accomplish the annual goals set for reductions in chemical use.

Town of Chapel Hill Administrative Policies and Procedures Manual

July 1999

7. SAFETY & EMERGENCY

7.1n LEAST TOXIC PEST MANAGEMENT POLICY (CON’T)

EPA Hazard Designations

Factors which are used to categorize the relative danger and/or safety of pesticides include:

Toxicity-the inherent capacity of a substance to produce an injury or death;

Hazard -the potential, as a function of toxicity and exposure, that injury will result from the use of a substance in a given formulation or quantity; and

Risk -the probability that an outcome may happen.

The EPA groups pesticides into four basic categories based on their capacity to do harm.

The categories emphasize “acute” toxicity -the ability to cause harm from single exposure. Acute effects include damage to eyes, skin rashes, respiratory problems, nerve damage and death.

The rankings are, however, also influenced by the toxicity of “chronic” exposure -the ability to cause harm from repeated low dose exposures over time. Chronic effects include contributing to the development of cancer, damage to organs such as the liver and kidneys, and the possibility of birth defects and genetic mutations.

Category I

EPA lists as the most toxic

· “DANGER” product label; some must also say “poison” on label

· Most are classified as "restricted use pesticides" thus requiring a license to purchase, apply and store

Category II

EPA lists as the next most toxic (moderately toxic)

“Warning” product label

Categories III & IV

EPA lists as the least toxic categories

· “Caution” product label

· The pesticides of this category include most of those commonly employed by homeowners, notably "Roundup" herbicide

Common to all Categories of Pesticides:

· “Keep out of reach of children” must appear on label.

Town of Chapel Hill Administrative Policies and Procedures Manual

July 1999