Municipalities, Ticks, Pesticides & Regulations

What you need to know about municipal or school pesticide applications

U-Conn Tick Management Handbook

What is required for a municipal or school tick control program?

All municipal or school pesticide applicators must be licensed as commercial masters or operators in the biting fly & other arthropod vectors category when applying any tick control product

“Pesticide” includes – Any product with claims to mitigate,

control or repel any pest– Could be sprays, mouse bait

stations, deer rubbing stations, repellents, etc

What is required for a municipal or school tick control program?

Even EPA exempt products require a license

When using EPA exempt products

Cannot make claims of controlling ticks that carry Lyme disease or any other human disease.

Credit: Todar, Kenneth (2002);  University of Wisconsin, Department of Bacteriology

What about use of repellents?

Insect repellents like DEET, permethrin or essential oils are also pesticides

Both personal property owners and municipal employees can use insect repellents like DEET, permethrin or the essential oils without licensing

DEET

         

What can a municipality or school do if they have no staff licensed?

Hire a licensed contractor to do the work– A listing of licensed tick control applicators can be

seen on the web at http://www.maine.gov/agriculture/pesticides/public/tick_control_list.htm

License town or school staff as commercial pesticide applicators

How do you get staff licensed?

Each municipality or school must first license a Master level applicator

Additional staff can license at the operator level

How do you get the commercial license?

Master level must pass 3 written, closed book exams and 1 oral exam

– Written exams cover General pesticide information Biting fly and tick management Regulations

Operator level must pass 2 written, closed book exams– Written exams cover

General pesticide information Biting fly & tick management

Exam fees are waived for government employees

Certification Licensing

License Type

Where do I get study

materials?

Types of Exams

Where do I take exams?

Exam fees

Certification Period

License FeeLicense Duration

Commercial - Master

UMCE (1)1-800-287-

0279207-581-

3880Core and Category Manuals

BPC (2)207-287-2731Regulations

Manual

Minimum of 3 written (Core, one or more categories,

and regulation

exams) plus a Master's Oral

exam

BPC Offices by prefiled

exam application

only207-287-

2731

$10 each for the

Core and for each category

exam $50 for the regulation

and Master's

Oral exams

6 years $702 year

renewable 12/31

Commercial – Operator

(3)

UMCE1-800-287-

0279207-581-

3880Core and Category Manuals

Minimum of 2 written (Core and one or

more category exams)

BPC Offices by prefiled

examapplication

only207-287-

2731

$10 each for the

Core and for each category

exam

6 years $702 year

renewable 12/31

What areas can the municipality treat?

Municipal owned properties only

Unless a public health emergency has been declared…

permission must be obtained from all landowners before treatment is allowed

Notification & monitoring requirements

Non-school applications only require pre-notification if done within 250 feet of a person’s property that is on our notification registry

Applications done on school grounds require IPM practices prior to pesticide application

– Pest monitoring– Pest ID– Population over threshold?– Must use non-pesticide controls first

Notification & Monitoring

Applications to school grounds also require a 5 day notice of parents/guardians and staffprior to application

What products can individual property owners use for control?

Over-the-counter products on their own property without a license

Adulticides onto trees, shrubs and other upland vegetation

Larvicides in “enclosed” waters, i.e., dumpsters, old tires, birdbaths, etc.

                                                 

When does an individual property owner need a pesticide license?

Just like municipal officials, individual property owners must be licensed and must have a NPDES permit to apply larvicides to “Waters of the State”

They would also need a license if they decide to start a business applying any pesticides in their neighborhood or surrounding area

Who to contact

Gary FishMaine Board of Pesticides Control28 State House StationAugusta ME 04333-0028

207-287-7545gary.fish@maine.gov

www.thinkfirstspray last.org