NAVFAC Applied Biology Newsletter
Summer 2010
NAVFAC Applied Biology Website
News and information about upcoming events:
https://portal.navfac.navy.mil/portal/page/portal/EV/Applied_Biology/ (Requires
CAC-enabled login, or request a SSO account). AFPMB page: AFPMB NAVFAC Applied Biology
Upcoming Events and Courses
DoD Pesticide Applicator and QAE/PAR/IPMC Recertification Courses:
 1-4 February 2011. San Diego, CA. Contact: Mike Medina
 8-11 February 2011. Virginia Beach, VA. Contact: Sabra Scheffel
Initial training course for PAR/QAE/IPMCs:
 16-19 November 2010. San Diego, CA. Contact: Mike Medina
 16-20 May 2011, Virginia Beach, VA, Contact: Sabra Scheffel
Registration: https://www.netc.navy.mil/centers/csfe/cecos/ (use pull-down menu
to access Courses > E-Registration > Environmental Compliance)
Initial DoD pesticide applicator certification
 13 Sept – 06 Oct 2010. Jacksonville, FL. Contact: David Wolfert 904542-2424 david.wolfert@med.navy.mil
Information on DoD Pest Management Courses is available at
http://www.afpmb.org/pubs/courses/courses.htm
NAVFAC Applied Biology Newsletter August 2010
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The Clean Water Act and upcoming requirements for
pesticide use
As of April 9, 2011 discharges of pesticides into, over, or
near waters of the U.S. will require coverage under an
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
permit, unless the ruling is overturned, which seems very
unlikely at this point. This includes both biological pesticides,
such as B.t., and chemical pesticides. Pesticide uses
covered under the NPDES permit include mosquito and other flying insect control,
aquatic weed and algae control, aquatic nuisance animal control, forest canopy
pest control, and any pesticide use near water where it is unavoidable that a
portion of the pesticide will be deposited to water (e.g., vegetation control along
ditches or stream banks).
Enforcement of this statute, in most cases, has been delegated to the states, and
most states are working on producing a general permit for pesticide discharges
based on a draft the EPA has provided. For those few states without permitting
authority, the EPA will issue their permit. The EPA plans to have their final
permit ready In December, 2010. The states will need to have permits in place
by April 9, 2011.
Q: Can you tell me in plain English what activities may require a permit?
Any applications directly to or over water will require a permit if applications
exceed the annual threshold. Applications along a bank, ditch, or water’s edge
will also be covered. Terrestrial applications and unintentional spray drift over
water will not require a permit. ULV spraying for mosquitoes will be covered in
most cases, because even when applied terrestrially the spray is intended to drift
over large areas including bodies of water. Aerial applications to forest canopy
with waters below will be covered, while terrestrial applications to the forest
canopy that avoid aquatic areas are not.
Q: What additional requirements will be placed on activities that apply
pesticides in the covered categories?
A: If activities know or can reasonably expect to apply pesticides above a set
annual threshold, they will be required to file a Notice of Intent (NOI) and submit
annual reports.
They will also need to minimize pesticide applications where possible, meet
water quality limits, develop a plan, monitor and report adverse incidents, and
maintain pesticide application records. Most of our Navy & Marine Corps
installations are already doing these things, but we may need to update our
NAVFAC Applied Biology Newsletter August 2010
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integrated pest management plans to meet NPDES requirements. The plan will
need to identify the pest problem, assess alternatives to pesticide use, and list
appropriate procedures that will be followed for pesticide use. It will also
document how discharges will be minimized and effluent limits will be met. We
plan to come up with a template that can be used by the installations to fill in their
information to include as an annex to their Integrated Pest Management Plans.
Q: What are the thresholds that determine if I need to file a NOI or get
covered under an existing permit?
Annual treatment totals
Mosquitoes and Other Flying Insect Pest control: 640 acres of treatment.
Aquatic Weed and Algae Control: 20 acres of water treatment area, or 20 linear
miles at water’s edge.
Aquatic Nuisance Animal Control: 20 acres of water treatment area, or 20 linear
miles at water’s edge.
Forest Canopy Pest Control: 640 acres of forest canopy.
Each pesticide application counts toward the annual total. For example, an
activity that applies twice a year to a ten acre site should be counted as twenty
acres.
Q: What do I have to do if I apply pesticides in those categories, but stay
below the threshold annual treatment totals?
A: Under the Clean Water Act, you are only required to minimize pesticide use
where possible, meet water quality limits, and monitor for and report adverse
incidents.
Q: Where can I find more information?
