Office of
Indiana State Chemist and Seed Commissioner
GROUND WATER PROTECTION
STATE OF INDIANA DRAFT GENERIC
PESTICIDE MANAGEMENT PLAN
COMPONENT 7. PREVENTION
The use of a broad spectrum of pesticides (herbicides,
insecticides, fungicides, nematicides, rodenticides, plant growth
regulators, etc.) has enhanced crop yields for a number of producers
located in Indiana. Because of the potential of many of these
chemicals to impact the environment, concerns have been raised
as to how these materials act and persist in the environment.
Although a number of areas of concern were identified when considering agrichemicals, and their potential impact on ground water, the most prominent concerns deal with storage, application and handling, and the disposal of diluted sprays, wash water, and improperly rinsed containers.
Following is a discussion of the areas of concern, which includes an identification of the major issues, preventative actions already underway, and preventative actions to be undertaken as needed.
It should be noted that although the primary focus
will be on agricultural chemicals, many of the same materials
may be used in areas and activities which are not classically
thought of as directly related to agriculture (i.e. lawn care,
forestry, structural pest control, etc.). For purposes of completeness,
these other areas and activities will be considered if it is perceived
that they too may impact ground water.
Pesticides may be applied through various application
systems at varying times during a growing season or pest's life
cycle. Application rate, method of application, weather conditions,
soil type, content of organic matter in the soil, development
state of the targeted pests and the development stage of the crop
may influence the pesticide's efficacy and the interaction with
the environment. The potential may exist for applied pesticides
to contaminate ground water through runoff, leaching, direct application near wellheads, sink holes, and drainage wells and back siphoning during mixing/loading, irrigation, or chemigation.
Prevention Actions
Target Vulnerable Areas
With the cooperation of SMP technical advisory
committee (Assessment and Planning, Component #5), OISC
will continue to assess and identify the areas of the state most
vulnerable to ground water contamination by pesticides. OISC will
promote and support the development of detailed hydrogeologic
terrains and settings maps and associated Geographic Information
System (GIS) data by the Indiana Geological Survey (IGS) as well
as the aquifer vulnerability model evaluation project by Purdue
Agricultural and Biological Engineering (ABEN).
That vulnerability
data and modeling will then be used by OISC through the use of
GIS to assist in development of state management plans. It is
anticipated that the hydrogeologic terrains and settings maps
from IGS will be available for use in 1995. The vulnerability
model evaluation project by ABEN should be complete by the end
of 1995.
Appendix F contains maps of the result of the vulnerability study, as well as historical monitoring data.
OISC will also reference the well water monitoring
data from various sources. For example, data from private and
public water systems which are being developed by IDEM Office
of Water and private well water sampling results from the
survey sponsored by Indiana Farm Bureau and others will both be
considered. This information will be used to identify areas for
concentration of efforts.
Voluntary Education and Best Management Practices (BMPs)
Initial response to a requirement by EPA for a SMP
will result in the establishment of a voluntary educational program
and Best Management Practices (BMP's). The BMP's will be developed
by an advisory group made up of representatives from OISC, CES,
NRCS pesticide user groups, the pesticide registrant and others
having an interest and technical expertise which would assist
in BMP development.
The BMP's will be reviewed and concurred upon by the Indiana Pesticide Review Board.
If OISC determines through ground water quality monitoring
detection, and, volume and location of use in Indiana that a pesticide
which has not been identified by EPA as requiring a SMP, has the
potential to impact ground water a similar educational program
may be developed.
Pesticide Management and Prohibition Areas
The voluntary, educational BMP approach may be implemented
with or without a detection. The upper boundary of reliance on
this approach will be when it is determined that a Pesticide Management
Area or Prohibition Area, as described in the response component
on page 8.1, is necessary.(Component 8.)
Bulk Storage Regulations
The Indiana Pesticide Review Board and OISC have
adopted rules which regulate the storage of dry bulk pesticides
in undivided quantities greater than 100 pounds and liquid bulk
pesticides in undivided quantities exceeding 55 gallons. They
prohibit all forms of underground pesticide storage. They address
both primary storage containers and secondary containment systems.
