Aquatic Pest Management 2006

153 Pages·2006·4.6 MB·English

Aquatic Pest Management
A Guide for Commercial Applicators Category 5
Extension Bulletin E-2437 • February 2006, Major revision • Michigan State University Extension
Aquatic
Pest
Management
A Training Manual
for Commercial
Pesticide Applicators
(Category 5)
Julie A. Stachecki, Editor
Revisions by Carolyn J. Randall
MSU is an affirmative-action equal-
MICHIGAN STATE opportunity institution. Michigan
U N I V E R S I T Y State University Extension
EXTENSION programs and materials are open to
all without regard to race, color,
national origin, gender, religion,
age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital
n
status, or family status. Issued in furtherance of Extension
work in agriculture and home economics, acts of May 8 and
June 20, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of
Agriculture. Thomas Coon, Extension director, Michigan State
n
University, E. Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for
educational purposes only. Reference to commercial
products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU
Extension or bias against those not mentioned. This bulletin
becomes public property upon publication and may be printed
verbatim with credit to MSU. Reprinting cannot be used to
endorse or advertise a commercial product or company.
Major Revision, destroy previous editions,
February 2006-1.5M-J-Ad/KMF
1
Contributors Acknowledgments
Don Garling, Department of Fisheries and We would like to give distinct recognition to K.A.
Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Langeland and R.P. Cromwell of the University of
MI Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural
Sciences, who prepared the information in the
Richard Hinterman, Cygnet Enterprises, Inc.,
chapters “Calibration: Applying the Right
Linden, MI
Amount of Herbicide,” and “Pesticide Application
Scott Jorgensen, Aquatic Technologies, Inc., Equipment and Techniques,” respectively. Also,
Howell, MI K.A. Langeland assisted D.D. Thayer, director,
Aquatic Plant Management Division, South
Dave Kenaga, Inland Lakes Management Unit,
Florida Water Management District, West Palm
Land and Water Management Division, Michigan
Beach, with information presented in the
Department of Natural Resources, Lansing, MI
“Herbicide Technology and Application
K.A. Langeland, IFAS, University of Florida, Considerations” chapter.
Gainesville, FL
Staff members and materials from Extension pub-
William McClay, Fisheries Division, Michigan lications from the following universities were
Department of Natural Resources, Lansing, MI valuable resources for information, artwork and
photographs: The University of Illinois, especially
Steve Metzer, Charter Township of West
Phil Nixon; The University of Florida, especially
Bloomfield, West Bloomfield, MI
K.A. Langeland, Norman Nesheim and artist
Larry G. Olsen, Pesticide Education Coordinator, Laura Line; and The University of Wisconsin.
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI Special thanks to Don Schloesser, of the U.S.Fish
and Wildlife Service; John Sedivy of Atochem,
G. Douglas Pullman, Aquest Corp., Flint, MI
Inc.; Jim Schmidt, Applied Biochemists, Inc.; Ted
Brian Rowe, Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Batterson, the MSU Department of Fisheries and
Division, Michigan Department of Agriculture, Wildlife; Paul Love, the MSU Pesticide Education
Lansing, MI Program; and the Michigan Sea Grant College
Program for providing many of the photographs
Jim Schmidt, Applied Biochemists, Inc.,
in this manual.
Milwaukee, WI
We would like to express our thanks to the follow-
Julie A. Stachecki, Pesticide Education Program,
ing persons for reviewing or assisting in the pro-
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
duction of this manual: Leslie Johnson, Michigan
Ned Walker, Department of Entomology, State University, Extension Outreach
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI Communications; Robin Rosenbaum, the
Michigan Department of Agriculture; Ron
Kinnunen and Ned Birkey, MSU Extension; Renee
LeCureux, Michigan State University; Jeff Cole,
Valent Corp.; Tom Coon, MSU Department of
Fisheries and Wildlife; Dave Borgeson, Fisheries
Division, Michgan Department of Natural
Resources; Howard Wandell, Inland Lakes
Management Unit, Land and Water Management
Division, Michigan Department of Natural
Resources; Jim Martindale, Law Enforcement
Division, Michigan Department of Natural
Resources; Gary Town, Michigan Department of
Natural Resources; and Harvey Blankespoor,
Biology Department, Hope College.
Thanks to Sylvia Heaton and the staff at MDEQ
who helped with updating the laws in Chapter 1
of the 2006 printing of this manual.
