The New Jersey School Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Act was adopted on December 12, 2002. In November 2004, the NJDEP Pesticide Control Program School IPM regulations, N.J.A.C. 7:30-13.3 (PDF) (called ‘Subchapter 13’) were released. Their purpose is to provide safe and effective pest management and to minimize the use of pesticides in and around school buildings. The eight key requirements of the Act are outlined below with hyperlinks to many tools to comply with the law and regulations. See printable version (PDF) of the ‘Summary of Key Requirements of the NJ School IPM Act’.
Summary of Key Requirements of the New Jersey School IPM Act
- Required the development of a model policy by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) in cooperation with the New Jersey School Boards Association, the Commissioner of Education, and Rutgers Cooperative Extension. This team successfully developed a template model policy that was published on June 2, 2003. The Model Policy template (PDF) was revised in September 2003 to more accurately reflect the responsible parties for implementation. The Model Policy stipulated that the school would also issue a plan of how School IPM would be implemented by June 12, 2004. To aid schools in developing their own plan, we released a draft Model School IPM Plan for New Jersey Schools template on April 29, 2004. The NJDEP and RCE finalized the Model Plan for School IPM in New Jersey Schools template which is posted at both of our websites.
- Requires the superintendent of each public school*** district for each school in the district, the board of trustees of a charter school*, and the principal or chief administrator of a private school** to adopt and implement a school IPM policy for the school property consistent with a school IPM policy consistent with the model policy.
*A charter school is a public school operated under a charter granted by the Commissioner of Education, that is independent of the district board of education and that is managed by a board of trustees.
**Private school” means a school, under college grade, which does not derive its support entirely or in part from public funds.
***Public school” means a school, under college grade, which derives its support entirely or in part from public funds.
The adoption and implementation of a model policy by public, charter, and private schools (K through 12) must occur by June 12, 2004.
- Requires the appointment of an IPM Coordinator to carry out the model policy adopted by each local school board, charter school, and private school.
- Requires keeping records of pesticide applications used on school property at each school or for each school in the school district for three years after the application, and for five years after the application of a pesticide designed to control termites
- Requires annual notification of the school’s IPM policy to all staff and parents or guardians of each student enrolled at the school to include:
- the policy,
- a list of any pesticide that is in use or has been used within the last 12 months on school property,
- information on school IPM policy meetings scheduled, and
- contact information for the IPM Coordinator of the school or school district.
See law (PDF) and regulations (PDF) for more notification specifics. This information is also to be provided to new school staff members and students.
- Requires prior notification of all pesticide use (all non-low impact pesticides) other than low impact pesticides to all staff and parents or guardians of each student enrolled at the school, at least 72 hours before the use of pesticides on school property. Also requires posting of signs of this information at least 72 hours prior to the application. These requirements apply at any time of the year children may be present.
Content of notification and signs:
-
- common name of pesticide,
- EPA registration number,
- location description, date, and time of application (one date for indoor application;
- three dates for outdoor applications in case of cancellation),
- potential adverse effects of product,
- reasons for the application,
- contact information for the IPM Coordinator of the school or school district, and
- EPA statement on sensitive persons (see Act above for wording)
- further label information or precautions for public safety.
Method of notification:
-
- written note is mailed at least one week prior,
- written note: students take home
- phone call,
- direct contact, or
- email.
Signs:
-
- size: at least 8.5″ by 11″.
- placement: prominent in/adjacent and at entrance to treatment area (school building or school grounds entrances, for example).
- time posted: from 72 hours prior to 72 hours after treatment.
- Emergency application of a non-low impact pesticide may only be made when the health or safety of a student or staff member is threatened.
Requirements:
Post-application notice (content and method of notification as described above in 5 for non low impact pesticide use) to parent or guardians of students and staff must be made within the earlier of either 24 hours or the next school day. The reason for the emergency and measures how this will be avoided in the future may be included.
Posting of signs (as described above for non low impact pesticide use) must be made from the time of application until 72 hours after treatment.
- Timing of Pesticide Applications:
- Applications of non low impact pesticides shouldn’t be made when students are present on school property unless there is a separate ventilation system for the treated and the untreated areas, and smoke or fire doors separating the areas. Further, applications of non low impact pesticides on school property must be made in advance of when students will be present for instruction or extra-curriculars, allowing for any label-prescribed entry restrictions; if there is no re-entry interval listed on the label, a minimum of 7 hours must be allowed prior to student re-entry on school property.
- If there is application of a low impact pesticide on school property, it must be made so that adequate settling or drying occurs in advance of when students will be present for instruction or extra-curriculars.