The rules provide for an operational area containment system to
capture any releases during transfer from or to storage at bulk
facilities. These rules became fully effective in May, 1993.
To date the primary concern centers around storage
and handling practices at bulk facilities. There is little evidence
in Indiana to indicate that pesticide handling practices at small
nonbulk facilities, including farms, may result in residue levels
in surrounding soil that may contribute to contamination of surface
water and ground water. Therefore, these facilities and operational
areas are not currently addressed by the previously mentioned
bulk rules. Also not addressed in the current laws are considerations
of well location relative to mixing and handling facilities. Although
some pesticide labels have been changed to include handling restrictions with respect to well location, many labels have not.
Applicator Training
On the state level, the Indiana Pesticide Use and
Application Law requires training of persons, including farmers,
applying those pesticides classified as restricted use pesticides.
Also, persons applying pesticides commercially for hire must be
certified and licensed by OISC whether the pesticide is classified
for general or restricted use. Certification and licensing requires
an applicator to pass a written examination and accrue continuing
education hours in order to maintain certification.
During 1990
the certification standards for private applicators (farmers)
were significantly elevated from their previous level. These standards
and the associated applicator training will be revised again in
1995. A significant focus of the training will include ground
water protection activities.
Use Rate Research
It should be noted that the common application rates
of pesticides are quite dilute. Pesticide applications are usually
many fold more dilute than the concentrated materials shipped
from manufacturers or stored at bulk dealers' facilities. Research
is currently underway at Purdue University to assess the efficacy
of reduced application rates of herbicides in various parts
of the state. Results from these activities will be considered
when best management practice recommendations for pesticide specific SMP's are developed.
Additional Specific Actions
Specific preventative actions undertaken will be
a function of the specific pesticide of concern, the extent of
its use in Indiana, and the level of detection. These actions
may include any of the following, some of which are already being
implemented:
- Operational area activities at non-bulk pesticide
handling sites will be monitored by OISC field staff during routine
inspections to determine if a need exists for specific operational
area containment and regulation in the future.
- An outreach program was implemented along with the
bulk storage and containment regulations to inform involved parties
of the various concerns involved in handling and storing bulk
pesticides. OISC, with the assistance and input from the Agricultural
and Biological Engineering Department at Purdue University, has
developed and initiated the outreach and compliance program, to
both dealers and farmers. This effort should continue.
- Education of certified private and commercial applicators
regarding ground water BMP's and new label restrictions through
the initial and continuing pesticide certification programs should
be emphasized and continued.
- Pesticide detection and vulnerable areas will be
communicated to NRCS and FSA to encourage special consideration
be given to farmers in such areas seeking cost share assistance
for prevention activities such as sealing abandoned wells.
- OISC will solicit and encourage product stewardship/education
programs by product registrant(s).
- Educational efforts for farmers, commercial agrichemical
dealers, and well drillers should be initiated with regard to
siting of new wells near existing agrichemical storage and handling
facilities and siting of new agrichemical facilities near existing
wells. IDNR Division of Water, OISC, IDEM Office of Water, Purdue
University Cooperative Extension Service (CES) and the agrichemical
industry should work jointly on this effort.
- University and other researchers should be encouraged
to support and scrutinize pesticide waste minimization (e.g. rinsate,
wash water, and storm water processing and disposal technologies)
research being conducted across the country and determine the
most economical and most feasible methodologies for Indiana pesticide
users. Specifically customizing these for Indiana's climate, conditions,
use patterns and needs should be actively pursued.
- Research to be funded and conducted by the land grant
universities to describe the reactions in soil that control the
potential for leaching of pesticides in various soils common to
Indiana should be encouraged.
- Pesticide use adjacent to drinking water wellheads
should be examined by OISC, IDEM Office of Water, and the
Pesticide Review Board to determine potential impact on
ground water and need for use restrictions in these areas.
- Guidelines regarding irrigation and chemigation practices
in Indiana should be developed by IDNR Division of Water,
OISC, IDEM Office of Water and irrigation water users.
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Last Update: 08/04/97
This page is maintained by:
Leighanne Hahn,
Water Quality Program Specialist,
Pesticide Section,
Office of Indiana State Chemist
email: hahnl@hahn.isco.purdue.edu