RCW ch. 17.21 — Revised Code of Washington Chapter 17.21 RCW — Washington Pesticide Application Act

RCW 17.21.010 Declaration of police power and purpose. The application and the control of the use of various pesticides is important and vital to the maintenance of a high level of public health and welfare both immediate and future, and is hereby declared to be affected with the public interest. The provisions of this chapter are enacted in the exercise of the police power of the state for the purpose of protecting the immediate and future health and welfare of the people of the state. [ 1967 c 177 s 1; 1961 c 249 s 1.] NOTES: Washington pesticide control act: Chapter 15.58 RCW. RCW 17.21.020 Definitions. The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (1) "Agricultural commodity" means any plant or part of a plant, or animal, or animal product, produced by a person (including farmers, ranchers, vineyardists, plant propagators, Christmas tree growers, aquaculturists, floriculturists, orchardists, foresters, or other comparable persons) primarily for sale, consumption, propagation, or other use by people or animals. (2) "Agricultural land" means land on which an agricultural commodity is produced or land that is in a government-recognized conservation reserve program. This definition does not apply to private gardens where agricultural commodities are produced for personal consumption. (3) "Antimicrobial pesticide" means a pesticide that is used for the control of microbial pests, including but not limited to viruses, bacteria, algae, and protozoa, and is intended for use as a disinfectant or sanitizer. (4) "Apparatus" means any type of ground, water, or aerial equipment, device, or contrivance using motorized, mechanical, or pressurized power and used to apply pesticides that are mounted, attached to, pulled, or carried on any vehicle, trailer, aircraft, vessel, or all-terrain vehicle designed primarily for transportation and movement, but does not include a device that is handheld, carried by the applicator, or placed in position for a sedentary timed or metered application. (5) "Arthropod" means any invertebrate animal that belongs to the phylum arthropoda, which in addition to insects, includes allied classes whose members are wingless and usually have more than six legs; for example, spiders, mites, ticks, centipedes, and isopod crustaceans. (6) "Certified applicator" means any individual who is licensed as a commercial pesticide applicator, commercial pesticide operator, public operator, private-commercial applicator, demonstration and research applicator, private applicator, limited private applicator, rancher private applicator, or any other individual who is certified by the director to use or supervise the use of any pesticide which is classified by the EPA or the director as a restricted use pesticide. (7) "Commercial pesticide applicator" means any person who engages in the business of applying pesticides to the land of another. (8) "Commercial pesticide operator" means any employee of a commercial pesticide applicator who uses or supervises the use of any pesticide and who is required to be licensed under provisions of this chapter. (9) "Defoliant" means any substance or mixture of substances intended to cause the leaves or foliage to drop from a plant with or without causing abscission. (10) "Department" means the Washington state department of agriculture. (11) "Desiccant" means any substance or mixture of substances intended to artificially accelerate the drying of plant tissues. (12) "Device" means any instrument or contrivance intended to trap, destroy, control, repel, or mitigate pests, but not including equipment used for the application of pesticides when sold separately from the pesticides. (13) "Direct supervision" by certified private applicators shall mean that the designated restricted use pesticide shall be applied for purposes of producing any agricultural commodity on land owned or rented by the applicator or the applicator's employer, by a competent person acting under the instructions and control of a certified private applicator who is immediately available, even though such certified private applicator is not physically present at the time and place the pesticide is applied. The certified private applicator shall have direct management responsibility and familiarity of the pesticide, manner of application, pest, and land to which the pesticide is being applied. Direct supervision by all other certified applicators means direct on-the-job supervision and shall require that the certified applicator be physically present at the application site and that the person making the application be in voice and visual contact with the certified applicator at all times during the application. However, direct supervision for forest application does not require constant voice and visual contact when general use pesticides are applied using nonapparatus type equipment, the certified applicator is physically present and readily available in the immediate application area, and the certified applicator directly observes pesticide mixing and batching. Direct supervision of an aerial apparatus means the pilot of the aircraft must be appropriately certified. (14) "Director" means the director of the department or a duly authorized representative. (15) "Engage in business" means any application of pesticides by any person upon lands or crops of another. (16) "EPA" means the United States environmental protection agency. (17) "EPA restricted use pesticide" means any pesticide classified for restricted use by the administrator, EPA. (18) "FIFRA" means the federal insecticide, fungicide and rodenticide act as amended (61 Stat. 163, 7 U.S.C. Sec. 136 et seq.). (19) "Forest application" means the application of pesticides to agricultural land used to grow trees for the commercial production of wood or wood fiber for products such as dimensional lumber, shakes, plywood, poles, posts, pilings, particle board, hardboard, oriented strand board, pulp, paper, cardboard, or other similar products. (20) "Fumigant" means any pesticide product or combination of products that is a vapor or gas or forms a vapor or gas on application and whose method of pesticidal action is through the gaseous state. (21) "Fungi" means all nonchlorophyll-bearing thallophytes (all nonchlorophyll-bearing plants of lower order than mosses and liverworts); for example, rusts, smuts, mildews, molds, and yeasts, except those on or in a living person or other animals. (22) "Fungicide" means any substance or mixture of substances intended to prevent, destroy, repel, or mitigate any fungi. (23) "Herbicide" means any substance or mixture of substances intended to prevent, destroy, repel, or mitigate any weed or other higher plant. (24) "Immediate service call" means a landscape application to satisfy an emergency customer request for service, or a treatment to control a pest to landscape plants. (25) "Insect" means any small invertebrate animal, in any life stage, whose adult form is segmented and which generally belongs to the class insecta, comprised of six-legged, usually winged forms, as, for example, beetles, bugs, bees, and flies. The term insect shall also apply to other allied classes of arthropods whose members are wingless and usually have more than six legs, for example, spiders, mites, ticks, centipedes, and isopod crustaceans. (26) "Insecticide" means any substance or