HF 2585 (LSB 5221YH (2) 89)

HOUSE FILE 2585

BY  ISENHART

A BILL FOR

An Act creating a pesticide drift and pollution task force, and requiring the submission of a report to the governor and general assembly.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  PESTICIDE DRIFT AND POLLUTION TASK FORCE.
   1.  A pesticide drift and pollution task force is created within the department of agriculture and land stewardship. The department shall house the task force and provide it with all necessary staff and supplies to carry out the purpose of the task force as provided in subsection 3.
   2.  The members of the task force shall include the secretary of agriculture or a designee appointed by the secretary of agriculture, who shall serve as the chairperson of the task force. The members shall include all of the following:
   a.  Experts in toxicological studies, anemology studies, diagnostic wind modeling, agronomy, pesticide transport models, and biochemistry.
   b.  Representatives of pesticide manufacturers and distributors.
   c.  Representatives of persons engaged in the application of pesticides, including aerial applicators and crop producers.
   d.  Persons affected by the application of pesticides.
   3.  The purpose of the task force is to study methods to reduce or mitigate pesticide pollution due to the movement of chemical compounds passing through the air in a manner that drifts to nontarget areas measured by amount, size of droplets, and distance carried. The task force shall examine issues associated with spray drift; the release, volatilization, and deposition of pesticides downwind of a target area; and the impacts of exposure. The task force shall take into account special characteristics of nontarget areas, including land used to grow organic or sensitive plants; land used to raise farm animals and produce eggs, milk, or honey; land where there are concentrations of human populations; and land with rare, valuable, or vulnerable ecological systems. The task force shall study the manner in which chemical compounds dissolve in water, are absorbed into the soil matrix, or adhere to sediment and remain in stream and lake beds; and the associated effects on aquatic organisms and drinking water supplies serving human and animal populations.
   4.  The task force shall recommend long-term pesticide application and management practices, as well as appropriate application notice requirements and protective controls. The task force shall recommend a strategy for evaluating the sustainable use of pesticides, including overall integrated pest management practices and the implementation of organic solutions and non-pesticide-based approaches. The task force shall recommend a method to establish and administer an electronic system that allows a person to report and access complaints regarding the application of pesticides, including information regarding the location of the application and alleged damages caused by the application.
   5.  The task force shall submit a report containing findings and recommendations to the governor and general assembly not later than December 30, 2023.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill creates a pesticide drift and pollution task force (task force) within the department of agriculture and land stewardship. The task force is chaired by the secretary of agriculture and includes members with backgrounds in various scientific disciplines, representatives of the industry, representatives of persons involved in the application of pesticides, and persons affected by the application of pesticides. The task force must study methods to reduce or mitigate pesticide pollution due to the movement of chemical compounds passing through the air, dissolving in water, absorbing into the soil matrix, or adhering to sediment; and the associated effects on aquatic organisms and drinking water supplies. The task force is required to recommend long-term pesticide application and management practices, notice requirements for pesticide applications, a strategy for evaluating the sustainable use of pesticides, and a method to establish and administer an electronic system that allows a person to report and access complaints. The task force must submit a report containing findings and recommendations to the governor and general assembly not later than December 30, 2023.