SENATE BILL REPORT

                                   SHB 1486

          AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & WATER RESOURCES,

                                 APRIL 5, 1991

Brief Description:  Establishing new integrated pest management procedures.

SPONSORS:House Committee on Environmental Affairs (originally sponsored by Representatives Rust, Belcher, Horn, Valle, Brekke, Pruitt and Jacobsen).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS

SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & WATER RESOURCES

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

      Signed by Senators Barr, Chairman; Anderson, Vice Chairman; Bailey, Conner, Gaspard, Hansen, and Newhouse. 

Staff:  John Stuhlmiller (786‑7446)

Hearing Dates:April 4, 1991; April 5, 1991

BACKGROUND:

Integrated pest management refers to a method of pest control incorporating all available control strategies into a coordinated effort to obtain the greatest pest control at the least cost.  Integrated pest management is not currently defined in statute.

The Department of Agriculture oversees the licensing program for all pesticide applicators in this state.  As part of the licensing program, applicators must pass a pesticide use and knowledge examination.  To renew a license, applicators must complete 20 to 40 hours of continuing education over a five-year period. 

All state agencies and local governments may purchase pesticides through a state contract managed by the Department of General Administration.  Pest control products other than pesticides are not generally available through current state contracts.

SUMMARY:

Integrated pest management is defined as a strategy that uses various combinations of pest control methods, including biological, cultural and chemical, in a compatible manner to achieve satisfactory control of pests and ensure favorable economic and environmental consequences.

Persons applying to the Department of Agriculture for a pesticide applicator's license must demonstrate knowledge of integrated pest management practices as part of the required examination.

The Department of General Administration is directed to develop specifications for its contracts to purchase pesticides which are consistent with integrated pest management practices.  The specifications are to include provision of educational assistance and when appropriate technical assistance.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENT:

The definition of integrated pest management is modified to be a strategy that uses various combinations of pest control methods including biological, cultural, and chemical.

The Department of General Administration is only directed to develop specifications for the purchase of pesticides consistent with integrated pest management practices.

The Department of Agriculture is directed to develop a program to provide assistance and information on the registration and reregistration process for plant protection products.  The department shall consult with the Minor Uses Advisory Committee to track the availability of effective pest control methods, provide information to grower organizations, and provide technical and financial assistance to minor use research efforts at Washington State University.

The Minor Uses Advisory Committee is created in the Department of Agriculture consisting of the Coordinator of the Interregional Project Number 4 (IR4) Program at Washington State University and six members appointed by the Director of Agriculture.  The committee shall advise the department on all minor uses issues, cooperate with the United States Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency in obtaining federal registrations of plant protection products for minor uses, and maintain close contact between the Department of Agriculture and agricultural producers regarding the need for research to support the registration of plant protection products for minor uses.

An appropriation of $49,500 is made to the Department of Agriculture for purposes of developing a minor use program.

TESTIMONY FOR:

This bill will require the Department of General Administration to consider integrated pest management goals in developing its specifications for contracts to purchase pesticides.  It will be a step toward reduced use of pesticides by government.  IPM is already being used by farmers, and the definition in the bill is consistent with other definitions such as in the federal farm bill.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:

IPM is already a strategy being used, so there is no need for another state law to tell us to do what we are already doing.

TESTIFIED:  Representative Nancy Rust (pro); Mark Triplett, Washington Agri-business Coalition (pro); Mike Schwisow, Washington State Department of Agriculture (pro); Bill Roberts, Washington State Farm Bureau (con)