Pesticide Advisory Committee Meeting Summary

Guyer Conference Room, MDA Laboratory, East Lansing

January 20, 2006

Members present:           

Jim Johnson, Russ Ives, Abby Schwartz, Bob Tadsen, Roger Mech, Bruce Walker, Carolyn Randall, Bill Weil

Guests present:           

Ken Rauscher, Brian Rowe, Larry Swain, Polly Kapala

New Pesticide Advisory Committee (PAC) chairperson, Jim Johnson, called the meeting to order at 9:32 and welcomed everyone.  Members of the committee introduced themselves.  Jim indicated that Dr. Sheridan Haack, United States Geological Survey (USGS), was not able to attend the meeting today as previously scheduled.  She will be on the agenda in April.

The minutes were reviewed and a motion was made to approve them with the two noted corrections.  Motion carried.

Pesticide Surveillance Update – Abby Schwartz of the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) distributed the Michigan Occupational Pesticide Illness and Injury Surveillance Project – October through December 2005.  Abby indicated MDCH recently received a five year continuance grant from the Center for Disease Control.  Abby said she will expand the report in 2006 to include more environmental cases.  Many Michigan doctors and hospitals are not reporting occupational pesticide illnesses or injuries to MDCH.  However, all cases reported to “poison control” are provided to MDCH.

MSUE Pesticide Education Updated – Carolyn Randall distributed the First Quarter Report (October to December 2005).  Highlights of the report are:

• Carolyn Randall is now the Coordinator of the Pesticide Safety Education Program.
• Carolyn will set up a Faculty Advisory Committee.
• John Stone has been hired as a pesticide safety education trainer with emphasis on training in Core and Category 3B, Ornamental, from January through April.
• Christina Cottrell, student, is working on the Category 8 Public Health manual.
• Category 5, Aquatic manual photos were destroyed – Carolyn is working to replace the photos.
• Draft Aerial manual was sent to the review committee.
• Work continues on draft manuals Category 3B and 5B, Microbial.
• MSUE printed 300 black and white and 300 color copies of MDA’s “Guidelines for Michigan Communities on Developing a Self-help Rat Control Program.
• Emergency Planning for the Farm (November 2005), was updated to include more Sara Title III information and posted:  www.pested.mus.edu/Resources/bulletins/EmergencyFarm
• “Spray Demonstration Table” will be at “Farmers Days” in Coldwater, February 20.
• Copies of the “USDA Recordkeeping Guide for Greenhouses” were distributed to counties.

Carolyn indicated there are funding issues for her position.  She and the Faculty Advisory Committee will meet to discuss possible sources for funding.  Carolyn is also participating on the Regulation 637 committee.

Planned Use Investigations – Larry Swain stated he has sent letters to six companies who received incidental use exemptions from MDA.  The letters request the company to complete and return a new request form.  The information will be reviewed against the incidental use exemption criteria previously discussed with the PAC.  Planned use investigations (PUI) of the six companies have been assigned to area inspectors. Larry will present the findings of the investigations at the April PAC meeting.

PPPM Update – Ken Rauscher distributed the 2006 Michigan Cooperative Gypsy Moth Suppression Program Participating Counties and Proposed Treatments.  The Gypsy Moth population is increasing as a result of the last two dry springs resulting in reduced impacts of entomopaga (Gypsy Moth fungus).  Many of the counties/cities have mileages to help cost share the suppression program.

Ken also distributed the most recent map for the Cooperative Emerald Ash Borer Project.  Funding for this project continues to be an issue.  Research continues on injectable pesticides and biological control.  The division is verifying certification credentials of those who are using injectable pesticides.  Enforcement action has been taken against some people who have moved firewood illegally.  A new law that provides PPPM staff the ability to write tickets has been passed; however, before this action occurs, staff training, and legal issues concerning writing and follow through of tickets must be addressed.

Ken stated that USDA inspections at ports of entry have been declining.  USDA is using the off shore pesticide information system to track possible invasive species.  The system makes note of outbreaks overseas and provides notification in the United States and makes targeting of survey efforts at U.S. ports.

Regulation 637 Rule Making Update – Brian Rowe distributed a document summarizing the Regulation 637 changes to date.  Brian discussed the proposed changes the working committee has suggested for the Pesticide Use Regulation.  After the committee completes the review of the regulation, the draft regulation will continue the process of legislative rule making – presentation to the Ag Commission, public hearings, etc.  Brian indicated the total process from beginning to end could take 18 months or longer.

Brian also informed the PAC that the division was asked by the Organic Advisory Committee (OAC) to sample some organic products to look for pesticide residues.  The first round of sampling (beans and grains) taken from retail markets is being analyzed.  Jim asked Brian to report at the April meeting on the organic sample results and compare these results with previous food safety samples.  Brian anticipates a second round of sampling this summer at farmers markets where local farmers sell their products.  Currently there is no enforcement to verify the validity of organic products.  Brian will keep the PAC as well as the OAC advised of the results.

Quarterly Enforcement Report – Polly Kapala, Pesticide Enforcement Manager, distributed the FY’06 First Quarter Enforcement Report.  The “firm category” field has been added to the report as requested by the PAC.    Polly will provide FY’05 totals at the April meeting. 

Polly informed the PAC of the progress on the IMPACT system.  The certification section of IMPACT has been working successfully for its second year.  The RUP (Restricted Use Pesticides) program licensing and sales reporting has recently been incorporated into the system.  The next section to be added will be the pesticide application business licensing program.  Polly indicated this will be completed by this summer.  After the licensing program, the pesticide inspection reporting will come on line, which will encompass investigations, complaints, and contacts.  The new system should enable multi-tiered searches as all three administrative systems plus the six inspection data sources will be in one system.  As part of the July 2006 PAC meeting, Polly will discuss some of the options for the PAC quarterly report, and get input from the committee on what type information they would like to receive in the future. 

2006 Meeting Dates – Jim distributed the proposed PAC meeting dates for 2006.  There is a conflict for the April 21 meeting.  The committee agreed to move the date to April 28.  The dates for the 2006 PAC meetings are:  April 28, July 21, October 20, and January 19, 2007.

Miscellaneous – A question was asked about the progress on filing the committee vacancies.  Jim indicated he is working with MDA’s executive office that is in contact with the governor’s office regarding these vacancies.  The PAC is not the only committee in MDA that has not had replacement committee members approved by the governor’s office.  The PAC will be informed of the progress.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:45.