Section 285.636.4. Standards for certification of commercial applicators.

Commercial applicators shall demonstrate a practical knowledge, by written examination, of the principles and practices of pest management, pesticide label comprehension, and the safe use of pesticides, including the general standards applicable to all  categories   and  the standards specifically identified for each category or subcategory designated by the applicant, as set forth in 40 C.F.R. '171.4 and these rules. These standards  are  adopted in these rules by reference and are  available   from the Superintendent of Documents, United States Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402, at no cost, or from the Michigan Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 30017, Lansing,  Michigan  48909,  at  no   cost. Applicators who apply pesticides by aircraft or who apply fumigants shall be examined on the additional standards specifically identified for  the methods  of  application  as specified in subdivision (c) of this  rule.

The standards for certification are as follows:

(a)        All subcategory standards shall include a practical knowledge of all of the following:

(i)     Relevant and associated pests.

(ii)     Environmental fate of pesticides.

(iii)           Pesticide formulations in use and  application  equipment, equipment calibration, and methods of application.

(iv)     Safety procedures to protect nontarget organisms.

(v)   Integrated pest management principles.

(vi)   Container disposal and storage.

(vii)   Worker safety.

(b)     Subcategory standards for particular categories shall be as follows:

(i)    Field crops (R 285.636.3(1)(a)), vegetable crops (R 285.636.3(1)(b)), fruit  crops (R 285.636.3(1)(c)), and animal subcategories (R 285.636.3(1)(d)). Applicators shall demonstrate a practical knowledge of all of the following:

(A)    The relevant crops or agricultural practices.

(B)    )  Pesticide residues.

(C)    Phytotoxicity where applicable.

(D)    )  Precautions necessary to reduce farm worker exposure to pesticides.

(ii)         Forest pest management category      (R        285.636.3(2)).        Applicators shall demonstrate a practical knowledge of all of the following:

(A)    Forest pests and their life cycles and management.

(B)  A general understanding of forest ecosystems.

(C)  The potential effect of pesticide applications on nontarget organisms.

(iii)        Forest products preservation subcategory    (R 285.636.3(2)(a)).Applicators shall demonstrate a practical knowledge of all of the following:

(A)        The principles and practices    associated      with    the     safe        use        of wood preservatives.

(B)    Obtaining site information.

(C)    Protecting wildlife and endangered species.

(D)    )  Maintaining surface water quality.

(iv)        Turf grass pest management subcategory (R 285.636.3(3)(a)).Applicators shall demonstrate a practical knowledge of all of the following:

(A)  The maintenance of turf.

(B)  ) Phytotoxicity.

(C)  Lawn grass species.

(D)  ) Physiological conditions.

(E)       The  necessary  procedures   and  precautions   associated    with   the application of pesticides for the maintenance of lawn grasses.

(v)         Ornamental plants and shade tree pest management subcategory (R 285.636.3(3)(b)). Applicators shall demonstrate a practical knowledge of the maintenance of ornamental plants and shade trees, including all of the following:

(A)    The physiologic conditions of ornamental plants and shade trees.

(B)         The  calibration   techniques  unique   to  ornamental     plant  and  shade  tree  pest management.

(C)       The necessary procedures and precautions associated with the application of pesticides for the maintenance of shade trees and ornamental plants in the urban environment.

(vi)       Seed treatment subcategory (R 285.636.3(4)). Applicators shall demonstrate a practical knowledge of  the  methods   required  to prohibit  the contamination of grains that may be utilized for feed  or food purposes.

(vii)       Aquatic subcategory(R 285.636.3(5)). Applicators shall demonstrate a practical knowledge of all of the following:

(A)    The potential for human exposure after the pesticide application.

(B)    The potential for surface or groundwater contamination.

(C)        The requirement   for obtaining permits from the       Michigan      department of environmental quality.

(viii)         Swimming pools subcategory (R 285.636.3(5)(a)). Applicators shall demonstrate a practical knowledge of the application techniques and  water management principles associated with the treatment of swimming pools and a practical knowledge of the effects of swimming pool treatment on humans.

(ix)          Microbial pest management subcategory(R 285.636.3(5)(b)).Applicators shall demonstrate a practical knowledge of the principles and practices associated with pesticide use to manage microbes, including application rates and pesticide  efficiency use. In addition, applicators shall have knowledge of their responsibility to obtain discharge permits from the appropriate agencies.

(x)       Sewer line pest management subcategory (R 285.636.3(5)(c)).Applicators shall demonstrate a practical knowledge of principles and practices associated with pesticide use to manage root growth in sewer lines.

(xi)        Right-of-way pest management subcategory (R 285.636.3(6)).Applicators shall demonstrate a practical knowledge of vegetation management principles with an emphasis on  application  techniques  to  protect  surface water.

(xii)         General pest management subcategory (R 285.636.3(7)(a)). Applicators shall demonstrate a practical knowledge of all of the following:

(A)    )  A wide variety of pests, including all of the following with  respect to pests:

(1)     Their life cycles.

