SENATE BILL REPORT

                            SB 6328

                    AS OF FEBRUARY 1, 1994

Brief Description:  Requiring public agencies to develop integrated pest management plans.

SPONSORS: Senators Fraser, Prentice and Sutherland

SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE

Staff:  Bob lee (786‑7404)

Hearing Dates: February 1, 1994

BACKGROUND:

The purpose is to encourage use of integrated pest management to reduce the use of chemicals and provide economical and effective pest suppression.

Oregon has enacted a statute that requires that certain state agencies adopt integrated pest management programs.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Health is assigned the responsibility to provide guidance and technical assistance in developing programs for integrated pest management for public agencies.

Integrated pest management is defined as the selection and implementation of the pest control strategy least hazardous to human health and the environment and consists of:

1) prevention of pest problems;

2) monitoring and evaluation of pests, damage and results of treatment;

3) tolerable pest population levels;

4) use of natural control agents;

5) reliance to extent possible on nonhazardous biological, mechanical and cultural treatments to control pests;

6) application of pesticides in a manner that minimizes damage to ecosystem's natural controls;

7) use of least toxic pesticide treatments only after other methods have been evaluated; and

8) selection of treatment methods that are most cost-effective in short and long term.

The Department of Health is to adopt rules by June 30, 1995 requiring each public agency to adopt an integrated pest management program to protect children and adults from excessive pesticide exposure.  The rules are to provide for phasing in compliance over three years. 

Public agencies include towns, cities, counties, school districts, libraries and state agencies, boards and commissions.  The provisions are not to apply to the Department of Natural Resources.

The Department of Health is to award grant funds, to the extent they are available, to public agencies to carry out the purposes of this act.

Appropriation:  none 

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:   requested