Bill Text: NY A05485 | 2013-2014 | General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: Makes numerous provisions regarding the regulation of the application of pesticides by certified pesticide applicators including provisions regarding training of applicators and record keeping requirements.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-01-08 - referred to environmental conservation [A05485 Detail]

Download: New_York-2013-A05485-Introduced.html
                           S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________
                                         5485
                              2013-2014 Regular Sessions
                                 I N  A S S E M B L Y
                                   February 28, 2013
                                      ___________
       Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  ENGLEBRIGHT -- read once and referred to the
         Committee on Environmental Conservation
       AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation  to  the
         application  of  pesticides by certified pesticide applicators; and to
         repeal section 33-0301 of such law relating to declaration  of  policy
         and purpose
         THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
       BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
    1    Section 1. Subdivision 10 of  section  33-0101  of  the  environmental
    2  conservation  law,  as  added  by chapter 685 of the laws of 1978 and as
    3  renumbered by chapter 612 of the laws of 1983, is  amended  to  read  as
    4  follows:
    5    10.  "Certified  PESTICIDE  applicator"  means  any  individual who is
    6  certified to use [or supervise the use of] any pesticide in any category
    7  of use covered by his OR HER certification.
    8    S 2. Subdivision 41 of section 33-0101 of the environmental  conserva-
    9  tion  law,  as  added  by chapter 612 of the laws of 1983, is amended to
   10  read as follows:
   11    41. "Residential application" shall mean the  application  of  general
   12  use  pesticides  by ground equipment [on property owned or leased by the
   13  applicator, excluding any establishment selling or processing  food  and
   14  any  residential structure other than]  ONLY FOR OUTDOOR APPLICATIONS ON
   15  THE PREMISES OF A  SINGLE  FAMILY  RESIDENCE  IN  WHICH  THE  APPLICATOR
   16  RESIDES  OR ONLY WITHIN the specific dwelling unit in which the applica-
   17  tor resides.
   18    S 3. Section 33-0101 of the environmental conservation law is  amended
   19  by adding three new subdivisions 50, 51 and 52 to read as follows:
   20    50. "UNDER THE DIRECT SUPERVISION OF A CERTIFIED PESTICIDE APPLICATOR"
