Section 026-27-5 - Integrated Pest Management TechniquesA. All pest management activities shall be undertaken with the recognition that it is the policy of the State to work to find ways to use the minimum amount of pesticides needed to effectively control targeted pests in all areas of application. In all cases, applications should be conducted in a manner to minimize human risk to the maximum extent practicable using currently available technology.B. All pest management activities should be conducted using appropriate elements of integrated pest management as described in the latest Cooperative Extension or Department of Agriculture training manuals for pest management in and/or on school property. Pest management activities should also be conducted in accordance with the Best Management Practices for Athletic Fields & School Grounds, or other applicable Best Management Practices approved by the Board.C. Prior to any pesticide application the following steps must be taken and recorded:1 monitor for pest presence or conditions conducive to a pest outbreak,2 identify the pest specifically,3 determine that the pest population exceeds acceptable safety, economic or aesthetic threshold levels, and4 utilize non-pesticide control measures that have been demonstrated to be practicable, effective and affordable.D. When a pesticide application is deemed necessary, the applicator must comply with all the requirements of CMR 01-026 Chapter 31-Certification and Licensing Provisions/Commercial Applicator. The applicator must also take into account the toxicity of recommended products and choose lowest risk products based on efficacy, the potential for exposure, the signal word on the pesticide label, the material safety data sheet, other toxicology data and any other label language indicating special problems such as toxicity to wildlife or likelihood of contaminating surface or ground water.E. Indoor pesticide use must be limited to placement of baits and wall void or crack and crevice and pool and spa disinfectant treatments unless the pest threatens the health and safety of persons in the buildings as determined by the school's integrated pest management coordinator.F. Pesticide applications must not be conducted when people are in the same room to be treated except that applicators may set out bait blocks, pastes or gels when only informed staff members are present. When space, spot, surface or fumigation applications are conducted the ventilation and air conditioning systems in the area must be shut off or the entire building must be evacuated. Applications should be planned to occur on weekends or vacations to allow maximum time for sprays to dry and vapors to dissipate.G. Outdoor applications should be scheduled so as to allow the maximum time for sprays to dry and vapors to dissipate and shall not occur when unprotected persons are in the target area or in such proximity as to likely result in unconsenting exposure to pesticides. Applications must also be conducted in accordance with all other applicable Board rules designed for minimizing pesticide drift and posting of treated sites. Spot treatments should be considered in lieu of broadcast applications.01- 026 C.M.R. ch. 27, § 5