Pesticides: second-generation anticoagulant rodenticide: diphacinone.

Existing law regulates the use of pesticides and authorizes the Director of Pesticide Regulation to adopt regulations to govern the possession, sale, or use of any pesticide, as prescribed. Existing law prohibits the use of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides, as defined, in wildlife habitat areas. Existing law additionally prohibits the use of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides in the state until the director certifies to the Secretary of State that, among other things, the Department of Pesticide Regulation, in consultation with the Department of Fish and Wildlife, has adopted any additional restrictions necessary to ensure that continued use of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides is not reasonably expected to result in significant adverse effects to nontarget wildlife, as provided. Existing law exempts the use of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides from these prohibitions under certain circumstances. Existing law requires the director, and each county agricultural commissioner under the direction and supervision of the director, to enforce the provisions regulating the use of pesticides. A violation of these provisions is a misdemeanor. This bill would also prohibit the use of diphacinone in a wildlife habitat area and in the state and would generally apply the above provisions and other related requirements to diphacinone. The bill would change the above-described condition required for the director to make the certification to the Secretary of State to instead provide that the Department of Pesticide Regulation, in consultation with, and with the concurrence of, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, has adopted any additional restrictions that are necessary to ensure a trend of statistically significant reductions in the mean concentration values of detectable levels of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides or any of their metabolites in tested tissues of a scientifically representative sample of wildlife. The bill would authorize these restrictions to include a requirement to implement alternatives, such as integrated pest management, before the use of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides. The bill would also set forth similar conditions for the director to make the certification with respect to diphacinone, as provided. By imposing additional duties on county agricultural commissioners, and expanding the definition of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.