   21  SHALL  MEAN  THE  ACT  OR PROCESS WHEREBY THE USE OF A PESTICIDE, UNLESS
   22  OTHERWISE PRESCRIBED BY ITS LABELING, IS  MADE  BY  A  COMPETENT  PERSON
   23  ACTING  UNDER  THE  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  CONTROL  OF A CERTIFIED PESTICIDE
        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD09214-01-3
       A. 5485                             2
    1  APPLICATOR WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACTIONS OF THAT PERSON AND WHO  IS
    2  AVAILABLE AT THE TIME AND PLACE THE PESTICIDE IS APPLIED.
    3    51.  "INTEGRATED  PEST  MANAGEMENT" AND "(IPM)" MEAN A DECISION-MAKING
    4  PROCESS FOR PEST CONTROL THAT UTILIZES REGULAR MONITORING  TO  DETERMINE
    5  IF AND WHEN CONTROLS ARE NEEDED; EMPLOYS PHYSICAL, MECHANICAL, CULTURAL,
    6  BIOLOGICAL  AND  EDUCATIONAL  TACTICS TO CONTROL CONDITIONS THAT PROMOTE
    7  PEST INFESTATIONS AND TO KEEP PEST POPULATIONS AT  TOLERABLE  DAMAGE  OR
    8  ANNOYANCE LEVELS; AND ONLY AS A LAST RESORT, UTILIZES LEAST-TOXIC PESTI-
    9  CIDE  CONTROLS.  THE OVERALL GOAL OF IPM IS TO ELIMINATE THE UNNECESSARY
   10  USE OF PESTICIDES AND REDUCE THE USE OF ALL PESTICIDES.
   11    52. "PESTICIDE USE" MEANS MIXING, LOADING, HANDLING, APPLYING,  TRANS-
   12  PORTING,  DISPOSING AND STORING OF PESTICIDES, AND CLEANING AND DISPOSAL
   13  OF PESTICIDE CONTAINERS.
   14    S 4. Section 33-0301 of the environmental conservation law is REPEALED
   15  and a new section 33-0301 is added to read as follows:
   16  S 33-0301. DECLARATION OF POLICY AND PURPOSE.
   17    THE POLICY AND PURPOSES OF THIS ARTICLE ARE AS FOLLOWS:
   18    1. TO PROVIDE FOR THE PROPER, SAFE AND EFFICIENT USE OF PESTICIDES AND
   19  FOR PROTECTION OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY.
   20    2. TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT FROM ENVIRONMENTALLY HARMFUL  PESTICIDES
   21  BY PROHIBITING, REGULATING OR CONTROLLING USES OF SUCH PESTICIDES.
   22    3.  TO  ASSURE WORKERS OF SAFE WORKING CONDITIONS WHERE PESTICIDES ARE
   23  PRESENT.
   24    4. TO PERMIT APPLICATIONS OF PESTICIDES BY COMPETENT  AND  RESPONSIBLE
   25  CERTIFIED PESTICIDE APPLICATORS UNDER STRICT CONTROL BY THE DEPARTMENT.
   26    5.  TO  ASSURE  USERS  THAT  PESTICIDES  ARE  PROPERLY  REGISTERED AND
   27  LABELED, AND THAT PESTICIDES ARE APPROPRIATE FOR THE USE  DESIGNATED  BY
   28  THE LABEL, BY THIS ARTICLE, OR BY REGULATIONS PROMULGATED BY THE DEPART-
   29  MENT.
   30    6.  TO ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF INTEGRATED PEST
   31  MANAGEMENT  SYSTEMS  FOR  AGRICULTURAL,   NON-AGRICULTURAL   AND   URBAN
   32  SETTINGS,  STRESSING APPLICATION OF BIOLOGICAL, MECHANICAL, CULTURAL AND
   33  OTHER NON-CHEMICAL PEST CONTROL TECHNIQUES, AND WHEN NECESSARY,  TO  USE
   34  SELECTIVE  PESTICIDES WHICH OFFER THE LEAST POSSIBLE HARM, TO NON-TARGET
   35  ORGANISMS AND THE ENVIRONMENT, TO ACHIEVE ACCEPTABLE LEVELS OF CONTROL.
   36    S 5. Subdivision 3 of section 33-0901 of the  environmental  conserva-
   37  tion law is amended to read as follows:
   38    3.  SALE  OF A RESTRICTED USE PESTICIDE SHALL ONLY BE MADE TO A CERTI-
   39  FIED APPLICATOR, THE HOLDER OF A NON-CANCELED PURCHASE PERMIT HOLDER  OR
   40  TO  THE  HOLDER  OF  A  COMMERCIAL PERMIT. Upon the sale by a commercial
   41  permit holder of a restricted use pesticide to a purchase permit holder,
   42  the commercial permit holder shall  cancel  the  PURCHASE  permit  in  a
   43  manner to be prescribed by the commissioner.
   44    S  6.  Subdivisions  1  and  2 of section 33-0905 of the environmental
   45  conservation law, as amended by chapter 612 of the  laws  of  1983,  are
   46  amended to read as follows:
   47    1.  Any person who engages in the commercial or private application of
   48  pesticides or the sale of restricted use pesticides shall  be  certified
   49  by  the  commissioner  except  as  provided  in  subdivision two of this
   50  section. No certification shall be valid  unless  the  certified  person
   51  also  holds  a  valid  CERTIFICATION  identification  card issued by the
   52  commissioner.
