Please OPPOSE SB 613
Introduced on Tuesday, Senate Bill 613 would institute buffers around residences and
schools for any aerial application of pesticides, and around certain types of waterways for
forestry aerial applications. The bill does not specify what the buffers would be instead it
directs Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) to determine the appropriate buffer size for
forestry applications and the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) to determine
appropriate buffer sizes for all other aerial applications.
SB 613 also contains other major provisions including;
 A new requirement for landowners to give notice to ODF for the aerial application of
pesticides on forestry land. The notice must list a specific date for application that is
no less than 7 days and no more than 3 months ahead of time.
 A new requirement that applicators making aerial applications of pesticides to
forestlands submit to ODF extensive application records within 2 days of
application.
 A new requirement for landowners to give notice to ODF for any forest management
activities that involve fire.
 Require ODF to develop a website where all of the required notification and
application records will be submitted, and then posted for public access.
 Requires ODF to establish by rule buffers around residences, schools, waterways
used as a municipal or community water source or waterways that “support
native fish populations” for the forestry aerial application of pesticides.
 Require ODA to establish by rule buffers around residences and schools for all
aerial applications of pesticides.
 Require ODF to notify adjacent landowners whenever a notification or application
record has been filed. Any person can also request to be notified.
 Gives the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) the authority to investigate suspected cases
of pesticide poisoning of humans or animals.
 Requires pesticide incidents (fire, spill, contamination or other emergency) to be
reported to OHA and gives them the authority to mitigate the emergency.
 Allows OHA to accept reports from health care practitioners or veterinarians about
suspected cases of pesticide poisoning.
 Requires OHA to offer training to health care practitioners and veterinarians on the
symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and reporting of cases and suspected cases of pesticide
poisoning.
 Requires the Pesticide Analytical and Response Center (PARC) to recommend
legislation in their annual reports.
The legislation is being championed by Senator Michael Dembrow (D-Portland) and
Representative Ann Lininger (D-Lake Oswego). Other sponsors include Senators Bates (DMedford), Gelser (D-Corvallis) and Prozanski (D-Eugene) and Representatives Barnhart (DSpringfield), Buckley (D-Ashland) and Helm (D-Beaverton).
SB 613 has been referred to the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee, but
has not been scheduled for a hearing yet.