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Chapter 1: Laws and Regulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Federal Laws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
State Laws. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Part 33 of Act 451, Aquatic Nuisance Control. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Part 31 of Act 451, Water Resorces Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Chapter 2: Pesticide Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Pesticide Labeling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Parts of Pesticide Labeling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Pesticides and Human Effects. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Chapter 3: Integrated Pest Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Components of an IPM Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Chapter 4: Conditions for Aquatic Plant Growth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Chapter 5: Aquatic Plant Identification and Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Algae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Aquatic Flowering Plants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Submersed Plants. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Free-Floating Plants. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Rooted Floating Plants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Emergent Plants. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Chapter 6: Nonchemical Aquatic Vegetation Management Techniques. . . . . 47
Preventive Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Mechanical Control. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Cultural Control. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Biological Control/Biomanipulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Chapter 7: Herbicide Technology and Application Considerations . . . . . . . . 56
Herbicide Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Herbicide Classification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Absorption Characteristics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Plant Processes and Herbicidal Activity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Selectivity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Environmental Factors that Affect Herbicide Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Effects on Fish and Other Organisms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Water Use Restrictions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Pesticide Fate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Timing of Treatment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Chapter 8: Aquatic Herbicide Application Equipment and Techniques . . . . . 65
Application Methods. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Equipment Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
3
Chapter 9: Calibration: Applying the Right Amount of Herbicide . . . . . . . . . 74
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Applications Based on Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Applications Based on Herbicide Concentrations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Applications by Parts or Percent of Herbicide Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Equipment Calibration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Varying Rate of Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Other Useful Equations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Chapter 10: Fish Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Stunted Fish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Fish Population Management Tactics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Fish Management Using Piscicides. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Lampreys (Primitive Vertebrates). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Piscicide Calculations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Chapter 11: Invertebrates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Mollusks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Leeches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Insect Pests Associated with Aquatic Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Chapter 12: Vertebrates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Muskrats and Woodchucks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Birds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Snakes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Beaver. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Chapter 13: Public Relations and Risk Communications
for Aquatic Pest Managers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Data Requirements for Pesticide Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Differences in Perception. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Maintaining Public Confidence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Professionalism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Answers to Review Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Appendix A: Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Appendix B: MDEQ Permit Forms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Appendix C: Mosquito Control Forms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Appendix D: Convenient Conversion Factors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Pesticide Emergency Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . back cover
Aquatic Plants (Color Photos/Descriptions). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Algae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Submersed Plants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Free-Floating Plants. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Rooted Floating Plants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Emergent Plants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
4
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the world of aquatic pest manage- • The life cycle of the pest.
ment. Aquatic pests may include algae, macro-
• Which life stage of the pest is susceptible to
phytes (rooted and non-rooted plants),
your management strategies.
invertebrates and vertebrates. These organisms
may become pests when they interfere with the • Various management techniques and tools,
economic, environmental or recreational uses of a including pesticides, suitable for aquatic uses.
body of water. Interference may take the form of
• How nontarget organisms may react to a pro-
unsightly algae; dense growths of aquatic plants
posed management strategy.
impeding swimmers and boats; leeches and blood
flukes that discourage swimmers; or carp that • The changing conditions of the aquatic envi-
dominate shallow areas of a lake during the ronment in which you work.
spring and ruin the habitat for more desirable
When working on the water, you must be pre-
fish.
pared to interact with people having many inter-
Though you may be familiar with land-based ests, people ranging from the once-a-year angler
pest management techniques, you will find that to year-round residents, and those who favor use
aquatic pest management techniques are different. of chemicals and those who oppose their use. As a
While many aquatic pesticide application tech- pesticide applicator, you are often the first person
niques are similar, the management plans and to whom these people direct their questions and
goals for each water body are often different concerns. Often, these persons ask questions to
because each water body is unique. The primary satisfy their curiosity. If applicators do not thor-
goals of an aquatic pest management program oughly understand the principles of aquatic pest
may include uninhibited recreation, improved management and the related equipment, they can
appearance and habitat restoration. project a negative image of themselves and the
aquatic industry.
As a member of the aquatic pesticide applica-
tion industry, you need to develop the knowledge The purpose of this manual is to help you learn
and skills to recognize: about the highly specialized area of aquatic pest
management. Only by being properly prepared
• If an organism is a pest.
can you expect to perform your duties safely and
•What caused the pest to become a nuisance. effectively.
