Pesticide Advisory Committee Minutes

Agriculture Laboratory, East Lansing

April 15, 2005

Members: Phil Korson, Abby Schwartz, Bruce Walker, Roger Mech, Tim Doeppel, David Schwallier, Russ Ives, William Weil, Carolyn Randall, and Brian Hughes

Guests: Brian Rowe, Larry Swain, Mel Poplar

Brian Hughes called the meeting to order. Brian informed the PAC that Tim Doeppel is leaving the committee. Tim has been a member of the PAC for 16 years. Brian thanked Tim for his dedicated service. MDA is now looking for someone to fill Tim’s position on the committee. Any individual who applies for a position on a state-mandated committee must complete an application that is submitted to the Governor’s office for review. Please send names for the vacant PAC position to Brian Hughes at hughesb9@michigan.gov..

A motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes of the January 21, 2005, meeting as written. The motion carried.

Brian Hughes asked the committee if they had any suggestions for agenda items for future meetings. USGS studies on ground and surface waters was suggested. Phil Korson suggested a presentation on mapping of endangered species.

Brian asked for activities/meeting of interest to the committee. Brian Hughes will be attending a meeting in Traverse City on research/strategy on monitoring reduce wastes. Operation Safe Fly-In will be held April 26. The initial rule making committee meeting for Regulation 637 will be April 29. The IPM Alliance EPA tour is July 19-21 and the IPM Alliance meeting is October 12.

Update on Division Activities – Brian Rowe announced that Robin Rosenbaum has been promoted to section manager for the Plant Industry section. Robin was formerly the pesticide registration manager. The quarterly pesticide use investigation report was discussed. Russ Ives suggested that unlicensed firms should be listed differently. Brian said he would take the suggestion to Polly Kapala, Pesticide Enforcement Manager. Brian distributed a copy of Regulation 637. The initial meeting to discuss changes/amendments to this regulation is April 29 in Lansing. Brian discussed some of the areas in the current regulation that are in conflict with Act 451, Part 83 since the adoption of Act 24. Brian distributed the most current EAB maps: Gateway locations, EAB detections outside the quarantine, and trap tree densities.

West Nile Virus (WNV) 2005 Update – Mel Poplar, Rodent and Pest Manager, gave a power point presentation about WNV – the history, the statewide website, 2005 priorities – protection, reduce the source, larviciding, and adulticiding. Mel discussed the preliminary results of a telephone survey conducted concerning the increase of category 7F applicators and licensed firms.

Issues Regarding Certification/Recertification – Larry Swain stated that the IPM manual will be on the MDA website in the near future. Larry indicated the pesticide certification exams will be rewritten in the near future. Larry noted that some exams have never been changed. Larry indicated there are several current issues at the certification desk:

Should MDA regulate black mold removal?

Should black mold removal be a new category?

Should MDA regulate home inspectors?

Spanish certification program for the lawn care industry – registered applicators (3A).

Reviewing recertification seminar program – making the seminar host accountable for the seminar program – correct information for categories requested.

Reviewing and reworking reciprocal agreements with Ohio, Wisconsin, and Indiana.

Future plans include moving certification exams to an exam center and use of the Internet. PAC members voiced concern about computer tests especially for the older applicators.

MSUE Update – Carolyn Randall distributed the Second Quarter Report.

NIOSH Update – Abby Schwartz distributed the Michigan Occupational Pesticide Illness and Injury Surveillance Project Update. She discussed how the numbers are tabulated. It was noted that "licensed applicators" should be "certified applicators". The report highlighted the 2005 confirmed cases. Brian Rowe requested that any pesticide associated/related incidents be shared with MDA.

Abby also distributed and discussed a Notice of Public Hearing on Heavy Metal and Pesticide Analysis Reporting.

The meeting was adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for July 15 at 9:00 in Gordon Guyer Conference Room and the Geagley Laboratory, East Lansing.