Municipalities, Mosquitoes, Pesticides & Regulations

What you need to know about municipal or school mosquito control programs

http://www.londonderrynh.net

What is required for a municipal or school mosquito control program?

All municipal or school pesticide applicators must be licensed as commercial masters or operators in the biting fly & other arthropod vectors category when applying any mosquito control product

“Pesticide” includes – Any product with claims to mitigate,

control or repel any pest– Could be sprays, briquettes, dunks,

repellents, films, etc

What about natural or over-the-counter products?

Even EPA exempt products require a license Over-the-counter products like mosquito

dunks or flying insect sprays also require licensed application

No endorsements expressed or implied

How do you choose a pesticide product to use?

Consult with the BPC, University of Maine and licensed applicator companies

Look for products specifically labeled for governmental projects

Look for products labeled for the areas that need treatment

Look for products labeled for control of disease causing vectors

Consult with municipalities in other states with mosquito control experience (NH, MA, NJ)

UNH Extension

What is required by Maine DEP?

Ch. 514, Regulations Concerning the Use of Aquatic Pesticides:A. The pesticide must be registered for the intended use by the USEPA

and the Maine Board of Pesticides Control. B. The applicant or agent must be licensed as a commercial applicator

in the ‘Biting Fly and other Arthropod Vectors' subcategory by the BPC.

C. The applicant must provide adequate protection for non-target species.

D. The applicant must demonstrate (1) a significant need to control the target species and (2) that the pesticide offers the only reasonable and effective means of control.

E. The application must not result in violations of State water quality laws (such as impairing a waterbody so that it does not attain its designated classification).

What is required by Maine DEP?

A National Pollution Discharge A National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Elimination System (NPDES) permit (waste discharge license permit (waste discharge license (WDL)) is required to put (WDL)) is required to put pesticides directly into the water pesticides directly into the water with a few exceptionswith a few exceptions

Requires a 3 - 4 month review to Requires a 3 - 4 month review to get the Waste Discharge License get the Waste Discharge License (WDL)(WDL)

WDL exemptions

Applications of solid or granular Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis or Bacillus sphericus as larvicides to: artificial containers that cannot be emptied, high elevation (extreme tide) salt marsh pools,

constructed ponds, and isolated freshwater wetlands provided there is: presence of mosquitoes, and no fish or other predators that can control them

WDL exemptions

Salt marsh pools must be treated immediately after flooding to allow for dissipation

Ponds and isolated wetlands must be on one person’s property with no connection to other surface water bodies

spraying for adult mosquitoes with no contact with surface waters and wetlands, including ground and aerial applications done according to the pesticide label instructions

General permit for mosquito control

Expedited review for qualified projects with:

Preferred breeding habitat for vectors of WNV or EEE; Presence of mosquito vectors for those diseases; and/or Infected mosquitoes, birds, or humans within 20-miles

The proposed treatment program must be in conjunction with a written management plan with area-wide control strategies. Also must meet requirements of Ch 514: registered use; licensed applicator; protect non-targets; significant need; protect water quality.

What about use of repellents?

Insect repellents like permethrin, DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus or other essential oils are also pesticides

Both personal property owners and municipal employees can use insect repellents without licensing

The Board recently adopted a new policy that also allows employees and volunteers to apply repellents to children when they have a signed permission form from the child’s parent/guardian

         

No endorsements expressed or implied

What can a municipality or school do if they have no licensed staff?

Hire a licensed contractor to do the work– A listing of licensed mosquito control applicators can be found

on the web at http://www.maine.gov/agriculture/pesticides/public/mosquito_control_list.htm

Shop around Find a comprehensive program Ask to see a license Check references Check insurance Check for professional associations Get a written contract

License municipal or school staff as commercial pesticide applicators

How do you get staff licensed?

Each municipality or school must first license a Master level applicator

Additional staff can license at the operator level

How do you get the commercial license?

Master level must pass 3 written, closed book exams and 1 oral exam

– Written exams cover General pesticide information Biting fly and tick management Regulations

Operator level must pass 2 written, closed book exams– Written exams cover

General pesticide information Biting fly & tick management

Exam fees are waived for government employees

Certification Licensing

License Type

Where do I get study

materials?

Types of Exams

Where do I take exams?

Exam fees

Certification Period

License FeeLicense Duration

Commercial - Master

UMCE (1)1-800-287-

0279207-581-

3880Core and Category Manuals

BPC (2)207-287-2731Regulations

Manual

Minimum of 3 written (Core, one or more categories,

and regulation

exams) plus a Master's Oral

exam

BPC Offices by prefiled

exam application

only207-287-

2731

$10 each for the

Core and for each category

exam $50 for the regulation

and Master's

Oral exams

6 years $702 year

renewable 12/31

Commercial – Operator

(3)

UMCE1-800-287-

0279207-581-

3880Core and Category Manuals

Minimum of 2 written (Core and one or

more category exams)

BPC Offices by prefiled

examapplication

only207-287-

2731

$10 each for the

Core and for each category

exam

6 years $702 year

renewable 12/31

What areas can the municipality treat?

Municipal owned properties with licensed applicators

Can coordinate programs that treat private properties when:– A public health emergency has

been declared, and– permission has been obtained

from all landowners

Notification & monitoring requirements

Non-school applications only require pre-notification if done within 250 feet of a person’s property that is on our notification registry

Applications done on school grounds require IPM practices prior to pesticide application

– Pest monitoring– Pest ID– Population over threshold?– Must use non-pesticide controls first

Notification & Monitoring

Applications to school grounds also require a 5 day notice of parents/guardians and staffprior to application

If Maine CDC has identified arbovirus positive mosquitoes, birds, mammals or humans in the area, the school notice and IPM requirements are waived, but the area must be posted ASAP

Who to contact

Gary FishMaine Board of Pesticides Control28 State House StationAugusta ME 04333-0028207-287-7545gary.fish@maine.gov

Bob StrattonMaine Department of Environmental Protection17 State House StationAugusta, ME 04333-0017207-287-6114robert.d.stratton@maine.gov