mixture of substances intended to prevent, destroy, repel, or mitigate any insect. (27) "Land" means all land and water areas, including airspace and all plants, animals, structures, buildings, devices, and contrivances, appurtenant to or situated on, fixed or mobile, including any used for transportation. (28) "Landscape application" means an application of any EPA registered pesticide to any exterior landscape area around residential property, commercial properties such as apartments or shopping centers, parks, golf courses, schools including nursery schools and licensed day cares, or cemeteries or similar areas. This definition shall not apply to: (a) Applications made by private applicators, limited private applicators, or rancher private applicators; (b) mosquito abatement, gypsy moth eradication, or similar wide-area pest control programs sponsored by governmental entities; and (c) commercial pesticide applicators making structural applications. (29) "Limited private applicator" means a certified applicator who uses or is in direct supervision, as defined for private applicators in this section, of the use of any herbicide classified by the EPA or the director as a restricted use pesticide, for the sole purpose of controlling weeds on nonproduction agricultural land owned or rented by the applicator or the applicator's employer. Limited private applicators may also use restricted use pesticides on timber areas, excluding aquatic sites, to control weeds designated for mandatory control under chapters 17.04, 17.06, and 17.10 RCW and state and local regulations adopted under chapters 17.04, 17.06, and 17.10 RCW. A limited private applicator may apply restricted use herbicides to the types of land described in this subsection of another person if applied without compensation other than trading of personal services between the applicator and the other person. This license is only valid when making applications in counties of Washington located east of the crest of the Cascade mountains. (30) "Limited production agricultural land" means land used to grow hay and grain crops that are consumed by the livestock on the farm where produced. No more than ten percent of the hay and grain crops grown on limited production agricultural land may be sold each crop year. Limited production agricultural land does not include aquatic sites. (31) "Mishap" means an event that adversely affects humans or the environment and that is related to the use or presence of a pesticide whether the event was unexpected or unintentional. (32) "Nematocide" means any substance or mixture of substances intended to prevent, destroy, repel, or mitigate nematodes. (33) "Nematode" means any invertebrate animal of the phylum nemathelminthes and class nematoda, that is, unsegmented round worms with elongated, fusiform, or saclike bodies covered with cuticle, and inhabiting soil, water, plants or plant parts. Nematodes may also be called nemas or eelworms. (34) "Noncertified applicator" means an individual who is not licensed by the director in accordance with this chapter to use or supervise the use of any pesticide that is classified by EPA or the director as a restricted use pesticide in the classification appropriate to the type of application being conducted. (35) "Nonproduction agricultural land" means pastures, rangeland, fencerows, and areas around farm buildings but not aquatic sites. (36) "Person" means any individual, partnership, association, corporation, or organized group of persons whether or not incorporated. (37) "Pest" means, but is not limited to, any insect, rodent, nematode, snail, slug, weed, and any form of plant or animal life or virus, except virus, bacteria, or other microorganisms on or in a living person or other animal or in or on processed food or beverages or pharmaceuticals, which is normally considered to be a pest, or which the director may declare to be a pest. (38) "Pesticide" means, but is not limited to: (a) Any substance or mixture of substances intended to prevent, destroy, control, repel, or mitigate any pest; (b) Any substance or mixture of substances intended to be used as a plant regulator, defoliant or desiccant; and (c) Any spray adjuvant as defined in RCW 15.58.030. (39) "Plant regulator" means any substance or mixture of substances intended through physiological action, to accelerate or retard the rate of growth or maturation, or to otherwise alter the behavior of ornamental or crop plants or their produce, but shall not include substances insofar as they are intended to be used as plant nutrients, trace elements, nutritional chemicals, plant inoculants, or soil amendments. (40) "Private applicator" means a certified applicator who uses or is in direct supervision of the use of any pesticide classified by the EPA or the director as a restricted use pesticide, for the purposes of producing any agricultural commodity and for any associated noncrop application on land owned or rented by the applicator or the applicator's employer or if applied without compensation other than trading of personal services between producers of agricultural commodities on the land of another person. (41) "Private-commercial applicator" means a certified applicator who uses or supervises the use of any pesticide classified by the EPA or the director as a restricted use pesticide for purposes other than the production of any agricultural commodity on lands owned or rented by the applicator or the applicator's employer. (42) "Rancher private applicator" means a certified applicator who uses or is in direct supervision, as defined for private applicators in this section, of the use of any herbicide or any rodenticide classified by the EPA or the director as a restricted use pesticide for the purpose of controlling weeds and pest animals on nonproduction agricultural land and limited production agricultural land owned or rented by the applicator or the applicator's employer. Rancher private applicators may also use restricted use pesticides on timber areas, excluding aquatic sites, to control weeds designated for mandatory control under chapters 17.04, 17.06, and 17.10 RCW and state and local regulations adopted under chapters 17.04, 17.06, and 17.10 RCW. A rancher private applicator may apply restricted use herbicides and rodenticides to the types of land described in this subsection of another person if applied without compensation other than trading of personal services between the applicator and the other person. This license is only valid when making applications in counties of Washington located east of the crest of the Cascade mountains. (43) "Residential property" includes property less than one acre in size zoned as residential by a city, town, or county, but does not include property zoned as agricultural or agricultural homesites. (44) "Restricted use pesticide" means any pesticide or device which, when used as directed or in accordance with a widespread and commonly recognized practice, the director determines, subsequent to a hearing, requires additional restrictions for that use to prevent unreasonable adverse effects on the environment including people, lands, beneficial insects, animals, crops, and wildlife, other than pests. (45) "Rodenticide" means any substance or mixture of substances intended to prevent, destroy, repel, or mitigate rodents, or any other vertebrate animal which the director may declare by rule to be a pest. (46) "School facility" means any