   53    2.   The provisions of  this  article  relating  to  registration  and
   54  certification shall not apply to:
   55    a.  residential  application of pesticides as defined in this article;
   56  or
       A. 5485                             3
    1    b.  [private application of a general use pesticide as defined in this
    2  article] AN INDIVIDUAL WORKING UNDER THE DIRECT SUPERVISION OF A  PERSON
    3  CERTIFIED IN THE PRIVATE APPLICATION OF PESTICIDES.
    4    S  7. Section 33-0905 of the environmental conservation law is amended
    5  by adding a new subdivision 2-b to read as follows:
    6    2-B.  TRAINING  PROGRAMS  FOR  PERSONS  SEEKING  PESTICIDE  APPLICATOR
    7  CERTIFICATION  AND RECERTIFICATION SHALL BE CONDUCTED BY OR ON BEHALF OF
    8  THE DEPARTMENT.
    9    A. TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR PERSONS SEEKING PESTICIDE APPLICATOR  CERTIF-
   10  ICATION  SHALL,  AT  A  MINIMUM,  INCLUDE  TOPICS SUCH AS HAZARDS OF AND
   11  PRECAUTIONS AND PROTECTIONS NECESSARY FOR PROPER  PESTICIDE  USE;  INTE-
   12  GRATED  PEST  MANAGEMENT  TECHNIQUES  FOR  ALL CATEGORIES OF PRIVATE AND
   13  COMMERCIAL PESTICIDE APPLICATOR CERTIFICATION AND UNDERSTANDING OF IDEN-
   14  TIFYING AND CHOOSING LEAST-TOXIC CONTROL ALTERNATIVES;  PESTICIDE  LABEL
   15  COMPREHENSION; PROPER PESTICIDE USE TECHNIQUES AND REQUIREMENTS; GROUND-
   16  WATER PROTECTION; UNDERSTANDING, AVOIDING AND MINIMIZING PESTICIDE DRIFT
   17  AND  OTHER  NON-TARGET  IMPACTS TO HUMANS AND NATURAL RESOURCES; CURRENT
   18  STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE USE OF  PESTICIDES;
   19  IDENTIFICATION  AND  LIFE  CYCLE  INFORMATION OF PESTS; AND OCCUPATIONAL
   20  SAFETY. TRAINING PROGRAMS  SHALL  INCLUDE  HANDS-ON  DEMONSTRATIONS  AND
   21  ACTIVITIES  TO  ENSURE  THAT  APPLICATORS  ARE CAPABLE OF PROPERLY USING
   22  PESTICIDES AND CALIBRATING AND USING APPLICATION EQUIPMENT.
   23    B. TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR PERSONS SEEKING RECERTIFICATION SHALL INCLUDE
   24  TOPICS IDENTIFIED IN PARAGRAPH A OF THIS SUBDIVISION, AND CURRENT INFOR-
   25  MATION  RELATING  TO  THESE  TOPICS,  NEW  INTEGRATED  PEST   MANAGEMENT
   26  APPROACHES  AND  TECHNIQUES,  MORE  EFFICIENT  AND EFFECTIVE APPLICATION
   27  EQUIPMENT, WORKER PROTECTION AND  SAFETY,  HUMAN  AND  NATURAL  RESOURCE
   28  PROTECTION, AND NEW PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT.
   29    C.  TRAINING  PROGRAMS SHALL BE CONDUCTED BY PERSONS WHO ARE CERTIFIED
   30  AS TRAINERS BY THE DEPARTMENT. PERSONS CONDUCTING  PESTICIDE  APPLICATOR
   31  CERTIFICATION  OR RECERTIFICATION TRAINING PROGRAMS SHALL, AT A MINIMUM,
   32  SATISFY THE DEPARTMENT AS TO THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF ALL OF  THE  INFORMATION
   33  AND TOPICS REQUIRED FOR TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR PESTICIDE APPLICATORS.
   34    S  8.  Subdivision 3 of section 33-0905 of the environmental conserva-
   35  tion law, as amended by chapter 612 of the laws of 1983, paragraph d  as
   36  amended and paragraph f as added by section 1 of part U of chapter 59 of
   37  the laws of 2004, paragraph e as added by section 1 of part F of chapter
   38  686 of the laws of 2003, paragraph g as added by chapter 732 of the laws
   39  of 2005, is amended to read as follows:
   40    3. a. Application for pesticide applicator certification shall be made
   41  to  the  commissioner.  The application shall be on a form prescribed by
   42  the commissioner and shall be accompanied by the fee or fees  [provided]
   43  AND OTHER INFORMATION REQUIRED in section 33-0911.