5
CHAPTER 1
LAWS AND REGULATIONS
Pesticide use in the United States increased from Some of the provisions of FIFRA are that the
approximately 300 million pounds of active ingre- EPA must register all pesticides before they can be
dients in 1964 to approximately 1 billion pounds sold or used. The pesticides must be classified as
of active ingredients in 1991. Approximatley 275 either “general use” or “restricted use.” General
million pounds of active ingredients were used use pesticides are those that can be purchased
for nonagricultural purposes in 1991. New, highly without restriction (i.e., no certification required).
sensitive measuring devices are able to detect pes- Restricted use pesticides (RUPs) are those that can
ticides in the environment where they were not be used only by (or under the direction or super-
initially applied. To protect the environment and vision of) a certified applicator and can be pur-
human health, federal and state laws regulate the chased only by certified applicators. FIFRA also
proper, safe use of pesticides. stipulates that persons who misuse pesticides (in
a way this is “inconsistent with the pesticide
To implement aquatic pest management strate-
labeling”) are subject to penalties.
gies, you must obtain permits from the Michigan
Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) in More detailed information about FIFRA provi-
most cases. Pesticide applicators must have a sions and who enforces them is located in the
working knowledge of the laws and regulations chapter “Laws & Regulations” (Part A) of the
governing pesticide use for the safety of the client, Pesticide Applicator Core Training Manual:
themselves and the environment. Knowledge of Certification, Recertification and Registered Technician
regulatory guidelines demonstrates an applica- Training,Extension bulletin E-2195, available from
tor’s proficiency and concern for safe procedures. the Michigan State University Extension, Bulletin
Because the laws and their administrative rules Office, 117 Central Services Bldg., East Lansing,
may change, be sure to contact the appropriate MI 48824.
authorities before beginning any pest manage-
ment treatment. Some local units of government
(townships, cities or villages) have enacted regu-
State Laws
lations that govern pesticide applications within
their geographic and/or administrative bound- The primary act regulating pesticides and their
aries. Applicators are responsible for knowing uses in Michigan is the Natural Resources and
these regulations to avoid violations. In this chap- Environmental Protection Act, Act No. 451 of
ter you will learn about the state and federal laws 1994, Part 83, Pesticide Control. Other important
regulating pesticide applications and some laws state laws regulating the use of aquatic pesticides
specific to the use of pesticide applications in in Michigan’s surface waters are the Public Health
aquatic environments. Code, P.A. 368, and Part 33, Aquatic Nuisance
Control, and Part 4, Water Quality Standards of
the Natural Resources and Environmental
Protection Act, 1994 PA 451, as amended. P.A. 368
Federal Law
and Act 451, Part 33 and Part 4, establish the
Several federal laws regulate pesticide use. Both authority and the procedures for managing
state and federal agencies enforce these laws. The aquatic pests with pesticides, which are detailed
federal law regulating pesticides is the Federal later in this chapter.
Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act
Part 83 of the Natural Resources and Environmental
(FIFRA). FIFRA provides states the authority to
protection Act gives the director of the Michigan
certify applicators, register pesticides and design
Department of Agriculture (MDA) authority to
programs to meet local needs.
register or certify private and commercial applica-
6
tors and to prescribe standards for certification Recertification
and registration.
One option is to pass a recertification exam,
A commercial applicatoris a person, other than administered by the MDA, specific to the cate-
a private applicator, who is certified to apply pes- gory(ies) in which the applicator was initially cer-
ticides under the conditions described by the fol- tified. An applicator may also become recertified
lowing two subclasses: by a process referred to as “recertification by
training meeting attendance.” During the three-
Subclass A - Any person (including homeown- year certification period, pesticide applicators
ers) who uses or supervises the use of RUPs for a may earn credits toward recertification by attend-
nonagricultural purpose. ing preapproved pesticide application seminars. If
Subclass B – Any person who either 1) applies by the end of the three-year certification period
pesticides other than general use ready-to-use the applicator has earned the proper number of
pesticides in the course of his or her employment, credits, he or she will be recertified without an
or 2) applies a pesticide for a commercial purpose exam. To be recertified in the aquatic pest man-
(for hire). agement category, an applicator must earn 12
credits during the three-year certification period;
Ready-to-use pesticides are those that are 8 of those credits must be commercial core credits,
applied directly from the manufacturer’s original and 4 credits must be category 5, aquatic pest
container (aerosols, pump sprays, strips, baits) management.
with no need to mix or load into application
It is the pesticide applicator’s responsibility to
equipment.