facility used for licensed day care center purposes or for the purposes of a public kindergarten or public elementary or secondary school. School facility includes the buildings or structures, playgrounds, landscape areas, athletic fields, school vehicles, or any other area of school property. (47) "Snails or slugs" include all harmful mollusks. (48) "Unreasonable adverse effects on the environment" means any unreasonable risk to people or the environment taking into account the economic, social, and environmental costs and benefits of the use of any pesticide, or as otherwise determined by the director. (49) "Use" as in "to use a pesticide," means: (a) Whenever the "restricted use pesticide" designation statement appears on a pesticide label, "use" means any of the following: (i) Preapplication activities involving mixing and loading the pesticide; (ii) Applying the pesticide including, but not limited to, supervising the use of a pesticide by a noncertified applicator; and (iii) Other pesticide-related activities including, but not limited to, transporting or storing pesticide containers that have been opened, cleaning equipment, and disposing of excess pesticides, spray mix, equipment wash waters, pesticide containers, and other pesticide-containing materials. (b) Whenever the "restricted use pesticide" designation statement does not appear on a pesticide label, "use" means any of the following: (i) Preapplication activities involving mixing and loading the pesticide; (ii) Applying the pesticide including, but not limited to, supervising the use of a pesticide by a noncertified applicator; and (iii) Other activities required by the label instructions. (50) "Use-specific instruction" means the information and requirements specific to a particular pesticide product or worksite that an applicator needs in order to use the pesticide in accordance with applicable requirements and without causing unreasonable adverse effects. (51) "Weed" means any plant which grows where it is not wanted. [ 2023 c 186 s 1; 2010 1st sp.s. c 7 s 134; 2004 c 100 s 1; 2002 c 122 s 2; (2002 c 122 s 1 expired July 1, 2002); 2001 c 333 s 1; 1994 c 283 s 1; 1992 c 176 s 1; 1989 c 380 s 33; 1979 c 92 s 1; 1971 ex.s. c 191 s 1; 1967 c 177 s 2; 1961 c 249 s 2.] NOTES: Reviser's note: RCW 17.21.030 Director's authority—Rules. The director shall administer and enforce the provisions of this chapter and rules adopted under this chapter. (1) The director may adopt rules: (a) Governing the loading, mixing, application and use, or prohibiting the loading, mixing, application, or use of any pesticide; (b) Governing the time when, and the conditions under which restricted use pesticides shall or shall not be used in different areas as prescribed by the director in the state; (c) Providing that any or all restricted use pesticides shall be purchased, possessed or used only under permit of the director and under the director's direct supervision in certain areas and/or under certain conditions or in certain quantities of concentrations; however, any person licensed to sell such pesticides may purchase and possess such pesticides without a permit; (d) Establishing recordkeeping requirements for licensees, permittees, and certified applicators; (e) Governing the fixing and collecting of examination fees; (f) Fixing and collecting fees for recertification course sponsorship; (g) Establishing testing procedures, licensing classifications, and requirements for licenses and permits, and criteria for assigning recertification credit to and procedures for department approval of courses as provided by this chapter; (h) Concerning training by employers for employees who mix and load pesticides; (i) Concerning minimum performance standards for spray boom and nozzles used in pesticide applications to minimize spray drift and establishing a list of approved spray nozzles that meet these standards; and (j) Fixing and collecting permit fees. (2) The director may adopt any other rules necessary to carry out the purpose and provisions of this chapter. [ 2020 c 180 s 3; 1994 c 283 s 2; 1989 c 380 s 34; 1987 c 45 s 26; 1979 c 92 s 2; 1961 c 249 s 3.] NOTES: Construction— RCW 17.21.040 Rules subject to administrative procedure act. All rules adopted under the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to the provisions of chapter 34.05 RCW as enacted or hereafter amended, concerning the adoption of rules. [ 1989 c 380 s 35; 1961 c 249 s 4.] RCW 17.21.050 Hearings—Administrative procedure act. All hearings for the imposition of a civil penalty and/or the suspension, denial, or revocation of a license, certification, or permit issued under the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to the provisions of chapter 34.05 RCW concerning adjudicative proceedings. [ 1994 c 283 s 3. Prior: 1989 c 380 s 36; 1989 c 175 s 58; 1985 c 158 s 4; 1961 c 249 s 5.] NOTES: Effective date— RCW 17.21.060 Subpoenas—Witness fees. The director may issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses and/or production of books, documents, and records anywhere in the state in any hearing affecting the authority or privilege granted by a license, certification, or permit issued under the provisions of this chapter. Witnesses shall be entitled to fees for attendance and travel as provided for in chapter 2.40 RCW as enacted or hereafter amended. [ 1994 c 283 s 4; 1961 c 249 s 6.] RCW 17.21.065 Classification of licenses. The director may classify licenses to be issued under the provisions of this chapter. These classifications may include but are not limited to pest control operators, ornamental sprayers, agricultural crop sprayers or right-of-way sprayers; separate classifications may be specified as to ground, aerial, or manual methods used by any licensee to apply pesticides. Each such classification shall be subject to separate testing procedures and requirements. No person shall be required to pay an additional license fee if such person desires to be licensed in one or all of the license classifications provided for by the director under the authority of this section, except as provided for in RCW 17.21.110. [ 1994 c 283 s 5; 1967 c 177 s 17.] RCW 17.21.070 Commercial pesticide applicator license—Requirements. It is unlawful for any person to engage in the business of applying pesticides to the land of another without a commercial pesticide applicator license. Application for a commercial applicator license must be accompanied by a fee of two hundred forty-three dollars and in addition a fee of twenty-seven dollars for each apparatus, exclusive of one, used by the applicant in the application of pesticides. [ 2021 c 244 s 8; 2008 c 285 s 21; 1997 c 242 s 11; 1994 c 283 s 6; 1993 sp.s. c 19 s 4; 1991 c 109 s 30; 1989 c 380 s 37; 1981 c 297 s 21; 1967 c 177 s 3; 1961 c 249 s 7.] NOTES: Effective date— RCW 17.21.080 Commercial pesticide applicator license—Application—Form. Application for a commercial pesticide applicator license provided for in RCW 17.21.070 shall be on a form prescribed by the director. (1) The application shall include the following information: (a) The full name of the individual applying for such license. (b) The full name of the business the individual represents with the license. (c) If the applicant is an individual, receiver, trustee, firm, partnership, association, corporation, or any other organized group of persons whether incorporated or not, the full name of each member of the firm or