In accordance with Policy
6520: HAZARDOUS MATERIALS, Bainbridge
Island School District follows an Integrated Pest Management program for
managing vegetation and pests.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an ecological approach to
suppressing pest populations (i.e. weeds, insects, diseases, etc.) in which
alternative pest controls are considered, and where practical, implemented,
before chemical controls are used, so that pests are kept at acceptable levels
in effective, economical, and environmentally safe ways.
Bainbridge Island School
District will manage vegetation and pests in a manner that: utilizes an
ecological approach; minimizes the use of pesticides; minimizes risk to human
health and the environment by using no
high-hazard pesticides; and considers community values in establishing
standards of maintenance for Bainbridge Island School District properties.
Definitions
IPM Program: The components of an IPM program are Threshold and Action Levels:
A. Threshold level refers to the point in growth of a vegetation or pest population where it will cause an unacceptable impact on: public safety, recreation, or health; natural and/or managed ecosystems; aesthetic values; economic damage to desirable plants; the integrity, function, or service life of facilities.
B. Action level is the level of development of a vegetation or pest population at a specific site at which action must be taken to prevent the population from reaching the threshold level.
High Hazard Pesticide: High-hazard pesticides are pesticides linked
to cancer, nervous system harm, reproductive damage, or endocrine
disruption. To ensure that no
high-hazard pesticides are used, pesticides will meet the following criteria:
A.
Pesticide is
not classified as highly acutely toxic (Hazard Category I or II) by the
Environmental Protection Agency (signal word for Hazard Category I products =
DANGER; signal word for Category II products = WARNING);
B.
Pesticide is
not a restricted use pesticide (use of the product is not restricted to
certified pesticide applicators);
C.
Known
ingredients in product have been evaluated by the U.S. EPA and found to include
no possible, probable, known or likely carcinogens;
D.
Known
ingredients in product include no reproductive toxicants (CA Prop 65 list);
E.
Known
ingredients in product not listed by Illinois EPA as known, probable or
suspected endocrine disrupters;
F.
Known
ingredients in product include no nervous system toxicants (neurotoxic by mode
of action-defined as pesticides in the organophoshate, carbamate, pyrethrin,
and pyrethroid classes of chemical);
G.
Known
ingredients have soil half-life less than 100 days;
H.
Known
ingredients do not have high or very high mobility in soil;
I.
Product is not
labeled as toxic to fish, birds, wildlife or domestic animals.
Selection of Optimal
Strategies: The criteria, not necessarily in order of
importance, for selecting treatment tactics and developing pest management
strategies include:
A.
No high-hazard pesticides will be used;
B.
Minimizes
disruptions of natural controls;
C.
Minimizes
hazards to human health;
D.
Minimizes negative impacts to non-target
organisms;
E.
Minimizes
damage to the general environment:
F.
Preserves
natural or managed ecosystems;
G.
Likely
to produce long-term reductions in pest control requirements;
H.
Effective
implementation is operationally feasible;
I.
Cost
effectiveness in the short and long term.
Timing: Involves applying a treatment action during a vulnerable time in
the life cycle of the vegetation or pest while minimizing impact on natural
predators and/or other non-target organisms.
Monitoring: Involves the regular surveying of sites and/or features to
improve understanding and identify the location and extent of potential pest
management problems.
Evaluation: Involves analysis of treatment strategies and prescriptions to
help determine the effectiveness of the control program. These records are
useful in developing future pest management plans.
IPM Practices: Integrated pest control plans that are specific to a variety of
pest management situations and/or pests and vegetation; these plans are based
on the principles of IPM.
Pest: Any organism, including plants, animals, and
diseases, which by the situation or size of its population adversely interferes
with the aesthetic, health, environmental, functional, or economic goals of
humans.
Legal References: RCW17.21.020 Posting
and notification of pesticide applications at
schools