2019 US Virgin Islands Code
Title 12 - Conservation
Chapter 19 - Pesticide Control
§ 831. Lawn applications
- All persons providing commercial lawn application must comply with the following provisions in their entirety and without exception, including all applicable definitions as provided in this chapter:
(a) All retail establishments that sell general use pesticides for commercial or residential lawn application shall display a sign meeting standards, established by the Commissioner pursuant to subsection (a) of section 832 of this chapter, in a conspicuous place, and such sign shall be placed as close as possible to the place where such pesticides are displayed.
(b) At least forty-eight hours prior to any commercial lawn application of a pesticide, the person or business making such application shall supply written notice, as defined in subsection (c) of section 832 of this chapter, to occupants of all dwellings, as defined in subsection (k) of section 825 of this chapter, on abutting property with a boundary that is within one hundred fifty feet of the site of such application; and to owners, owners' agents, or other persons in a position of authority for all other types of premises, as defined in subsection (k) of section 825 of this chapter, that are on abutting property with a boundary that is within one hundred fifty feet of the site of such application. Owners or owners' agents of multiple family dwellings shall supply the written notice to the occupants of such multiple family dwellings and for all other types of premises, owners, owners' agents or other persons in a position of authority shall post such written notice in a manner specified by the Commissioner. The prior notification provisions of this paragraph do not apply to the following:
(1) the application of anti-microbial pesticides and anti-microbial products as defined by FIFRA in 7 U.S.C. Section 136(mm) and 136q(h)(2);
(2) the use of an aerosol product with a directed spray, in containers of eighteen fluid ounces or less, when used to protect individuals from an imminent threat from stinging and biting insects, including venomous spiders, bees, wasps and hornets. This section shall not exempt from notification the use of any fogger product or aerosol product that discharges to a wide area;
(3) the use of non-volatile insect or rodent bait in a tamper resistant container;
(4) the application of a pesticide classified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency as an exempt material under 40 CFR Part 152.25;
(5) the application of a pesticide which the United States Environmental Protection Agency has determined satisfies its reduced risk criteria, including a biopesticide;
(6) the use of boric acid and disodium octaborate tetrahydrate;
(7) the use of horticultural soap and oils that do not contain synthetic pesticides or synergists;
(8) the application of a granular pesticide, where granular pesticide means any ground applied solid pesticide that is not a dust or powder;
(9) the application of a pesticide by direct injection into a plant or the ground;
(10) the spot application of a pesticide, where spot application means the application of pesticide in a manually pressurized or non-pressurized container of thirty-two fluid ounces or less to an area of ground less than nine square feet;
(11) the application of a pesticide to the ground or turf of any cemetery; and
(12) an emergency application of a pesticide when necessary to protect against an imminent threat to human health, provided, however, that prior to any such emergency application, the person providing such application shall make a good faith effort to supply the written notice required pursuant to this chapter. Upon making an emergency application, the person making such application shall notify the Commissioner of Health, using a form developed by such commissioner for such purposes that shall include minimally the name of the person making such application, the pesticide business registration number or certified applicator number of the person making such application, the location of such application, the date of such application, the product name and United States Environmental Protection Agency registration number of the pesticide applied and the reason for such application.
(c) All persons performing residential lawn applications treating an area more than one hundred square feet shall affix markers to be placed within or along the perimeter of the area where pesticides will be applied. Markers are to be placed so as to be clearly visible to persons immediately outside the perimeter of such property. The markers must be posted at least twelve inches above the ground and shall be at least four inches by five inches in size. The markers required pursuant to this paragraph must be in place on the day during which the pesticide is being applied and shall instruct persons not to enter the property and not to remove the signs for a period of at least twenty-four hours. The instruction must be printed boldly in letters at least three-eighths of an inch in height.