partnership, or the names of the officers of the association, corporation or group. (d) The principal business address of the applicant in the state or elsewhere. (e) The name of a person whose domicile is in the state, and who is authorized to receive and accept services of summons and legal notice of all kinds for the applicant. (f) The model, make, horsepower, and size of any apparatus used by the applicant to apply pesticides. (g) License classification or classifications for which the applicant is applying. (h) A list of the names of individuals allowed to apply pesticides under the authority of the commercial applicator's license. (i) Any other necessary information prescribed by the director. (2) Any changes to the information provided on the prescribed commercial applicator form shall be reported by the business to the department within thirty days of the change. [ 1994 c 283 s 7; 1989 c 380 s 38; 1967 c 177 s 4; 1961 c 249 s 8.] RCW 17.21.091 Commercial pesticide applicator license—Persons who may apply under license authority. (1) No commercial pesticide applicator shall allow a person to apply pesticides under the authority of the commercial pesticide applicator's license unless the commercial pesticide applicator has, by mail or facsimile transmissions, submitted the name to the department on a form prescribed by the department as provided in RCW 17.21.080(2). The department shall maintain a list for each commercial pesticide applicator of persons authorized to apply pesticides under the authority of the commercial pesticide applicator's license. (2) Violations of this chapter by a person acting as an employee, agent, or otherwise acting on behalf of or under the license authority of a commercial pesticide applicator, may, in the discretion of the department, be treated as a violation by the commercial pesticide applicator. [ 1994 c 283 s 8.] RCW 17.21.100 Recordkeeping by licensees and agricultural users. (1) Certified applicators licensed under the provisions of this chapter, persons required to be licensed under this chapter, all persons applying pesticides to more than one acre of agricultural land in a calendar year, including public entities engaged in roadside spraying of pesticides, and all other persons making landscape applications of pesticides to types of property listed in RCW 17.21.410(1) (b), (c), (d), and (e), shall keep records for each application which shall include the following information: (a) The location of the land where the pesticide was applied; (b) The year, month, day and beginning and ending time of the application of the pesticide each day the pesticide was applied; (c) The product name used on the registered label and the United States environmental protection agency registration number, if applicable, of the pesticide which was applied; (d) The crop or site to which the pesticide was applied; (e) The amount of pesticide applied per acre or other appropriate measure; (f) The concentration of pesticide that was applied; (g) The number of acres, or other appropriate measure, to which the pesticide was applied; (h) The licensed applicator's name, address, and telephone number and the name of the individual or individuals making the application and their license number, if applicable; (i) The direction and estimated velocity of the wind during the time the pesticide was applied. This subsection (i) shall not apply to applications of baits in bait stations and pesticide applications within structures; and (j) Any other reasonable information required by the director in rule. (2)(a) The required information shall be recorded on the same day that a pesticide is applied. (b) A commercial pesticide applicator who applies a pesticide to an agricultural crop or agricultural lands shall provide a copy of the records required under subsection (1) of this section for the application to the owner, or to the lessee if applied on behalf of the lessee, of the lands to which the pesticide is applied. Records provided by a commercial pesticide applicator to the owner or lessee of agricultural lands under this subsection need not be provided on a form adopted by the department. (3) The records required under this section shall be maintained and preserved by the licensed pesticide applicator or such other person or entity applying the pesticides for no less than seven years from the date of the application of the pesticide to which such records refer. If the pesticide was applied by a commercial pesticide applicator to the agricultural crop or agricultural lands of a person who employs one or more employees, as "employee" is defined in RCW 49.70.020, the records shall also be kept by the employer for a period of seven years from the date of the application of the pesticide to which the records refer. (4)(a) The pesticide records shall be readily accessible to the department for inspection. Copies of the records shall be provided on request to: The department; the department of labor and industries; treating health care personnel initiating diagnostic testing or therapy for a patient with a suspected case of pesticide poisoning; the department of health; and, in the case of an industrial insurance claim filed under Title 51 RCW with the department of labor and industries, the employee or the employee's designated representative. In addition, the director may require the submission of the records on a routine basis within thirty days of the application of any restricted use pesticide in prescribed areas controlling the use of the restricted use pesticide. When a request for records is made under this subsection by treating health care personnel and the record is required for determining treatment, copies of the record shall be provided immediately. For all other requests, copies of the record shall be provided within seventy-two hours. (b) Copies of records provided to a person or entity under this subsection (4) shall, if so requested, be provided on a form adopted under subsection (7) of this section. Information for treating health care personnel shall be made immediately available by telephone, if requested, with a copy of the records provided within twenty-four hours. (5) If a request for a copy of the record is made under this section from an applicator referred to in subsection (1) of this section and the applicator refuses to provide a copy, the requester may notify the department of the request and the applicator's refusal. Within seven working days, the department shall request that the applicator provide the department with all pertinent copies of the records, except that in a medical emergency the request shall be made within two working days. The applicator shall provide copies of the records to the department within twenty-four hours after the department's request. (6) The department shall include inspection of the records required under this section as part of any on-site inspection conducted under this chapter on agricultural lands. The inspection shall determine whether the records are readily transferable to a form adopted by the department and are readily accessible to employees. However, no person subject to a department inspection may be inspected under this subsection (6) more than once in any calendar year, unless a previous inspection has found recordkeeping violations. If recordkeeping violations are found, the department may conduct reasonable multiple inspections, pursuant to rules adopted by the department. Nothing