Herbicide applications and SEPA
Andy Hemingway
Briefly….
• How to notify SEPA before using herbicides
in or near water
• On-site management of Japanese
Knotweed
The Law
• Not illegal to have invasive species on your
land
• But Wildlife and Countryside Act
• Offence to cause the spread of invasive
species
• WANE 2011
• If allow to spread to nearby landowner – may
be a civil matter
• JK and contaminated soil is controlled waste
Notify if….
Herbicide Use in or Near Water?
• All direct applications into water
• ‘Near water’
• significant risk of entering water
• including applications to land susceptible to
flooding
Is Herbicide Use Essential?
• Herbicides potentially toxic and polluting
• Alternatives?
• Cutting/burning/bashing
• On site burial
• Off site disposal
• Address root cause of infestation
How to Notify us…
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SEPA website – under ‘Application forms’
Complete non-aerial application form
At least 3 weeks before
Include site plan
Paper or on-line
Which are Approved?
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List of approved pesticides - The Blue Book
Now internet only
Pesticides.gov.uk
CRD
Pesticides Register
• ‘Aquatic use permitted’
• Mostly Glyphosate as active ingredient
Your Responsibilities…
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Scottish Water? – public DW supplies
LA? – private DW supplies
SNH, SWT? - Nature conservation sites
Fisheries interests?
Others? - fish farms
SEPA Approval
Japanese Knotweed
On-site Management of JK and
contaminated soils
• SEPA Guidance Note - website
• Options
• Spraying on site – best if time allows
• Burning – WML exemption
• Cutting – not strimming / flailing
• Burial
On-site Burial of JK
• Precautions
• Only glyphosate
• Locate where won’t be disturbed –
erosion, development
• >5m
• cover with geomembrane, eg heavy
plastic
• Record location
Off-site disposal of JK and soils
• Last resort?
• Careful not to spread by hauliers or tracked
machinery!
• Controlled waste - transfer notes
• Inform haulier and landfill operator
• Site must have appropriate WML
• Disposal at landfill requires
• >5m depth etc
Herbicide Applications – simple!
• Notify SEPA
• Notify others who may be affected
• Follow manufacturer’s instructions
Other on site management of JK –
not so simple!
• contact SEPA if unsure
Contacts
• Stirling office for herbicide notifications for
• Falkirk, Stirling, Clacks, W Fife and part
West Lothian Council
• andrew.hemingway@sepa.org.uk
• 01786 452595
• Out of hours pollution incident
0800 807060
Questions?