track the credits earned. MDA also maintains a
Applicators included in subclass A must be cer- record of credits earned based on seminar sign-in
tifiedas commercial applicators. Those in subclass sheets. After three years, the applicator receives an
B have the option of becoming certified commer- MDA recertification packet and simply mails the
cial applicators or registered technicians. Because recertification fee and the record of the pesticide
pesticides are used in a wide variety of opera- training meetings attended to the MDA’s Lansing
tions, commercial applicators are certified or reg- office. MDA will compare its credit records with
istered in special commodity or site-specific those on the applicator’s record. MDA will review
categories. In Michigan, a person applying pesti- any discrepancies by examining the training meet-
cides to bodies of water for commercial purposes ing sign-in sheets to verify attendance.
must be certified or registered in category 5,
For more information on the recertification
aquatic pest management.
process, contact a regional MDA office or the
MDA office in Lansing.
Certified Commercial Pesticide
Applicator
Registered Technician
To become a certified commercial pesticide
In 1988, the Michigan Department of
applicator,a person must pass a “core” examina-
Agriculture established a new category of applica-
tion and an examination specific to the industry
tors called registered technicians.This category is
or site he/she will be servicing. A person can be
for people who are not certifiedapplicators but are
certified in several categories.
authorized to apply general use pesticides for a
When commercial applicators use a restricted commercial purpose or apply general use pesti-
use pesticide with a label that requires direct cides as a scheduled work assignment. In general,
supervision, a certified applicator must make the registered technicians may apply RUPs only
application or supervise the restricted use pesti- under the direct supervision of a certified applica-
cide application by being physically present at the tor. However, certain restrictions may apply; see
time and place the pesticide is applied. Act 451 for details. Unlike certified applicators,
registered technicians may not purchase restricted
Once a person has become a certified commer-
use pesticides.
cial applicator, he/she may make commercial pes-
ticide applications for three years. At the end of To become a registered technician, a person
the three-year period, applicators must be recerti- must pass a “core” pesticide examination that
fied to continue applying pesticides commer- tests a person’s knowledge on general pesticide
cially. There are two options for becoming information found in the Pesticide Applicator Core
recertified. Training Manual: Certification, Recertification and
Registered Technician Training. Next, the person
must undergo category-specific training designed
7
to deliver specific information to prepare him/her Record-keeping Requirements
for job tasks. The training must be approved by
All commercial applicators shall maintain
the MDA and administered by an MDA approved
records of pesticide use for a time period not less
trainer.
than the following:
All employees of golf courses, hospitals,
-General Use Pesticides. One year following the
schools, municipalities and licensed pesticide
application.
application businesses, such as aquatic pest
management companies, who apply pesticides -Restricted Use Pesticides.Three years following
must be either certified applicators or registered the application.
technicians.
The records shall contain the following:
For more information about pesticide certifica-
tion, registered technicians, registered technician A) The name and concentration of the pesticide
training or “approved trainers,” contact the applied.
Michigan Department of Agriculture, Pesticide
B) The amount of pesticide applied.
and Plant Pest Management Division. P.O.Box
30017, Lansing, MI 48909, [phone]. C) The target pest or purpose.
D) The date the pesticide was applied.
Commercial Pesticide Application
Business License E) The address or location of pesticide applica-
tion.
Any business established to apply pesticides for
hire must obtain a commercial pesticide applica- F) Where applicable, the method of application.
tor license by sending an application and fee to
These pesticide records must be made available
MDA. Such businesses must employ at least one
to MDA upon request.
certified commercial applicator with two years of
experience or one year of experience and a related
four-year college degree, before the license can be Registered Technician Classification
issued. The certified applicator supervises the use
Registered technician is now the minimum com-
of any general use or restricted use pesticides by
petency standard for pesticide applicators as
registered technicians. (Note that the business is
explained above. Part of Regulation 636 and the
licensed, not the applicator.) The business must
registered technician program involvesapproved
also provide proof of insurance as required by
trainers.
Regulation 636.
The MDA is responsible for investigating pesti-
Approved Trainers
cide misuse and failures of pesticides to perform
Approved trainers are certified applicators with
when used in accordance with label instructions.
two years of experience in the category in which
If you have a complaint involving a pesticide,
they intend to train and have participated in a
notify the nearest MDA office immediately. Delays
designated seminar to earn credentials making
in making a complaint greatly reduce the chances
them eligible to train registered technicians.
of a satisfactory investigation. The MDA must
receive the complaint within 60 days of the action.