(2)     Types of formulations appropriate for their management.

(3)     Methods of application that avoid all of the following:

(a)     The contamination of food.

(b)     Damage and contamination of habitat.

(c)     Exposure of people and pets.

(B)       The specific factors that may  lead  to  a  hazardous   condition, including exposure to pesticides in the various situations encountered in this category.

(C)            Indoor environmental conditions and the necessary   procedures and precautions associated with the application of pesticides for  the management of indoor pests in an urban environment.

(xiii)                      Wood-destroying  organism  management    subcategory   (R 285.636.3(7)(b)). Applicators shall demonstrate a practical knowledge of all of the following:

(A)    )  Wood-destroying organisms and their life cycles.

(B)    The proper methods of pesticide application.

(C)       The specific  factors  that  may   lead  to  human   exposure  or  to contamination of groundwater, indoor  air, or other components of the environment.

(xiv)       Vertebrate pest management subcategory (R 285.636.3(7)(d)).Applicators shall demonstrate a practical   knowledge  of  the  principles associated with the management of birds and other vertebrates, such as rats, mice, bats, tree squirrels, ground squirrels, skunks, moles, and snakes,  and shall have knowledge of all of the following:

(A)    Domestic animal, wildlife, and endangered species protection.

(B)    Department of natural resources permits.

(C)    Practices and precautions pertinent to the issues concerning the application of pesticides in urban environments.

(xv)      Interior plant pest management subcategory (R 285.636.3(7)(e)).Applicators shall demonstrate a  practical   knowledge  of  physiological conditions associated with the maintenance of interior plants, including all of the following:

(A)    )  Plant phytotoxicity and persistence of pesticides.

(B)    Indoor air contamination.

(C)    Drift.

(D)    )  Calibration.

(E)    General hazards to humans in an enclosed environment.

(xvi)            Mosquito management subcategory (R 285.636.3(7)(f)).Applicators shall demonstrate a practical   knowledge  of  the  principles associated with the management of mosquitoes, including all of the following:

(A)    Their life cycles.

(B)    Types of formulations appropriate for their management.

(C)    Methods of application.

(D)    )  Possible effects on water quality.

(E)    The potential health effects on humans in the target area.

(xvii)        Domestic animal pest management (R 285.636.7(g)). Applicators shall demonstrate a practical knowledge of the management of pests associated with small domestic animals, including, but not limited to, fleas and ticks.

(xviii)         Public health pest management (R 285.636.3(8)). Applicators shall demonstrate a practical knowledge of the management of pests that have medical and public health importance, including   their life cycles and habitats, and have a practical knowledge including all  of  the following:

(A)    )  A variety of indoor and outdoor environments.

(B)    Effects of large-scale pesticide application on human populations.

(C)       The  necessary  procedures  and  precautions  associated    with   the application of pesticides in an urban environment.

(xix)           Regulatory pest  management  (R   285.636.3(9)).  Applicators shall demonstrate a practical knowledge of  regulatory   pest  management, including all of the following:

(A)      Specific     life     cycles     of    the    pest     to     be       managed      and appropriate management techniques.

(B)    The potential impact of pesticide applications  to   nontarget   areas or organisms.

(C)    Structure and responsibility of cooperating state and federal agencies.

(D)    General public notification procedures.

(xx)   Demonstration and research pest management (R 285.636.3(10)).Applicators shall be certified in the category or subcategory as required by R 285.636.3 and shall demonstrate a practical knowledge, including all of the following:

(A)  ) Procedures required for conducting demonstration and research plots.

(B)  Various methods of data analysis.

(C)  Necessary precautions for ensuring commodity security and  destruction, if required.

(D)      Detailed  knowledge    of    the     state      and       federal         pesticide registration process.

(c)    Additional certification standards are as follows:

(i)          Aerial  applicators.   Applicators  who  apply     pesticides       by          aircraft  shall demonstrate   a    practical   knowledge   of    the   techniques   of          aerial application and

applicable federal aviation administration regulations. Practical knowledge is required concerning nontarget injury that  may result from the aerial application of pesticides.

(ii)     Fumigation. Applicators shall demonstrate a practical knowledge of the principles and methods of fumigation. Practical knowledge is required concerning all of the following:

(A)	Toxicity.
(B)	The potential for environmental contamination.
(C)	Applicator personal protection.
(D)	Human exposure.
(E)	Nontarget  injury  that   may  result  from  the  use	of  pesticide	gases	in  any

environment.

(d)     Applicators who request certification for a method of application that differs in part from one of the established categories set forth in  R 285.636.3   shall demonstrate   a  practical    knowledge    of    such standards determined by the director as being applicable to the method of application described by the applicant. Such standards prescribed by the director  shall include the general standards applicable   to all categories and the standards specifically identified as  appropriate  for   the applicant's  method   of application.

History: 1979 AC; 1991 AACS; 2002 AACS.