in this subsection (6) limits the department's inspection of records pertaining to pesticide-related injuries, illnesses, fatalities, accidents, or complaints. (7) The department of agriculture and the department of labor and industries shall jointly adopt, by rule, forms that satisfy the information requirements of this section. [ 2011 c 103 s 37; 1994 c 283 s 9; 1992 c 173 s 1; 1989 c 380 s 39; 1987 c 45 s 28; 1971 ex.s. c 191 s 3; 1961 c 249 s 10.] NOTES: Purpose— RCW 17.21.110 Commercial pesticide operator license—Requirements. It is unlawful for any person to act as an employee of a commercial pesticide applicator and apply pesticides manually or as the operator directly in charge of any apparatus which is licensed or should be licensed under this chapter for the application of any pesticide, without having obtained a commercial pesticide operator license from the director. The commercial pesticide operator license is in addition to any other license or permit required by law for the operation or use of any such apparatus. Application for a commercial operator license must be accompanied by a fee of seventy-eight dollars. This section does not apply to any individual who is a licensed commercial pesticide applicator. [ 2021 c 244 s 9; 2008 c 285 s 22; 1997 c 242 s 12; 1994 c 283 s 10; 1993 sp.s. c 19 s 5; 1992 c 170 s 5; 1991 c 109 s 31; 1989 c 380 s 40; 1981 c 297 s 22; 1967 c 177 s 6; 1961 c 249 s 11.] NOTES: Effective date— RCW 17.21.122 Private-commercial pesticide applicator license—Requirements. It is unlawful for any person to act as a private-commercial pesticide applicator without having obtained a private-commercial pesticide applicator license from the director. Application for a private-commercial pesticide applicator license must be accompanied by a fee of thirty-eight dollars. [ 2021 c 244 s 10; 2008 c 285 s 23; 1997 c 242 s 13; 1994 c 283 s 11; 1993 sp.s. c 19 s 6; 1992 c 170 s 6; 1991 c 109 s 32; 1989 c 380 s 41; 1979 c 92 s 6.] NOTES: Effective date— RCW 17.21.126 Private applicator, limited private applicator, or rancher private applicator—Requirements—Application for license—Fees. It is unlawful for any person to act as a private applicator, limited private applicator, or rancher private applicator without first complying with requirements determined by the director as necessary to prevent unreasonable adverse effects on the environment, including injury to the pesticide applicator or other persons, for each specific pesticide use. (1) Certification standards to determine the individual's competency with respect to the use and handling of the pesticide or class of pesticides for which the private applicator, limited private applicator, or rancher private applicator is certified must be relative to hazards of the particular type of application, class of pesticides, or handling procedure. In determining these standards the director must take into consideration standards of the EPA and is authorized to adopt these standards by rule. (2) Application for a private applicator license must be accompanied by a fee of thirty-eight dollars. Application for a limited private applicator license must be accompanied by a fee of thirty-three dollars. Application for a rancher private applicator license must be accompanied by a fee of one hundred three dollars. Individuals with a valid certified applicator license, pest control consultant license, or dealer manager license who qualify in the appropriate statewide or agricultural license categories are exempt from the private applicator, limited private applicator, or rancher private applicator fee requirements. However, licensed public pesticide operators, otherwise exempted from the public pesticide operator license fee requirement, are not also exempted from the fee requirements under this subsection. [ 2021 c 244 s 11; 2008 c 285 s 24; 2004 c 100 s 2; 1997 c 242 s 14; 1994 c 283 s 12; 1993 sp.s. c 19 s 7; 1992 c 170 s 7; 1991 c 109 s 33; 1989 c 380 s 42; 1979 c 92 s 8.] NOTES: Effective date— RCW 17.21.128 Renewal of certificate or license—Recertification standards. (1) The director may renew any certification or license issued under authority of this chapter subject to the recertification standards identified in subsection (2) of this section or an examination requiring new knowledge that may be required to apply pesticides. (2) Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, all individuals licensed under this chapter shall meet the recertification standards identified in (a) or (b) of this subsection, every five years, in order to qualify for continuing licensure. (a) Licensed pesticide applicators may qualify for continued licensure through accumulation of recertification credits. (i) Private applicators shall accumulate a minimum of twenty department-approved credits every five years with no more than ten credits allowed per year; (ii) Limited private applicators shall accumulate a minimum of eight department-approved credits every five years. All credits must be applicable to the control of weeds with at least one-half of the credits directly related to weed control and the remaining credits in topic areas indirectly related to weed control, such as the safe and legal use of pesticides; (iii) Rancher private applicators shall accumulate a minimum of twelve department-approved credits every five years; (iv) All other license types established under this chapter shall accumulate a minimum of forty department-approved credits every five years with no more than fifteen credits allowed per year. (b) Certified pesticide applicators may qualify for continued licensure through meeting the examination requirements necessary to become licensed in those areas in which the licensee operates. (3) At the termination of a licensee's five-year recertification period, the director may waive the requirements identified in subsection (2) of this section if the licensee can demonstrate that he or she is meeting comparable recertification standards through another state or jurisdiction or through a federal environmental protection agency approved government agency plan. [ 2005 c 397 s 1; 2004 c 100 s 3; 1994 c 283 s 13; 1986 c 203 s 9; 1979 c 92 s 9.] NOTES: Effective date— RCW 17.21.129 Demonstration and research license—Fees—Requirements. Except as provided in RCW 17.21.203, it is unlawful for a person to use or supervise the use of any experimental use pesticide or any restricted use pesticide on small experimental plots for research purposes when no charge is made for the pesticide and its application without a demonstration and research applicator's license. (1) Application for a demonstration and research license must be accompanied by a fee of forty-three dollars. (2) Persons licensed under this section are exempt from the requirements of RCW 17.21.160, 17.21.170, and 17.21.180. [ 2021 c 244 s 12; 2008 c 285 s 25; 1997 c 242 s 15; 1994 c 283 s 14; 1993 sp.s. c 19 s 8; 1992 c 170 s 8; 1991 c 109 s 34; 1989 c 380 s 43; 1987 c 45 s 30; 1981 c 297 s 26.] NOTES: Effective date— RCW 17.21.130 Revocation, suspension, or denial. (1) Any license, permit, or certification provided for in this chapter may be revoked or suspended, and any license, permit, or certification application may be denied by the director for cause. If the director suspends a license under this chapter with respect to activity of a continuing nature under chapter 34.05 RCW, the director may elect to suspend the license for a