Current through Reg. 50, No. 187; September 24, 2024
(1) Treatment
areas and treatment procedures to eradicate a giant African land snail
infestation will be dependent on the number of infested properties detected and
the geographical area affected by the infestation, but will generally encompass
an area of 200 yards beyond all known infested properties. The geographical
boundaries of treatment areas shall be published in a major newspaper of
general distribution in the treatment area, provided to affected industry
groups, and published on the Department's website at
www.freshfromflorida.com/pi.
Treatment areas shall be treated under the direction of the Department. All
pesticide applications will be applied in accordance with applicable federal
and state regulations when implementing mitigative measures in order to reduce
environmental and public impact as described in subsection
5B-67.006(3),
F.A.C. The Department or other parties acting in concert with the Department
through a compliance agreement shall use the following treatment activities or
combinations thereof:
(a) Ground applications
of an EPA-registered molluscicide, an Emergency Exempted product as authorized
by Federal Insecticide Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), Section 18
[7 U.S.C.
136p, effective December 13, 1991], or a
Special Local Need product as authorized by FIFRA, Section 24(c)
[(7 U.S.C.
136v, effective October 25, 1988] that are
labeled as effective for giant African land snail control as incorporated by
reference in subparagraph
5B-66.004(6)(b)
1., F.A.C., and paragraphs
5B-66.006(1)(a) and
(2)(c), F.A.C.
(b) Bait application of molluscicide products
labeled by the EPA for residential use to control the giant African land snail
will be applied to properties infested or suspected to be infested within
treatment areas as described in subsection 5B- 67.006(1), F.A.C.;
(c) The removal and disposal of plant parts
and debris known or suspected to harbor any stage of the giant African land
snail;
(d) The placement of traps
as an approved method of all collected giant African land snails;
(e) Removal and destruction of giant African
land snails through hand collection or mechanical methods.
(2) Treatment procedures. Treatments will be
conducted by the Department in accordance with the following procedures after
notification to applicable federal, state, and local government agencies and
officials. Such agencies and officials will be provided an opportunity to
comment on program procedures or mitigative measures, or to participate in
program monitoring activities:
(a) All
necessary control actions among those listed in paragraphs
5B-67.006(1)(a)
-(e), F.A.C., will be conducted based on the biology and known behavioral
traits of the giant African land snail and using the treatments necessary to
prevent further spread and achieve eradication.
(b) Local hospitals and public health
facilities and agencies will be notified of the pesticide treatment schedules
and the types of pesticides used and all accidental pesticide exposures will be
reported to the appropriate local, state and federal authorities.
(c) All applicable environmental laws and
regulations will be followed and an environmental monitoring program in
accordance with applicable federal and state environmental laws will be
implemented.
(d) All pesticides
will be applied under the supervision of certified applicators as applicable
and in accordance with label instructions, applicable quarantine or emergency
exemptions, USDA Environmental Impact Statements, site-specific Environmental
Assessments and state licensing requirements.
(e) All appropriate program personnel will be
trained on the proper use and storage of materials and instructed on emergency
procedures in the event of accidental chemical exposure.
(f) All necessary safety and cleaning
equipment, protective clothing and Material Safety Data Sheets will be provided
to program personnel.
(3)
Program Mitigative Measures. The following mitigative measures will be taken to
reduce public and environmental impact:
(a)
Residents in treatment areas shall be notified in person or by posted notice at
least 24 hours in advance of the date and time of planned pesticide treatments.
A general notice will be provided to citizens' at large and affected industry
groups, and published on the Department's website at
www.freshfromflorida.com/pi.
Notifications will be in English and other languages as necessary based on the
ethnic structure of the community. The notification shall include basic
information about the program, the geographical boundaries of the treatment
area, treatment procedures and measures to be taken to avoid exposure and
reduce damage.
(b) A telephone help
line system will be established to keep the public informed of program
activities and serve as a mechanism for registering and responding to
complaints.
(c) The United States
Department of the Interior's Fish and Wildlife Service and the Florida Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Commission will be contacted to determine the presence of
any endangered or threatened species in need of protection within the treatment
area and the program shall take appropriate measures to protect those species
as recommended by these agencies.
(d) Sensitive areas in or near treatment
areas shall be identified prior to chemical treatments and appropriate measures
taken to ensure that these areas are not adversely affected.
(e) All control actions will be conducted
with appropriate concern for potential impact on the public, wildlife,
non-target organisms and sensitive areas.
(4) Declaration of Eradication. Following the
completion of all treatments, eradication shall be declared when no giant
African land snail is detected after a period of a minimum of two years. The
Department shall publish notice of the Declaration of Eradication in a major
newspaper of general distribution in the quarantine area, will provide notice
to affected industry groups, and publish the notice on the Department's website
at www.freshfromflorida.com/pi.
(5) Program Evaluation. Following the
completion of the giant African land snail eradication program, program
activities and monitoring results will be reviewed and evaluated and
appropriate changes implemented for future programs.
Rulemaking Authority 570.07(23), (24), 581.031(1), (5),
(7), (17) FS. Law Implemented
570.32(5), (6),
581.031(6), (7), (9), (15), (17), (20), (26),
(30),
581.101,
581.161,
581.181
FS.
New 10-9-13.
