TO ESTABLISH "PESTICIDES AS A LAST OPTION" POLICY IN OREGON
State Integrated Pest Management Policy

Whereas, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an effective and environmentally sensitive approach to long-term prevention and/or suppression of pest problems. IPM programs, as defined by the US Environmental Protection Agency, use biological, cultural, physical, mechanical, educational, and chemical methods in site-specific combinations to solve the pest problem, and

Whereas, the goal of IPM is to prioritize pest control options which represent the least risk of damage to the environment, non-target species, and humans. Chemical controls are used only when needed, as a last resort, and in the least-toxic formulation that is effective, and

Whereas, the USDA National Roadmap for IPM has concluded that “Expanding IPM programs … would reduce human health risks posed by pests and the tactics used to manage them, and also reduce or mitigate the adverse environmental effects of pest management practices,” and

Whereas, the US EPA has reported that IPM, when viewed by traditional economics, often results in lower costs than conventional pest management, and

Whereas, the U.S. General Services Administration has determined that IPM can be “pragmatic, economical and effective on a massive scale,” and

Whereas, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has adopted Toxics Reduction Strategies to protect Oregonians from the impacts of toxic pollutants, and reducing toxics, including pesticides, in the environment is one of DEQ’s top priorities. The DEQ concluded that the most effective way to reduce pollution is through prevention that targets chemical pollutants; at the source, recognizing that prevention measures are less expensive and more effective, efficient and reliable than treating or cleaning up pollutants after use, and

Whereas, the State of Oregon, as a part of Oregon’s early legislative efforts to realize statewide toxics use reduction, approved ORS 634.650 in 1991 requiring state agencies to implement IPM procedures for public facilities, and designate an Integrated Pest Management Coordinator to manage the integrated pest management program of the agencies, and

Whereas, the State of Oregon has passed School Integrated Pest Management legislation in 2009 that significantly reduces pesticide use at Oregon’s schools K-12, both public and private schools and prohibits pesticides for aesthetic, routine and preventative purposes, and

Whereas, Governor Kitzhaber has declared clean air and clean water as a priority and issued Executive Order 12-05 directing the Department of Administrative Services to revise state purchasing and procurement practices “to reduce effectively the amount of toxics chemicals of concern contained in products used by state agencies as well as by contract service providers,” and

Whereas, legislation in 2001 eliminated fund allocations pertaining to IPM and the Interagency IPM Committee and eliminated the state IPM Coordinator, and

NOW, THEREFORE, THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
We call upon the 2013 Oregon State Legislature to establish a state goal of reducing pesticides on State public properties to protect humans, natural resources, land, water, air and wildlife.

We call upon the 2013 Oregon State Legislature to update definitions in the Oregon Integrated Pest Management requirement (ORS 634.650) to reflect current medical and scientific research, and align the older State IPM Statute with the objectives and requirements of Oregon’s School IPM law (ORS 634.700 – 634.750) passed in 2009, one objective being pesticide use as a last resort following least toxic alternatives.

We call upon the 2013 Oregon State Legislature to reinstate the funding for the IPM Coordinator and the Interagency IPM Committee.

Please add your name below to indicate your support. Thank you!

Back to TOP

• Read the Safe Public Places Act (HB 3364)
• Back to Safe Public Places home page
• Safe Public Places Resources page
• Don't forget to visit and "like" us on Facebook!

Back to TOP

• Back to Safe Public Places home page
• Safe Public Places Resources 
• Read the Safe Public Places Act (HB 3364)

Now you can designate that your donation go directly to this great program when you join! After clicking on the orange button (below)...from the “Program Designation” drop-down option, simply choose "Safe Public Places."

OTA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and all contributions are fully tax-deductible. Please consider giving a gift of an OTA membership to a friend or family member!