A: Visit the EPA website at http://www.epa.gov/npdes/pesticides
NAVFAC Applied Biology Newsletter August 2010
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EPA Announces New Restrictions on Phosphine Fumigants
The EPA is requiring new restrictions on aluminum and magnesium phosphide
products to better protect people from dangerous exposures, following the deaths
of two girls whose front yard was treated with phosphine to control voles.
http://insectsinthecity.blogspot.com/2010/04/rules-tightened-on-phosphinefumigants.html
DoD applicators are not certified to use fumigants, but you should be aware of
the new restrictions if you have contractors doing fumigations. All uses are
prohibited around residential areas. http://www.pctonline.com/EPA-fumigantphosphine-restrictions.aspx
New Jersey Firm ordered to clean up homes after illegally applying harmful
pesticides indoors
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has determined that a
Newark based company illegally applied pesticides inside residences and
apartments for bedbug control. The firm sprayed carbaryl and malathion inside
of homes, which is not permitted by the product labels. The DEP has ordered
the firm to return to the residences and clean up pesticide residues. No
determination has yet been made regarding fines or penalties that could be
imposed on the company. The company may also face civil suits from affected
residents. Another reminder that the label is the law, and that we must read and
comply with labeled instructions on the pesticide products we use.
http://njtoday.net/2010/07/12/dep-orders-cleanup-of-harmful-pesticides-used-bynewark-firm-to-treat-bedbugs/
Upcoming training on invasive species:
A MID-ATLANTIC FOCUSED CONFERENCE
Subject: Good Green, Bad Green: Invasive Plant Control for Habitat Restoration
Event Website http://www.forestryforthebay.org/ggbg/agenda.cfm : detailed
program, online registration, scholarships, sponsors, continuing education credits
& more!
To be held at the Northern Virginia 4-H Center and Smithsonian Conservation
Biology Center Front Royal, Virginia
Sept. 16 & 17, 2010
Who should attend: Natural Resource Professionals, DoD Pest Controllers
dealing with vegetation management, Master Naturalists, Consulting Foresters,
Landowners, Arborists & Horticulturalists, Master Gardeners.
NAVFAC Applied Biology Newsletter August 2010
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Other News
Rodent expert shines light on rats in NYC subways
http://www.journal-news.com/news/nation-worldnews/rodent-expert-shines-light-on-rats-in-nyc-subways763475.html?cxtype=rss_nation-world
New biologically-based bird and pest repellants are available
from PiGNX.
http://www.pignx.com/
Head and body lice now considered to be same species;
body lice can emerge from populations of head lice.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100326124922.htm
Dow AgroSciences introduces LockUp™ Herbicide, a new active ingredient
(penoxsulam) herbicide labeled for broadleaf weed control in grasses.
http://www.dowagro.com/turf/prod/lockup.htm
Useful Links
NAVFAC Applied Biology Center – Our site on the NAVFAC Portal
AFPMB – Armed Forces Pest Management Board homepage
NPIC – National Pesticide Information Center
CDMS – CDMS Label/MSDS searchable database
NPIRS – National Pesticide Information Retrieval System
PCT Online – Pest Control Technology Online magazine
Army Pest Management Timely Topics
National Pest Management Association
Naval Safety Center
Bulletins Live! Pesticide Use Limitations for endangered species protection
NAVFAC Applied Biology Newsletter August 2010
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Applied Biology Team Members and regional POCs
Atlantic
Karen Wilson
karen.e.wilson@navy.mil 757-322-4817 Acting Program Manager
Sherrie Bartku sharon.bartku@navy.mil 757-322-4796 Section Head
Steven Holmes steven.p.holmes@navy.mil 757-322-8295 Midwest and Marine Corps
Jack Markham jack.markham@navy.mil 757-322-4882 MidLant
Mike Medina michael.j.medina1@navy.mil 619-532-1157 Southwest and Northwest
Kirk Williams kirk.williams@navy.mil 757-322-4254 Southeast
Sabra Scheffel sabra.scheffel@navy.mil 757-322-4320
Denise Thomas denise.thomas@navy.mil 757-322-4459
Pacific
Stephan Lee stephan.g.lee@navy.mil 808-472-1384
Cory Campora cory.campora@navy.mil 808-472-1408
Akira Masui akira.masui.ja@fe.navy.mil 011-81-46-816-7720 Japan and Okinawa
NAVFAC Applied Biology Newsletter August 2010
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NAVFAC Applied Biology Products and Services
Pest Management
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Provide technical assistance to troubleshoot and solve pest problems.
Conduct required pest management program reviews to ensure effectiveness, efficiency
and safety of the program.
Provide guidance in structure and landscape design and construction to prevent pest
infestations.
Conduct extended on-site consults (reimbursable).
Pesticide Compliance
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Prepare integrated pest management plans (reimbursable).
Prepare pest control contracts (reimbursable).
Review installation integrated pest management plan (IPMP).
Review pest control and construction contract specifications, agriculture and PPV
housing lease agreements, natural resources contracts, and other documents involving
pest management.
Approve pesticides for use on installations.
Support pesticide compliance programs.
Manage pest management record keeping and reporting.
Training
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Provide pest management training to recertify pesticide applicators and train pest
management coordinators and pest control contract Quality Assurance Evaluator (QAE) /
Performance Assessment Representatives (PAR) and others involved in pest
management.
Provide non-FIFRA initial certification and FIFRA/non-FIFRA recertification for OCONUS
activities (reimbursable).
Other
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Support for Marine Corps and other services (reimbursable).
The editorial content of this newsletter has been reviewed and
approved by the Public Affairs Office.
This internal newsletter is an authorized NAVFAC publication. Its contents do not
necessarily reflect the official views of the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense or
the U.S. Navy, and do not imply endorsement thereof.
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