subsequent license year during a period that coincides with the period commencing 30 days before and ending 30 days after the date of the incident or incidents giving rise to the violation. (2) The director shall immediately suspend the license or certificate of a person who has been certified pursuant to RCW 74.20A.320 by the department of social and health services as a person who is not in compliance with a support order. If the person has continued to meet all other requirements for reinstatement during the suspension, reissuance of the license or certificate shall be automatic upon the director's receipt of a release issued by the department of social and health services stating that the licensee is in compliance with the order. (3) The director may elect to suspend or revoke any license or certification that is based in whole or in part on a license or certification from another state or jurisdiction upon notification that the applicator's original certification was terminated because the certified applicator has been convicted under section 14(b) of FIFRA or has been subject to a final order imposing a civil penalty under section 14(a) of FIFRA. [ 2023 c 186 s 2; 1997 c 58 s 877; 1994 c 283 s 15; 1989 c 380 s 46; 1986 c 203 s 10; 1961 c 249 s 13.] NOTES: Short title— RCW 17.21.132 License, certification—Applications—Fee—Expiration dates. Any person applying for a license or certification authorized under the provisions of this chapter shall file an application on a form prescribed by the director. (1) The application shall state the license or certification and the classification(s) for which the applicant is applying and the method in which the pesticides are to be applied. (2) For all classes of licenses, all applicants shall be at least 18 years of age on the date that the application is made. (3) Application for a license to apply pesticides shall be accompanied by the required fee. No license may be issued until the required fee has been received by the department. (4) Each classification of license issued under this chapter except the limited private applicator and the rancher private applicator expires annually on a date set by rule by the director. Limited and rancher private applicator licenses expire on the fifth December 31st after issuance. Renewal applications shall be filed on or before the applicable expiration date. [ 2023 c 186 s 3; 2004 c 100 s 4; 1997 c 242 s 16; 1994 c 283 s 16; 1991 c 109 s 35; 1989 c 380 s 44.] NOTES: Effective date— RCW 17.21.134 Licenses—Examination requirements—Fees. (1) The director shall not issue a commercial pesticide applicator license until the applicant, if he or she is the sole owner and manager of the business has passed examinations in all classifications that the business operates. If there is more than one owner or the owner does not participate in the pesticide application activities, the person managing the pesticide application activities of the business shall be licensed in all classifications that the business operates. The director shall not issue a commercial pesticide operator, public operator, private commercial applicator, or demonstration and research applicator license until the applicant has passed an examination demonstrating knowledge of: (a) How to apply pesticides under the classification for which he or she has applied, manually or with the various apparatuses that he or she may operate; (b) The nature and effect of pesticides he or she may apply under such classifications; and (c) Any other matter the director determines to be a necessary subject for examination. (2) The director may charge examination fees established by the director by rule. The director may administer or contract with a public or private third-party entity to administer any or all parts of either the examination or the collection of examination fees, or both. Examinations administered by third-party entities must be the same as the examination that would otherwise be administered by the department. The department may direct that the applicant pay the fees to the third-party entity in accordance with department rules governing third-party examinations and fees. (3) The director may prescribe separate testing procedures and requirements for each license. [ 2020 c 180 s 4; 1994 c 283 s 17; 1989 c 380 s 45.] RCW 17.21.140 Renewal—Delinquency. (1) If the application for renewal of any license provided for in this chapter is not filed on or prior to the expiration date of the license under this chapter or as set by rule by the director, a penalty of twenty-five dollars for the commercial pesticide applicator's license and the rancher private applicator license, and a penalty equivalent to the license fee for any other license, shall be assessed and added to the original fee and shall be paid by the applicant before the renewal license is issued. However, the penalty does not apply if the applicant furnishes an affidavit certifying that he or she has not acted as a licensee subsequent to the expiration of the license. (2) Any license for which a timely renewal application has been made, all other requirements have been met, and the proper fee paid, continues in full force and effect until the director notifies the applicant that the license has been renewed or the application has been denied. [ 2004 c 100 s 5; 1991 c 109 s 36; 1989 c 380 s 47; 1961 c 249 s 14.] NOTES: Effective date— RCW 17.21.150 Violation of chapter—Unlawful acts. A person who has committed any of the following acts is declared to be in violation of this chapter: (1) Made false or fraudulent claims through any media, misrepresenting the effect of materials or methods to be utilized; (2) Applied worthless or improper pesticides; (3) Operated a faulty or unsafe apparatus; (4) Operated in a faulty, careless, or negligent manner; (5) Refused or neglected to comply with the provisions of this chapter, the rules adopted hereunder, or of any lawful order of the director including a final order of the director directing payment of a civil penalty. In an adjudicative proceeding arising from the department's denial of a license for failure to pay a civil penalty the subject shall be limited to whether the payment was made and the proceeding may not be used to collaterally attack the final order; (6) Refused or neglected to keep and maintain the pesticide application records required by rule, or to make reports when and as required; (7) Made false or fraudulent records, invoices, or reports; (8) Acted as a certified applicator without having provided direct supervision to an unlicensed person; (9) Operated an unlicensed apparatus or an apparatus without a license plate issued for that particular apparatus; (10) Used fraud or misrepresentation in making an application for a license or renewal of a license; (11) Is not qualified to perform the type of pest control under the conditions and in the locality in which he or she operates or has operated, regardless of whether or not he or she has previously passed a pesticide license examination; (12) Aided or abetted a licensed or an unlicensed person to evade the provisions of this chapter, combined or conspired with such a licensed or an unlicensed person to evade the provisions of this chapter, or allowed one's license to be used by an unlicensed person; (13) Knowingly made false, misleading, or erroneous statements or reports during or after an inspection concerning any infestation or infection of pests found