Pesticide Spraying 2023
Monday July 24, 2023
Good evening Jack Lakers,
We have been told that the 12 waterfront properties requesting the pesticide use areanxious to have the job done and have requested extermination ASAP. As such, sprayingis likely to take place as soon as this week.
When spraying takes place, the public is to be advised immediately prior to treatment by the permit holder (Peerless Aquacare) not to use nearby water for swimming or animal consumption for 24 hours and human consumption or irrigation for five days. They are required to erect signs/notices which state the treatment date and time; the product being used; and water use restrictions identified on the product label.
We wanted to provide you with as much upfront warning as possible about the imminent pesticide use so you can plan your water usage safely. We will send you another update if/when we find out the date/time of pesticide spraying in advance.
The permit states that "the Permit Holder [Peerless Aquacare] shall ensure all adjacent landowners, lessees and/or potentially affected parties are notified of the proposed treatment a minimum of 48 hours prior to the commencement of the treatment. This notification shall include information regarding the treatment date/time and restrictions on water use identified on the pesticide label.”
JLA Board President Alex Kostiw has been in contact with Tim Hannah, Pesticide Specialist (A), (Technical Support Section, Eastern Division, Ministry of Environment, Conservation & Parks). Please see below for his response, in full, to Alex’s outreach and concerns.
Following a thorough review, Pesticide Permit number 5141-CRJMX9 was issued by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) for 12 locations in Jack Lake. A copy of the issued Permit is attached for your reference. The Permit was issued as the application did not meet the grounds for refusal to issue the permit found in the governing legislation. The permit is valid from July 24 to August 31, 2023. It is up to the exterminator’s schedule as to when they perform the treatment within these dates. It could be as early as this week.
The size of the 12 treatment areas is smaller this year than the size of the areas treated in previous years. The total amount of aquatic herbicide that is authorized to be used under the 2023 permit is 9.9 litres. This aquatic herbicide treatment will not eradicate the weeds throughout the lake, but it will control the weeds in the 12 treatment locations. Other forms of control, for example mechanical raking or cutting, may result in other problems and issues.
Cutting or raking Eurasian Water Milfoil will not eradicate the plant as it regrows from the roots unless they too are removed. Further, if not all the plant material is removed from the water, the milfoil may spread to form new colonies in other areas in the lake from the clippings, thereby expanding the infestation to new locations. Raking the bottom of the lakebed to remove milfoil plants destroys fish habitat and nesting areas on the lakebed. Vegetation removal by mechanical means may require further approvals from MNRF and/or DFO.
In Canada, pesticides are regulated by both the federal and provincial governments.
Prior to being used in Canada, a pest control product must be federally registered by Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA). Under the Pest Control Products Act (PCPA), the PMRA evaluates pesticides and registers pest control products that are found to be acceptable for use. Registered products are assigned a unique registration number (PCP #) and a product label is approved.
Questions regarding the science behind the scientific evaluation are best discussed with the PMRA. PMRA contact details are available at: Contact us — Pest Management Information Service — Health Canada - Canada.ca.
In Ontario, the sale, use, transportation, storage, and disposal of pesticides are regulated under the Pesticides Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P. 11 (the Act) and Ontario Regulation 63/09 (O. Reg. 63/09) as made under the Act. The Act and O. Reg. 63/09 are administered by the MECP. The role of the ministry is to ensure that pesticides are applied in a safe manner.
The MECP is committed to ensuring the proper management and use of pesticides in Ontario. We do this through our stringent licensing, permit and compliance programs. Permit applications go through rigorous ministry technical reviews. Permits issued include conditions to protect the environment and the local community. This permit authorizes the use of Reward Aquatic Herbicide (Reward). This pesticide, containing the active ingredient diquat, is federally registered (PCP #26271). The Director is compelled to issue a permit to an applicant under subsection 11 (1) (b) of the Act. The grounds for refusal to issue a permit are found in subsection 11 (3) of the Act. (See Pesticides Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P.11 (ontario.ca))The issuance of a permit by the MECP does not relieve the exterminator from any obligation to comply with any other applicable legal requirements, including the prohibition on depositing a deleterious substance in water frequented by fish or in any place that may result in the substance entering any such water, contrary to subsection 36(3) or any other provision of the federal Fisheries Act. The Fisheries Act is administered by Environment and Climate Change Canada and/or Fisheries and Oceans Canada. The contact for Environment and Climate Change Canada is wesley.plant@ec.gc.ca. Contact information for Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is available at www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/pnw-ppe/index-eng.html.
Based on detailed scientific evaluations conducted by PMRA, the approved label and the addition of permit conditions; there is no indication that this treatment will cause any unintended adverse impacts. Additionally, the temporary water use restrictions included in the permit conditions incorporate a large margin of safety, and apply only to the specific locations where the pesticide is applied.
Compliance with the federally approved label directions and permit conditions will result in a negligible risk of any undue impacts from the use of this pesticide. As such, there are no indications that the proper use of Reward in Jack Lake will adversely impact human health, or the environment.
Should you have any further questions, please let me know.
Tim
Tim Hannah
Pesticides Specialist (A)Technical Support Section, Eastern Region