   44    b. An applicant for certification shall satisfy the commissioner as to
   45  [his] THE APPLICANT'S VERIFIABLE knowledge and experience concerning the
   46  proper  use [and application] of pesticides [and], pesticide application
   47  equipment, AND PEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, IN EACH  CATEGORY  OF  CERTIF-
   48  ICATION  SOUGHT, through ON-THE-JOB EXPERIENCE, TRAINING AND examination
   49  prior to initial certification. Recertification shall be  by  training[,
   50  workbook, or] AND examination [as required by the commissioner].
   51    c.  Upon  certification,  the commissioner shall certify the applicant
   52  for the appropriate category OR CATEGORIES of  certification  and  shall
   53  issue  a certification identification card to the applicant ONLY FOR THE
   54  CATEGORY OR CATEGORIES OF CERTIFICATION IN WHICH THE APPLICANT IS ELIGI-
   55  BLE.   The certification may restrict the applicant  to  the  use  of  a
   56  certain type or types of equipment or materials.
       A. 5485                             4
    1    d.  [Except  as  provided  in  paragraphs e and f of this subdivision,
    2  pesticide] PESTICIDE applicator [certifications] CARDS  shall  be  valid
    3  for  three  years [after] BY which TIME every applicator shall recertify
    4  [according to the requirements then in effect. Certification identifica-
    5  tion cards shall be valid for three years.
    6    e.  Private  applicator  certifications  shall be valid for five years
    7  after which every such  applicator  shall  recertify  according  to  the
    8  requirements  then in effect. Private applicator certification identifi-
    9  cation cards shall be valid for five years.
   10    f. Pesticide  applicator  certification  for  a  commercial  pesticide
   11  applicator with only subcategory 3A-ornamentals, shade trees and turf or
   12  only  subcategory  3B-turf shall be valid for one year after which every
   13  applicator shall recertify according to the requirements then in effect.
   14  Certification identification cards for a commercial pesticide applicator
   15  with only subcategory 3A-ornamentals,  shade  trees  and  turf  or  only
   16  subcategory 3B-turf shall be valid for one year.
   17    g.] BY MEETING THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS:
   18    (I)  ACQUIRE A MINIMUM OF EIGHTEEN TRAINING CREDIT HOURS FOR RECERTIF-
   19  ICATION, WITH A MINIMUM OF FOUR TRAINING CREDITS ACQUIRED ANNUALLY; AND
   20    (II) SUCCESSFULLY PASSING A RECERTIFICATION EXAMINATION  CONDUCTED  BY
   21  THE DEPARTMENT.
   22    E.   THE DEPARTMENT SHALL REVIEW AND EVALUATE ALL PESTICIDE APPLICATOR
   23  CERTIFICATION AND RECERTIFICATION TRAINING MANUALS AND  EXAMINATIONS  AT
   24  LEAST  ONCE  EVERY  FIVE  YEARS, INCLUDING AN EVALUATION OF THE TRAINING
   25  INFORMATION REQUIRED, AND THE NUMBER AND TYPE OF QUESTIONS NECESSARY  TO
   26  TEST APPLICANTS IN ALL REQUIRED AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS.
   27    F.  The commissioner is authorized to provide all examinations, train-
   28  ing materials, applications, and any other forms  or  written  materials
   29  necessary  for  a  private and/or commercial applicator certification in
   30  Spanish for applicants whose primary language is Spanish and  for  other
   31  languages  if  the commissioner deems it necessary. The commissioner may
   32  require applicants for registration  of  pesticides  to  make  available
   33  pesticide  label  information  and  instructions  in  Spanish  and other
   34  languages, when necessary, for applicators certified in Spanish or other
   35  languages.