Incidental Use
Regulation 636 also provides an exemption from
State Law: Regulation 636 – some provisions of the act for incidental use.
Pesticide Applicators Individuals or firms must request from the MDA
in writing, an exemption to the registered techni-
Regulation 636 of the Natural Resources and
cian or certified applicator requirement if they
Environmental Protection Act directly affects
meet the following conditions:
those persons and businesses that apply pesti-
cides to manage aquatic pests. The following are - A general use pesticide is used;
excerpts of the primary components of Regulation
- The person is not regularly engaged in the
636 of Act 451 and are not intended to represent
application of pesticides for hire;
the entire regulation. Read the actual document
for details. - The pesticide application is an integral part of
another operation.
8
State Law: Regulation 637 statute, a person shall not chemically treat any
waters of the state or the Great Lakes or Lake St.
Regulation 637 of the Natural Resources and
Clair bottomlands for aquatic nuisance control
Environmental Protection Act affects commercial
unless the person has obtained from the depart-
pesticide applicators and their pest management
ment an individual permit or certificate of cover-
operations in several ways. Regulation 637
age. Permits and certificates of coverage expire
became effective October 29, 1992. The rules of
on December 31 of the year is which they are
Regulation 637 include:
issued.
RULE – If a single owner wants to treat a waterbody that
has a surface area of less than 10 acres and does
1-3) Establishes definitions and terms.
not have an outlet to other water sources, and
4) Requires specific conduct of pesticide appli-
there are no threatened or endangered species in
cators to protect people and the environ-
the area, a permit is not required. If the water-
ment.
body has more than one owner, the person wish-
5) Establishes a registry of persons who
ing to treat the area must obtain written
require notification prior to pesticide appli-
permission from the other owners. The person
cations made on adjacent properties.
conducting the treatment must also post the area
6-7) Requires the use of containment structures and must maintain a record of the written permis-
for certain mixing/loading and sions, treatment dates, chemicals applied,
washing/rinsing operations. amounts applied, and a map indicating the area of
8) Defines acceptable means for disposing of impact for 1 year from the date of each chemical
pesticides and pesticide-containing materials. treatment. The MDEQ may view these records
9) Requires the use of protective equipment. upon request.
10) Addresses avoidance of off-target drift and The MDEQ also has the authority to revoke per-
use of Drift Management Plans. mits and may set the conditions for treating the
11) Calls for the posting of certain areas treated water such as the timing of application and the
with pesticides and notification of the pub- appropriate safeguards. A person who fails to
lic prior to right-of-way and community obtain the necessary permit in advance of under-
pesticide applications. taking the control work, or who violates the rules
12) Requires the use of service agreements. or conditions of the permit is guilty of a misde-
meanor.
13) Prohibits false claims regarding pesticide
safety. Part 33 details the requirements for obtaining a
14) Requires applicator training in integrated permit for the chemical treatment of Michigan
pest management and use of IPM programs waters. An “Aquatic Nuisance” is defined as any
in certain areas. organism that “lives or propagates, or both,
15) Describes manners of pesticide use in and within the aquatic environment and that impairs
around schools. the use or enjoyment of the waters of the state
including the intermediate aquatic hosts for schis-
16) Establishes a registry of certified organic
tosomes that cause swimmer’s itch.” Part 33 also
farms.
specifies that chemicals can not be used for aquatic
It is vital that all commercial pesticide applica-
nuisance control until they are registered with the
tors obtain a copy of Regulation 637 to understand
EPA under FIFRA and the Michigan Department
the components of each rule and how commercial
of Agriculture under Part 83 of Act 451. Applying
pest management practices must comply.
for a permit requires:
• Appropriate MDEQ forms (samples of all
State Law: Part 33, Aquatic
three application forms for an aquatic nui-
Nuisance Control of the Natural
sance control permit are found in Appendix
Resources and Environmental
B).
Protection Act, 1994 PA 451, as
• The applicant(s) must obtain authorization to
amended.
chemically treat the proposed area of impact
Part 33 gives the authority to regulate the chem- by obtaining written permission from each
ical treatment of waters of the state for the sup- person who owns bottomlands in the area that
pression of nuisance-producing organisms, may be impacted by the treatment. The writ-
including aquatic plants, algae and swimmer’s ten permissions should be maintained for one
itch, to the Michigan Department of year from the expiration date of the permit.
Environmental Quality (MDEQ). Per the above
9