Section 026-22-2 - STANDARDS OF CONDUCT FOR PESTICIDE APPLICATIONS All pesticide applications subject to these regulations shall be undertaken in compliance with the following standards of conduct:
A.EquipmentI. Pesticide spray equipment shall be used in accordance with its manufacturer's recommendations and instructions, and shall be in sound mechanical condition, free of leaks and other defects or malfunctions which might cause pesticides to be deposited off-target.II. Pesticide spray equipment shall be properly calibrated consistent with Board or University published guidance. Sufficient records to demonstrate proper calibration must be maintained and made available to representatives of the Board upon request.III. Pesticide application equipment shall have properly functioning shut-off valves or other mechanisms which enable the operator to prevent direct discharge and minimize drift to non-target areas. Spray equipment designed to draw water must also have a properly functioning antisiphoning device.B.Weather ConditionsI. Spray applications shall not be undertaken when weather conditions favor pesticide drift onto Sensitive Areas or otherwise prevent proper deposition of pesticides on target.II. Pesticide application must cease immediately when visual observation reveals or should reveal that spray is not being deposited on target.III. Without limitation of the other requirements herein, under no circumstances shall pesticide application occur when wind speed in the area is in excess of 15 miles per hour.C.Identifying and Recording Sensitive AreasI. Prior to spraying a pesticide, the applicator must become familiar with the area to be sprayed and must identify and record the existence, type and location of any Sensitive Area located within 500 feet of the target area. Applicators shall prepare a site map or other record, depicting the target area and adjacent Sensitive Areas. The map or other record shall be updated annually. The site map or other record shall be retained by the applicator for a period of two years following the date of applications and shall be made available to representatives of the Board upon request. II. This requirement shall not apply to commercial applications conducted under categories 3A (outdoor ornamental), 3B (turf), 6A (rights-of-way vegetation management), 6B (industrial/commercial/municipal vegetation management), 7A (structural general pest control applications), or 7E (biting fly & other arthropod vectors [ticks]).D.Presence of Humans, Animals Pesticide applications shall be undertaken in a manner which minimizes exposure to humans, livestock and domestic animals.
The applicator shall cease spray activities at once upon finding evidence showing the likely presence of unprotected persons in the target area or in such proximity as to result in unconsented exposure to pesticides.
E.Other Requirements These regulations are intended to be minimum standards. Other factors may require the applicator to take special precautions, beyond those set forth in these regulations, in order to avoid adverse impacts on off-target areas and to protect public health and the environment.
01- 026 C.M.R. ch. 22, § 2