§ 1102 - Pesticide advisory council established
§ 1102. Pesticide advisory council established
(a) The pesticide advisory council is established and attached to the agency of agriculture, food and markets. Members of the council, except those public members appointed by the governor, shall be qualified individuals who, by experience and training, are knowledgeable in one or more areas associated with pest control. The secretary, or commissioner as the case may be, shall represent each department or agency on the council:
(1) The fish and wildlife department;
(2) The department of environmental conservation;
(3) The agency of agriculture, food and markets;
(4) The department of forests, parks and recreation;
(5) The department of health;
(6) The agency of transportation;
(7) One physician from the College of Medicine of the University of Vermont nominated by its dean;
(8) One representative in the area of entomology, plant pathology or weed control from the University of Vermont Extension Service to be named by the director;
(9) One representative in the area of pesticide research from the Vermont Agricultural Experiment Station named by the dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences of the University of Vermont; and
(10) Two members appointed by the governor. In choosing these members, the governor shall consider people who have knowledge and qualities that could be useful in pursuing the goals and functions of the council. One of these members shall have practical experience in commercial agricultural production and shall be appointed in consultation with the secretary.
(b) Each state or university member of the council shall serve until his or her resignation or until his or her successor is appointed or otherwise designated in accordance with this chapter. Public members of the pesticide advisory council shall be appointed for terms of three years, except initially, appointments shall be made such that one member shall serve for a term of one year and one for a term of two years.
(c) The chair of the council shall be designated by the governor and serve as his or her personal representative, and shall coordinate activities on the council.
(d) The functions of the council are:
(1) To review insect, plant disease, weed, nematode, rodent, noxious wildlife, and other pest control programs within the state and to assess the effect of such programs on human health and comfort, natural resources, water, wildlife, and food and fibre production, and where necessary make recommendations for greater safety and efficiency.
(2) To serve as the advisory group to state agencies having responsibilities for the use of pesticides as well as to other state agencies and departments.
(3) To advise the executive branch of state government with respect to legislation concerning the use of various pest control measures.
(4) To suggest programs, policies, and legislation for wise and effective pesticide use that lead to an overall reduction in the use of pesticides in Vermont consistent with sound pest or vegetative management practices.
(5) To recommend studies necessary for the performance of its functions as established under this section.
(6) To recommend benchmarks with respect to the state goal of achieving an overall reduction in the use of pesticides consistent with sound pest or vegetative management practices, and to issue an annual report to the general assembly, detailing the state's progress in reaching those benchmarks and attaining that goal. The benchmarks should be designed to enable evaluation of multiple indicators of pesticide usage, use patterns, and associated risks. Benchmarks should take into consideration, but shall not be limited to, the following:
(A) Reducing the amount of acreage where pesticides are used.
(B) Reducing the risks associated with the use of pesticides.
(C) Increasing the acreage managed by means of integrated pest management techniques.
(D) Decreasing, within each level of comparable risk, the quantity of pesticides applied per acre.
(E) Recommendations regarding the implementation of other management practices that result in decreased pesticide use.
(e) The council shall meet semiannually, once in the fall and once in the spring. Meetings at other times may be called by the governor, by the chair or by a member of the council. Attendance at council meetings shall not be required of the commissioners of departments within the agency of natural resources, or their designees; however, at least one of these commissioners, or the commissioner's designee, shall attend each meeting of the council. Council proceedings shall be open to the public and its deliberations shall be recorded and made available to the public, along with its work product. (Added 1969, No. 273 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. April 9, 1970; amended 1983, No. 158 (Adj. Sess.), eff. April 13, 1984; 1987, No. 71, § 4; No. 76, § 18; 1989, No. 256 (Adj. Sess.), § 10(a), eff. Jan. 1, 1991; 1991, No. 79, § 4; 1995, No. 189 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 1999, No. 141 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 2003, No. 42, § 2, eff. May 27, 2003; 2009, No. 33, § 12.)