Michael Lapham, BSc. Integrated Pest Management Officer Ministry
of Environment & Climate Change Strategy was asked a number of questions at
our recent conference. He responded with the answers below which are of value
to all applicators in BC. If you require further clarification or have
questions about the IPM regulations please contact Michael Lapham at:
Environmental
Protection Division
102 Industrial Place
Penticton, BC V2A 7C8
(250) 490-2292
Answer: Under section
63 (1) and 63 (2) of the Integrated Pest Management regulation, treatment
notice form and content, information regarding treatment notices are stated. http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/loo91/loo91/604_2004
The Explanatory Notes
for Landscape Managers found on our website also have a good summary of these
requirements starting on page 9: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/environment/pesticides-and-pest-management/pesticide-use/reviews/landscape_review.pdf
Answer: Please contact
your credit coordinator from IEPMA. He will contact Lauren Hall at the
Victoria Office where she will be able to determine whether the course that you
took may be applied to your landscape certificate.
3. The spray distance
that must be maintained between a well is 30 meters. Are there any
circumstances were the distance may be reduced with certain pesticides?
Answer: Under section
71 (3), except as provided in subsections (4) and (12) and 79 (2), a
person described in subsection (1) must maintain a 30 m no-treatment zone
around a water supply intake or well used for domestic or agricultural
purposes, including water for livestock or for irrigation of crops.
The answer here is
that generally no, you cannot spray pesticides within 30 meters of a well. However
there are some exceptions that apply. The exception, under subsection 71 (4) of
the Regulation, which states that a licensee may reduce the 30 m no-treatment
zone around a well or water supply intake if reasonably satisfied that the
smaller zone will ensure that pesticide from the use will not enter the water
supply intake or well. However, if an applicator decides to reduce this
30 m, the applicator must record the information under which they made
the decision (this is a requirement under Section 35 (l) of the Regulation),
and the decision must be a reasonable one that takes into the type of product
used, the soil type, weather, soil saturation, slope, etc. to ensure that
pesticide will not get into the water.
These exceptions
should be taken with caution. If an issue occurs with the well due to applying
within 30 meters and an unreasonable adverse effect occurs, the applicator
would be responsible for causing that and could be considered out of compliance
under Section 3(1)(a) of the Act – ``a person must not use a pesticide in a
manner that causes or is likely to cause an unreasonable adverse effect
The IPM regulation may
be found here: http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/loo91/loo91/604_2004#section63
Answer: In
general, if you want to get rid of an old backpack sprayer or other pesticide
application equipment that is worn out, please triple rinse
the spray equipment and take them to the landfill.
If you have any equipment that you are particularly concerned about with
respect to the pesticide residues, an applicatory can always call a ministry
IPM Officer to discuss disposal options.