   36    S 9. Subdivisions 2 and 3 of  section  33-0907  of  the  environmental
   37  conservation  law,  as  added  by  chapter  612 of the laws of 1983, are
   38  amended to read as follows:
   39    2. Applications for pesticide business or agency registration shall be
   40  made to the commissioner. The application shall be on a form  prescribed
   41  by  the  commissioner  and shall provide such information as the commis-
   42  sioner shall require.  EVERY PESTICIDE BUSINESS SHALL PROVIDE  PROOF  OF
   43  CURRENT  LIABILITY INSURANCE WHICH DOES NOT CONTAIN ANY PROVISIONS WHICH
   44  PREVENT PAYMENT OF CLAIMS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL OR HEALTH DAMAGES, OTHERWISE
   45  KNOWN AS POLLUTION EXCLUSION CLAUSES.
   46    3. An [applicant] APPLICATION for pesticide business or agency  regis-
   47  tration  shall  [satisfy standards, as determined by the commissioner to
   48  be appropriate, with respect to knowledge and experience concerning  the
   49  proper  use  and  application  of pesticides and pesticide equipment] BE
   50  MADE BY OR ON BEHALF OF AN  INDIVIDUAL  WHO  IS  A  CERTIFIED  PESTICIDE
   51  APPLICATOR  IN  EACH  CATEGORY OF PESTICIDE APPLICATION CONDUCTED BY THE
   52  BUSINESS OR AGENCY, OR WHO EMPLOYS INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE CERTIFIED  PESTI-
   53  CIDE  APPLICATORS IN EACH CATEGORY OF PESTICIDE APPLICATION CONDUCTED BY
   54  THE BUSINESS OR AGENCY.
       A. 5485                             5
    1    S 10. Subdivisions 1 and 2 of section  33-0911  of  the  environmental
    2  conservation  law,  as  amended by section 3 of part YY of chapter 59 of
    3  the laws of 2009, are amended to read as follows:
    4    1.  Every  applicant  for pesticide applicator certification shall pay
    5  [an examination] A fee of one hundred dollars for [each examination] THE
    6  CARE EXAMINATION, EACH CATEGORY OR SUB-CATEGORY EXAMINATION OR RECERTIF-
    7  ICATION EXAMINATION TAKEN.
    8    2. [a. Except as provided in paragraph b of  this  subdivision,  fees]
    9  FEES  for  pesticide applicator certification IDENTIFICATION CARDS shall
   10  be four hundred  fifty  dollars  for  [commercial  pesticide  applicator
   11  certification  in  one]  EACH  individual  category[,  one hundred fifty
   12  dollars for each additional category and one hundred fifty  dollars  for
   13  each  additional  sub-category  chosen. For private applicators a fee of
   14  twenty-five dollars for the initial  certified  private  applicator  and
   15  five  dollars  for  subsequent  applicators on the same farm or business
   16  shall be charged at  the  time  of  initial  certification,  renewal  of
   17  certification or recertification.
   18    b. Fees for pesticide applicator certification for a commercial pesti-
   19  cide  applicator  with  only subcategory 3A-ornamentals, shade trees and
   20  turf or only subcategory 3B-turf shall be two hundred dollars].
   21    S 11. Subdivision 1 and  paragraph  b  of  subdivision  2  of  section
   22  33-1205  of  the environmental conservation law, as added by chapter 279
   23  of the laws of 1996, are amended to read as follows:
   24    1. All commercial applicators shall maintain pesticide use records for
   25  each pesticide application containing the following:
   26    a. EPA registration number;
   27    b. product name;
   28    c. quantity of each pesticide used;
   29    d. date applied;
   30    e. location of application by address (including five-digit zip code).
