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ENVIRONMENTAL DIRECTIVE

ED 4003 - 4/02 DIRECTIVE TO ELIMINATE THE USE OF PESTICIDES FOR COSMETIC LAWN CARE PURPOSES ON DND PROPERTIES

AUTHORITY

1. This environmental directive to eliminate the use of pesticides for cosmetic lawn care purposes on DND properties is issued pursuant to authority granted to Director General Environment (DGE) by DAOD 4003-0, Environmental Protection and Stewardship.

REQUIREMENT

2. All organizations within the Department of National Defence (DND) and the Canadian Forces (CF), or under the administrative authority of DND, who have responsibility for pesticide use shall have policies and procedures in place to eliminate the use of pesticides for cosmetic lawn care purposes on their properties by 31 March 2003.

DEFINITIONS

3. The definitions in this section apply to this environmental directive:

   1. Use - any application method of a pesticide.

   2. Cosmetic use - the use of pesticides where the application is purely for an aesthetic purpose.

   3. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) - a decision-making process that uses all necessary techniques to suppress pests effectively, economically and in an environmentally sound manner. The elements of IPM include:

      1. identifying potential pest organisms;

      2. monitoring pest and beneficial organism populations, pest damage, and environmental conditions;

      3. managing ecosystems to prevent organisms from becoming pests;

      4. using injury thresholds in making control decisions;

      5. reducing pest populations to acceptable levels using strategies that may combine biological, cultural, mechanical, behavioural and, when necessary, chemical controls; and

      6. evaluating the effects and efficacy of pest management strategies.

   4. Lawn care - refers to the maintenance of turf and outdoor shrubs, flowers and other ornamental plants.

   5. Pesticide - a product registered and listed under the Pest Control Products Act (PCPA) and its regulations intended to prevent, destroy or manage a pest; this includes insecticides, fungicides, herbicides and plant growth regulators. This definition also applies to a fertilizer within the meaning of the Fertilizers Act (Canada) that contains a pesticide.

   6. Plant Health Care - a systematic approach to turf management which includes the following components:

      1. monitoring;

      2. cultural practices - mowing, fertilizing, aerating, irrigating, overseeding, dethatching;

      3. scheduling; and

      4. inspection.

RELATED ORDERS AND INFORMATION

4. This directive will take precedence over any other orders and information related to Departmental pest management activities.

BACKGROUND

5. A growing number of Canadian municipalities are choosing to address local situations and concerns about pesticides by implementing by-laws restricting or eliminating cosmetic pesticide use on lands within their boundaries.

6. In May 2000, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development issued its report Pesticides: Making the Right Choice for Health and the Environment recommending that the use of pesticides for cosmetic purposes be phased out in Canada. The Standing Committee report noted concerns over the increasing use of pesticides in urban areas and how this could be affecting those parts of the population considered to be the most vulnerable to pesticide exposure. Three vulnerable groups were identified, including women and children; people who suffer from asthma or allergies, people with multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) and older people; and workers who handle pesticides.

7. The Standing Committee recommended the following principles for the management of pesticides in Canada:

   1. to make the protection of human health and the environment the absolute priority in pest management decisions, especially the protection of children and other vulnerable populations;

   2. to ensure that a precautionary approach is taken in decision making; and

   3. to promote and increase reliance on pollution prevention strategies.

8. In October 2000, as part of the Government of Canada's response to the Standing Committee report on pesticides, a Healthy Lawns Strategy, designed to help Canadians reduce their reliance on pesticides in the urban setting, was launched as part of an Action Plan on Urban Use Pesticides. As part of the Strategy, lawn care alternatives to pesticides are made available through a Healthy Lawns web site.

9. In February 2001, DND tabled its second sustainable development strategy (SDS), Environmentally Sustainable Defence Activities, which includes a commitment to eliminate the use of cosmetic lawn care pesticides on DND properties by March 31, 2004. This directive advances the SDS target date by one year.

POLICY

10.	a.	Commencing 1 April 2002, no person shall use or permit to be used any pesticide for cosmetic lawn care purposes on DND property all or part of which lies within 50 metres of the boundary of a property containing any school, licensed day care centre, park, playground, church or hospital; and
	b.	Commencing 1 April 2003, no person shall use or permit to be used any pesticide for cosmetic lawn care purposes on DND property.

SCOPE

11. All lands owned or leased by DND must, as a minimum, be maintained and operated according to the requirements of this directive.

12.	a.	All DND and CF members must comply with this directive; and
	b.	In cases where the responsibility for pest management is with a Contractor, Agency, Non Public Funds or a lessee, those responsible individuals must comply with this directive.

GOLF COURSES

13. A Golf Course is exempt from this directive if it meets the following criteria :

    1. by 31 March 2004, it holds an Integrated Pest Management Certification issued through a recognized national program such as the National Audubon Society of Canada Sanctuary Program, or equivalent; and

    2. an annual report on Pesticide use is provided to the Base/Wing Environment Officer.

SPORTS FIELDS

14. Dedicated sports fields are exempt from this directive if they meet the following criteria:

    1. by 31 March 2004, a comprehensive Plant Health Care program for the playing surfaces has been implemented and documented as part of the Base IPM Plan; and

    2. an annual report on pesticide use is provided to the Base/Wing Environment Officer.

IMPLEMENTATION

15. This policy will be implemented through responsible pest management approaches and the principles of integrated pest management, including:

    1. Plant Health Care programs;

    2. pest resistant and alternative landscape design;

    3. building specifications related to landscape to discourage future pest problems;

    4. training and awareness on healthy lawns alternatives.

REFERENCES

Environmentally Sustainable Defence Activities: A Sustainable Development Strategy for National Defence. Department of National Defence. December 2000.

Pesticides, Making the Right Choice for the Protection of Health and the Environment. House of Commons Standing Committee on the Environment and Sustainable Development. May 2000.

Government Response to the Report of the House of Commons Standing Committee on the Environment and Sustainable Development. October 2000.

Treasury Board Manual, Occupational Health and Safety Volume, Chapter 2-15, Pesticides. Treasury Board. 1993.

RESOURCES

Recommended Format for IPM Plans - Web site of Director General Environment.

Healthy Lawns Web Site - Health Canada, Pest Management Regulatory Agency.

National Audubon Society of Canada Sanctuary Program.

DND Innovative Turf Management Workshop - Web site of Director General Environment.