Code of Maine Rules
01 - DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY
026 - BOARD OF PESTICIDES CONTROL
Chapter 22 - STANDARDS FOR OUTDOOR APPLICATION OF PESTICIDES BY POWERED EQUIPMENT IN ORDER TO MINIMIZE OFF-TARGET DEPOSITION
Section 026-22-4 - GENERAL STANDARDS FOR OFF-TARGET PESTICIDE DISCHARGE AND RESIDUE

I. General Standard. Pesticide applications shall be undertaken in a manner which minimizes pesticide drift to the maximum extent practicable, having due regard for prevailing weather conditions, toxicity and propensity to drift of the pesticide, presence of Sensitive Areas in the vicinity, type of application equipment and other pertinent factors.

II. Prima Facie Evidence. Pesticide residues in or on any off-target Sensitive Area Likely to Be Occupied resulting from off-target drift of pesticides from a nearby application that are 1% or greater of the residue in the target area are considered prima facie evidence that the application was not conducted in a manner to minimize drift to the maximum extent practicable. The Board shall review the site-specific application checklist completed by the applicator and other relevant information to determine if a violation has occurred. For purposes of this standard, the residue in the target area, and the residue in the Sensitive Area Likely to Be Occupied, may be adequately determined by evaluation of one or more soil, foliage or other samples, or by extrapolation or other appropriate techniques.

III. Standard of Harm. An applicator may not apply a pesticide in a manner that results in:

IV. Enforcement Considerations. The Board shall consider the particular circumstances of violations arising from Subsections 4(B)(I) and (III) in determining an appropriate response, including, but not limited to:

I. Consent, How Given.Authorization and consent by the owner or lessee and occupant (when applicable) of land receiving a pesticide discharge or drift in a manner consistent with the pesticide label may be given in any manner, provided that the consent is reasonably informed and is given prior to the onset of the spray activity in question. The burden of proof shall be upon the applicator to demonstrate that requisite authorization and consent has been given. For this reason, applicators are encouraged to obtain such consent in writing and to maintain records thereof.

II. The residue and harm standards in Sections 4(B)(II) and (III) for off-target drift do not apply where the owner, lessee and occupant (when applicable) of the off-target area receiving the pesticide drift have given authorization and consent as prescribed in Section 4(C).

III. Except with the prior written approval of the Board, no authorization or consent may be given with regard to off-target direct discharge or off-target drift of pesticides upon any bodies of water or critical areas as defined in CMR 01-026, Chapter 10, "Definitions; Sensitive Area."