| DEP ANNOUNCES NEW MEASURES
TO PROTECT NEW JERSEY'S CHILDREN
(04/132) TRENTON - Department of
Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell
today announced final rules that require safe pest control
methods in schools. Under these rules, DEP will work with
public, private and charter schools throughout the state
to ensure they use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices
to reduce children's exposure to potentially harmful pesticides
and help safeguard public health.
"These rules require our schools to take three common-sense
steps to protect our children: avoid pesticide use when
you can; minimize use when pesticides are necessary; and
notify parents and kids when pesticides are used,"
said Commissioner Campbell.
IPM is a holistic approach to controlling pests that uses
a wide variety of tools such as sanitation, structural modifications
and other management techniques rather than automatically
turning to chemical control as a first option.
The new rules require schools to employ non-chemical pest
management practices where possible and use low-impact pesticides.
Low-impact pesticides are those that present minimal health
risks due to their particular use and application method.
The new rules require schools to notify parents in advance
of any pesticide application. Schools must also maintain
detailed information about pesticide use on their property
and respond to inquiries about IPM on their sites.
The IPM rule amendments were proposed in May following
the enactment of the School Integrated Pest Management Act,
which was signed into law by Governor James E. McGreevey
in December 2002. Senator Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex) sponsored
the legislation along with Senator John Matheussen (R-Camden/Gloucester),
Assemblyman Joseph Roberts Jr. (D-Camden/Gloucester), Assemblywoman
Linda Stender (D-Middlesex/Somerset/Union) and Assemblyman
Albio Sires (D-Hudson).
"This act is designed to reduce children's exposure
to harmful pesticides," said Senator Buono. "If
spraying ultimately is deemed necessary, the IPM Act provides
a solid framework for informing the community and assuring
that all necessary precautions are taken."
To help New Jersey schools meet the challenges of adopting
IPM measures, DEP is supplying schools with guidance materials
and is working side-by-side with school administrators.
Many schools have already begun implementing IPM in response
to these new requirements.
The new rules will appear in the New Jersey Register on
December 6, 2004.
Information about IPM is available at: http://www.nj.gov/dep/enforcement/pcp/index.html
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