on land or in connection with any pesticide complaint or investigation; (14) Impersonated any state, county or city inspector or official; (15) Applied a restricted use pesticide without having a certified applicator in direct supervision; (16) Operated a commercial pesticide application business: (a) Without an individual licensed as a commercial pesticide applicator or (b) with a licensed commercial pesticide applicator not licensed in the classification or classifications in which the business operates; or (17) Operated as a commercial pesticide applicator without meeting the financial responsibility requirements including not having a properly executed financial responsibility insurance certificate or surety bond form on file with the department. [ 2011 c 103 s 12; 1994 c 283 s 18; 1989 c 380 s 48; 1971 ex.s. c 191 s 4; 1967 c 177 s 8; 1961 c 249 s 15.] NOTES: Purpose— RCW 17.21.160 Commercial pesticide applicator license—Financial responsibility. The director shall not issue a commercial pesticide applicator license until the applicant has furnished evidence of financial responsibility. (1) Evidence of financial responsibility shall consist of either a surety bond; or a liability insurance policy or certification thereof, protecting persons who may suffer legal damages as a result of the operations of the applicant. The surety bond or liability insurance policy need not apply to damages or injury to agricultural crops, plants or land being worked upon by the applicant. The director shall not accept a surety bond or liability insurance policy except from authorized insurers in this state or if placed as a surplus line as provided for in chapter 48.15 RCW. (2) Evidence of financial responsibility shall be supplied to the department on a financial responsibility insurance certificate or surety bond form (blank forms supplied by the department to the applicant). [ 1994 c 283 s 19; 1989 c 380 s 49; 1967 c 177 s 9; 1961 c 249 s 16.] RCW 17.21.170 Commercial pesticide applicator license—Amount of bond or insurance required—Notice of reduction or cancellation by surety or insurer. The following requirements apply to the amount of bond or insurance required for commercial applicators: (1) The amount of the surety bond or liability insurance, as provided for in RCW 17.21.160, shall be not less than fifty thousand dollars for property damage and public liability insurance, each separately, and including loss or damage arising out of the actual use of any pesticide. The surety bond or liability insurance shall be maintained at not less than that sum at all times during the licensed period. (2) The property damage portion of this requirement may be waived by the director if it can be demonstrated by the applicant that all applications performed under this license occur under confined circumstances and on property owned or leased by the applicant. (3) The director shall be notified ten days before any reduction of insurance coverage at the request of the applicant or cancellation of the surety bond or liability insurance by the surety or insurer and by the insured. (4) The total and aggregate of the surety and insurer for all claims is limited to the face of the bond or liability insurance policy. The director may accept a liability insurance policy or surety bond in the proper sum which has a deductible clause in an amount not exceeding five thousand dollars for all applicators for the total amount of liability insurance or surety bond required by this section, but if the applicant has not satisfied the requirement of the deductible amount in any prior legal claim the deductible clause shall not be accepted by the director unless the applicant furnishes the director with a surety bond or liability insurance which shall satisfy the amount of the deductible as to all claims that may arise in his or her application of pesticides. [ 2011 c 336 s 460; 1994 c 283 s 20; 1983 c 95 s 7; 1967 c 177 s 10; 1963 c 107 s 1; 1961 c 249 s 17.] RCW 17.21.180 Commercial pesticide applicator license—Suspension of license for failure to meet financial responsibility criteria. The commercial pesticide applicator license shall, whenever the licensee's surety bond or insurance policy is reduced below the requirements of RCW 17.21.170 or whenever the commercial applicator has not supplied evidence of financial responsibility, as required by RCW 17.21.160 and 17.21.170, by the expiration date of the previous policy or surety bond, be automatically suspended until such licensee's surety bond or insurance policy again meets the requirements of RCW 17.21.170. In addition, the director may pick up such licensee's license plates during such period of automatic suspension and return them only at such time as the licensee has furnished written proof that he or she is in compliance with the provisions of RCW 17.21.170. [ 1994 c 283 s 21; 1989 c 380 s 50; 1987 c 45 s 31; 1967 c 177 s 11; 1961 c 249 s 18.] NOTES: Construction— RCW 17.21.190 Damages due to use or application of pesticide—Report of loss required. Any person suffering property loss or damage resulting from the use or application by others of any pesticide shall file with the director a verified report of loss. (1) The report shall set forth, so far as known to the claimant, the following: (a) The name and address of the claimant; (b) The type, kind, property alleged to be injured or damaged; (c) The name of the person applying the pesticide and allegedly responsible; and (d) The name of the owner or occupant of the property for whom such application of the pesticide was made. (2) The report shall be filed within thirty days from the time that the property loss or damage becomes known to the claimant. If a growing crop is alleged to have been damaged, the report shall be filed prior to harvest of fifty percent of that crop, unless the loss or damage was not then known. The department shall establish time periods by rule to determine investigation response time. Time periods shall range from immediate to forty-eight hours to initiate an investigation, depending on the severity of the damage. (3) Any person filing a report of loss under this section shall cooperate with the department in conducting an investigation of such a report and shall provide the department or authorized representatives of the department access to any affected property and any other necessary information relevant to the report. If a claimant refuses to cooperate with the department, the report shall not be acted on by the department. (4) The filing of a report or the failure to file a report need not be alleged in any complaint which might be filed in a court of law, and the failure to file the report shall not be considered any bar to the maintenance of any criminal or civil action. (5) The failure to file a report shall not be a violation of this chapter. However, if the person failing to file such report is the only one suffering loss from such use or application of a pesticide by a pesticide applicator or operator, the director may refuse to act upon the complaint. [ 1994 c 283 s 22; 1991 c 263 s 1; 1989 c 380 s 51; 1961 c 249 s 19.] RCW 17.21.200 Commercial pesticide applicator license—Exemptions. The provisions of this chapter relating to commercial pesticide applicator licenses and requirements for their issuance shall not apply to: (1) Any forestland owner, or his or her employees, applying pesticides with ground apparatus or manually, on his or her own