Pesticide Bureau 



Jeffrey Carlson, Chief 



D 



uring FY88 the Pesticide Bureau continued im- 

 plementation of a number of important projects. 



Rights-of-Way Management 



The Rights-of-Way Management Regulations became 

 effective in June 1987 and development of a program 

 began in ernest. The Department has been receiving 

 5-year Vegetation Management Plans and Yearly Operat- 

 ing Plans for review to assure right-of-way maintenance 

 is in accordance with the regulations. 



The Department of Food and Agriculture and the 

 Department of Environmental Protection have begun a 

 review of herbicides proposed for use in sensitive areas 

 along rights-of-way. This review will generate a list of 

 recommended herbicides for use in sensitive areas in 

 order to protect public health and the environment. The 

 Department will also issue or approve for use herbicide 

 fact sheets that must be included in the Yearly Operating 

 Plans. 



In addition, the Department will be implementing a 

 program to work with local boards of health to identify 

 private water supplies along rights-of-ways. According to 

 the regulations, private wells must be reported to the 

 Board of Health and signs must be posted along the 

 rights-of-way in order to maintain a buffer zone around 

 the well. 



Corn Herbicide Study 



The second year of a study to assess the leaching 

 potential of corn herbicides has been completed. This 

 project, which is being conducted by the University of 

 Massachusetts, is studying the ability of alachlor, atrazine 

 and metolachlor to leach down to ground water. The 

 corn herbicides were appUed at two sites which were 

 chosen to represent highly vulnerable locations where 

 contamination is most likely to occur. Results of this 

 study will be used to assess the environmental fate of the 

 three herbicides and to make regulatory decisions regard- 

 ing their use in Massachusetts. The study is being spon- 

 sored by the Monsanto Chemical Company which 

 manufactures alachlor. 



Pesticide Root Zone Model 

 (PRZM) 



The computer Pesticide Root Zone Model (PRZM) 

 is now operational following the loading of weather data 

 into the model. PRZM is a computer model which simu- 



lates the applicator of a pesticide and predicts its leaching 

 potential. The model allows the user to vary the condi- 

 tions of applications and observe the resultant leaching. 

 The pesticide characteristics, appUcation rates, timing, 

 soil types, cropping practices and weather conditions can 

 be altered. Weather data from four locations throughout 

 the state was added to the program to represent the 

 subclimates present in Massachusetts. The model will be 

 used to assist in the assessment of pesticide leaching 

 potential. 



Pesticide License/Certification 



Licensing and certification of pesticide applicators is 

 an essential component of the pesticide regulatory func- 

 tion of the Department. As a result, the Department 

 ensures to the public that individuals are licensed and 

 meet the minimum competency requirements pertaining 

 to the use of pesticides. As in previous years, the Depart- 

 ment approved approximately 100 apphcator training 

 sessions. 



These figures indicate the total number of licenses and 

 certifications issued by the Department for pesticide use 

 inFY88. 



Enforcement 



Last year four additional inspectors were added to the 

 Enforcement Program and as a result, the Department 

 was able to respond to all legitimate complaints. 



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