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Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment
Protective clothing used during an application would be laundered separately from other laundry items.
Transporting, storing, handling, mixing and disposing of pesticide containers will be consistent with label
requirements, USEPA and OSHA requirements, and Service policy.
If a respirator is necessary, then the following requirements would be met in accordance with Service
safety policy: a written Respirator Program, fit testing, physical examination (including pulmonary
function and blood work for contaminants), and proper storage of the respirator.
6.2 Notification
The restricted entry interval (REI) is the time period required after the application at which point someone
may safely enter a treated area without PPE. Refuge staff, authorized management agents of the Service,
volunteers, and members of the public who could be in or near a pesticide treated area within the stated
re-entry time period on the label would be notified about treatment areas. Posting would occur at any site
where individuals might inadvertently become exposed to a pesticide during other activities on the refuge
within the stated re-entry period. Where required by the label and/or state-specific regulations, sites
would also be posted on its perimeter and at other likely locations of entry. The refuge staff would also
notify appropriate private property owners of an intended application, including any private individuals
who have requested notification. Special efforts would be made to contact nearby individuals who are
beekeepers or who have expressed chemical sensitivities.
6.3 Medical Surveillance
Medical surveillance may be required for Service personnel and approved volunteers who mix, apply,
and/or monitor use of pesticides (see 242 FW 7 [Pesticide Users] and 242 FW 4 [Medical Surveillance]).
In accordance with 242 FW 7.12A, Service personnel would be medically monitoring if 1 or more of the
following criteria is met: exposed or may be exposed to concentrations at or above the published
permissible exposure limits or threshold limit values (see 242 FW 4); use pesticides in a manner
considered “frequent pesticide use”; or use pesticides in a manner that requires a respirator (see 242 FW
14 for respirator use requirements). In 242 FW7.7A, “Frequent Pesticide Use means when a person
applying pesticide handles, mixes, or applies pesticides, with a Health Hazard rating of 3 or higher, for 8
or more hours in any week or 16 or more hours in any 30-day period.” Under some circumstances,
individuals may be medically monitored who use pesticides infrequently (see section 7.7), experience an
acute exposure (sudden, short term), or use pesticides with a health hazard ranking of 1 or 2. This
decision would consider the individual’s health and fitness level, the pesticide’s specific health risks, and
the potential risks from other pesticide-related activities. Refuge cooperators (e.g., cooperative farmers)
and other authorized agents (e.g., state and county employees) would be responsible for their own medical
monitoring needs and costs. Standard examinations (at refuge expense) of appropriate refuge staff would
be provided by the nearest certified occupational health and safety physician as determined by Federal
Occupational Health.
6.4 Certification and Supervision of Pesticide Applicators
Refuge staff or approved volunteers handling, mixing, and/or applying or directly supervising others
engaged in pesticide use activities would be trained and state or federally (BLM) licensed to apply
pesticides to refuge lands or waters. In accordance with 242 FW7.18A, certification is required to apply
restricted use pesticides based upon USEPA regulations. For safety reasons, all individuals participating
in pest management activities with general use pesticides also are encouraged to attend appropriate
training or acquire pesticide applicator certification. The certification requirement would be for a
commercial or private applicator depending upon the state. Documentation of training would be kept in
the files at the refuge office.
K-12 Appendix K. Integrated Pest Management