   31    Such records shall be maintained for a period of not less than [three]
   32  THIRTY years IN A MANNER AND FORM SPECIFIED  BY  THE  DEPARTMENT.    All
   33  commercial  applicators  shall  file,  at  least  annually,  a report or
   34  reports containing such information  with  the  department  on  computer
   35  diskette  or  in  printed form on or before February first for the prior
   36  calendar year. All commercial applicators  shall  also  maintain  corre-
   37  sponding  records of the dosage rates, methods of application and target
   38  organisms for each pesticide application. These records shall  be  main-
   39  tained  on  an  annual  basis and retained for a period of not less than
   40  [three] THIRTY years IN A MANNER AND FORM SPECIFIED  BY  THE  DEPARTMENT
   41  and shall be available for inspection upon request by the department.
   42    b.  All  private applicators shall maintain[, at a minimum,] PESTICIDE
   43  USE records of [the restricted pesticides  purchased,  crop  treated  by
   44  such, method of] EACH PESTICIDE application[, and date of application or
   45  applications] CONTAINING THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
   46    (I) EPA REGISTRATION NUMBER;
   47    (II) PRODUCT NAME;
   48    (III) QUANTITY OF EACH PESTICIDE USED;
   49    (IV) DATE APPLIED;
   50    (V)  LOCATION  OF  APPLICATION  BY  ADDRESS  (INCLUDING FIVE-DIGIT ZIP
   51  CODE);
   52    (VI) CROP OR SITE TREATED; AND
   53    (VII) METHOD OF APPLICATION.
   54    SUCH RECORDS SHALL BE MAINTAINED FOR A PERIOD OF NOT LESS THAN  THIRTY
   55  YEARS  IN  A  MANNER  AND  FORM SPECIFIED BY THE DEPARTMENT. ALL PRIVATE
   56  APPLICATORS SHALL FILE, AT LEAST ANNUALLY, A REPORT OR REPORTS  CONTAIN-
       A. 5485                             6
    1  ING  THE  INFORMATION SPECIFIED IN SUBPARAGRAPHS (I), (II), (III), (IV),
    2  AND (VI) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, WITH THE DEPARTMENT ON COMPUTER DISKETTE  OR
    3  IN PRINTED FORM ON OR BEFORE FEBRUARY FIRST FOR THE PRIOR CALENDAR YEAR.
    4  ALL PRIVATE APPLICATORS SHALL ALSO MAINTAIN CORRESPONDING RECORDS OF THE
    5  DOSAGE  RATES,  METHODS OF APPLICATION, CROP TREATED AND TARGET ORGANISM
    6  FOR EACH PESTICIDE APPLICATION.  This information shall be maintained on
    7  an annual basis and retained for a minimum of [three] THIRTY years IN  A
    8  MANNER  AND FORM SPECIFIED BY THE DEPARTMENT, and shall be available for
    9  inspection upon request by the department.
   10    S 12. Subdivision 8 of section 33-1301 of the environmental  conserva-
   11  tion  law,  as amended by chapter 685 of the laws of 1978, is amended to
   12  read as follows:
   13    8. For any person to engage in THE COMMERCIAL  application  of  pesti-
   14  cides  without a pesticide applicator [certificate registration] CERTIF-
   15  ICATION IDENTIFICATION CARD issued by the commissioner; OR TO ENGAGE  IN
   16  THE  PRIVATE  APPLICATION  OF  PESTICIDES WITHOUT A PESTICIDE APPLICATOR
   17  CERTIFICATION IDENTIFICATION CARD ISSUED  BY  THE  COMMISSIONER,  except
   18  while  working  under the direct supervision of [a certified applicator]
   19  AN INDIVIDUAL CERTIFIED IN THE PRIVATE APPLICATION OF PESTICIDES.
   20    S 13. This act shall  take  effect  on  the  first  of  November  next
   21  succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
feedback