lands or any lands or rights-of-way under his or her control; or (2) Any farmer owner of ground apparatus applying pesticides for himself or herself or if applied on an occasional basis not amounting to a principal or regular occupation without compensation other than trading of personal services between producers of agricultural commodities on the land of another person; or (3) Any grounds maintenance person conducting grounds maintenance on an occasional basis not amounting to a regular occupation; or (4) Persons who apply pesticides as an incidental part of their business, such as dog grooming services or such other businesses as shall be identified by the director. However, persons exempt under this section shall not use restricted use pesticides and shall not advertise or publicly hold themselves out as pesticide applicators. [ 1994 c 283 s 23; 1992 c 170 s 9; 1989 c 380 s 52; 1979 c 92 s 3; 1971 ex.s. c 191 s 5; 1967 c 177 s 12; 1961 c 249 s 20.] RCW 17.21.203 Government research personnel—Requirements. The licensing provisions of this chapter shall not apply to research personnel of federal, state, county, or municipal agencies when performing pesticide research in their official capacities, however when such persons are applying restricted use pesticides, they shall be licensed as public operators. [ 1994 c 283 s 24; 1981 c 297 s 23; 1979 c 92 s 4; 1971 ex.s. c 191 s 9.] NOTES: Severability— RCW 17.21.220 Application of chapter to governmental entities—Public operator license required—Exemption—Liability. (1) All state agencies, municipal corporations, and public utilities or any other governmental agencies are subject to this chapter and its rules. (2) It is unlawful for any employee of a state agency, municipal corporation, public utility, or any other government agency to use or to supervise the use of any restricted use pesticide, or any pesticide by means of an apparatus, without having obtained a public operator license from the director. Application for a public operator license must be accompanied by a fee of forty-three dollars. The fee does not apply to public operators licensed and working in the health vector field. The public operator license is valid only when the operator is acting as an employee of a government agency. (3) The jurisdictional health officer or his or her duly authorized representative is exempt from this licensing provision when applying pesticides that are not restricted use pesticides to control pests other than weeds. (4) Agencies, municipal corporations, and public utilities are subject to legal recourse by any person damaged by such application of any pesticide, and action may be brought in the county where the damage or some part of the damage occurred. [ 2021 c 244 s 13; 2008 c 285 s 26; 1997 c 242 s 17; 1994 c 283 s 25; 1993 sp.s. c 19 s 9; 1991 c 109 s 37; 1989 c 380 s 53; 1986 c 203 s 11; 1981 c 297 s 24; 1971 ex.s. c 191 s 7; 1967 c 177 s 13; 1961 c 249 s 22.] NOTES: Effective date— RCW 17.21.280 Disposition of revenue, enforcement of chapter—Pesticide safety education program—Fee—District court fees, fines, penalties, and forfeitures. (1) Except as provided in subsections (2) and (4) of this section, all moneys collected under the provisions of this chapter shall be paid to the director and deposited in the agricultural local fund, RCW 43.23.230, for use exclusively in the enforcement of this chapter. (2) In addition to any other fees the department may collect under this chapter, the department shall collect a fee of seven dollars for each license issued by the department under this chapter. The department shall transmit the seven dollar fee required by this subsection to Washington State University for the purpose of providing a pesticide safety education program to educate and train pesticide licensees and prospective licensees. (3) The department shall engage with the regulated community on the status of license fees established in this chapter, including consideration of future increases, in coordination with a stakeholder work group. (4) All moneys collected for civil penalties levied under RCW 17.21.315 shall be deposited in the state general fund. All fees, fines, forfeitures and penalties collected or assessed by a district court because of the violation of a state law shall be remitted as provided in chapter 3.62 RCW. [ 2021 c 244 s 14; 1997 c 242 s 18; 1994 c 283 s 29; 1989 c 380 s 59; 1987 c 202 s 183; 1969 ex.s. c 199 s 15; 1961 c 249 s 28.] NOTES: Effective date— RCW 17.21.290 Pesticide application apparatuses—License plate as identification. All licensed apparatuses shall be identified by a license plate furnished by the director, at no cost to the licensee, which plate shall be affixed in a location and manner upon such apparatus as prescribed in rule. [ 1994 c 283 s 30; 1989 c 380 s 60; 1967 c 177 s 15; 1961 c 249 s 29.] RCW 17.21.300 Agreements with other governmental entities. The director is authorized to cooperate with and enter into agreements with any other agency of the state, the United States, and any other state or agency thereof for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this chapter and securing uniformity of regulation. [ 1961 c 249 s 30.] RCW 17.21.305 Licensing by cities of first class and counties. The provisions of this chapter requiring all structural pest control operators, exterminators and fumigators to license with the department shall not preclude a city of the first class with a population of one hundred thousand people or more, or the county in which it is situated, from also licensing structural pest control operators, exterminators and fumigators operating within the territorial confines of said city or county: PROVIDED, That when structural pest control operators, exterminators and fumigators are licensed by both the city of the first class and the county in which the city is situated, and there exists a joint county-city health department, then the joint county-city health department may enforce the provisions of the city and county as to the license requirements for the structural pest control operators, exterminators and fumigators. [ 1986 c 203 s 12; 1967 c 177 s 19.] RCW 17.21.310 General penalty. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, any person who violates any provisions or requirements of this chapter or rules adopted hereunder is guilty of a misdemeanor. (2) A second or subsequent offense is a gross misdemeanor. Any offense committed more than five years after a previous conviction shall be considered a first offense. [ 2003 c 53 s 118; 1967 c 177 s 16; 1961 c 249 s 34.] NOTES: Intent— RCW 17.21.315 Civil penalty for failure to comply with chapter. Every person who fails to comply with this chapter or the rules adopted under it may be subjected to a civil penalty, as determined by the director, in an amount of not more than seven thousand five hundred dollars for every such violation. Each and every such violation shall be a separate and distinct offense. Every person who, through an act of commission or omission, procures, aids, or abets in the violation shall be considered to have violated this section and may be subject to the civil penalty herein provided. [ 1989 c 380 s 61; 1985 c 158 s 3.] RCW 17.21.320 Access to public or private premises—Search warrants—Prosecuting attorney's duties—Injunctions. (1) For purpose of carrying out the provisions of this chapter the director may enter upon any public or private premises at