Once in effect, the regulation will support the statewide implementation of a first-of-its-kind system to provide advance information on the planned applications of restricted material pesticides used in agriculture. Restricted materials are a highly regulated category of pesticides that have greater potential than other pesticides to cause harm to people, animals, the environment, or other crops. They require a county-issued permit for use and carry significant restrictions on how and where they can be used and who can use them.
The department is seeking public comment on the proposed modifications to the regulation through a day public comment period and three public hearings scheduled on July 12, 15 and Following the close of the current public comment period, DPR will finalize the regulation and system design in preparation for statewide implementation of the pesticide application notification system in the first quarter of The department initially proposed the regulation on Nov.
The proposed regulation would support the statewide implementation of a notification system by requiring electronic submission of select information from Notices of Intent NOIs for permitted applications to DPR and requiring DPR to make the information it receives publicly available.
NOIs are required before a permitted application of a restricted material pesticide. DPR will be required to provide information 48 hours prior to the intended start of a soil fumigation and 24 hours prior to the intended start of all other restricted material applications requiring a permit. NOIs, which are part of the state's restricted material permitting process, are currently submitted to and must be approved by the local county agricultural commissioner before a restricted material pesticide can be used.
Additional details and the proposed revised regulation can be viewed on DPR's website. The department is holding a day public comment period July 2 through Aug. The hearings and public comment period are to collect input on the proposed modifications to the notification regulation. The modifications were made after the initial public comment period , which was open for 70 days starting in November and included three regulatory hearings. Those proposed changes include:.
