SENATE BILL REPORT
HB 2809
As Reported By Senate Committee On:
Agriculture & International Trade, February 27, 2002
Title: An act relating to forest pesticide application.
Brief Description: Concerning the application of pesticides in a forest environment.
Sponsors: Representatives Doumit, Chandler, Linville, Schoesler, Eickmeyer and Pearson.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Agriculture & International Trade: 2/27/02 [DP].
SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Rasmussen, Chair; Shin, Vice Chair; Parlette, Sheahan, Snyder and Swecker.
Staff: Bob Lee (786‑7404)
Background: A licenced commercial pesticide applicator may allow another person, known as an operator, to apply pesticides under the authority of his or her license if the Washington State Department of Agriculture has been notified. Most pesticides require that direct on‑the‑job supervision by the certified applicator be given to the operator conducting the application. This supervision requires that the person applying the pesticide be in visual and voice contact with the certified applicator at all times.
Summary of Bill: "Forest application" of pesticides is defined to mean the application of pesticides used to grow trees for specific commercial production purposes.
Forest application of pesticides does not require constant voice and visual contact when general use pesticides are applied using non‑apparatus type equipment. This exemption from the direct supervision requirements of the Washington Pesticide Application Act only applies if the certified applicator is physically present, readily available in the immediate application area, and directly observes the pesticide mixing and batching.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.
Testimony For: "Direct supervision" requiring constant visual and voice contact by supervisors with employees was intended for lawn and landscape applications and not for larger tracts of forested lands. The Forest and Fish agreement has limited aerial applications and increased reliance on contractors for hand applications using backpack sprayers and general uses pesticides. Workers are still trained and are closely supervised. This will help the 30,000 small forest landowners in the state.
Testimony Against: None.
Testified: PRO: Jeffrey Fredson, Fredson Forestry; Court Stanley, Port Blakely Tree Farms; Heather Hanson, WA Friends of Farms and Forests; Leslie Emerick, WSDA; Nels Hanson, WA Farm Forestry Assn.