From: Chang, David
Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2005 6:07 PM
Subject: [SBCWMA News] February 2005

Follow Up Flag: Follow up
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Hello SBCWMA Newsletter Subscribers:

 

Here is February’s SBCWMA News.  This issue is coming out early because of a time-sensitive item (- a job announcement.)   Enjoy. Hope you find something of interest.  –  DC

 

 

NEWS

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Invasive Weeds Day at the Capitol in Sacramento

The California Invasive Weeds Awareness Coalition (CALIWAC) is sponsoring the second annual Invasive Weeds Day at the Capitol in Sacramento on Wednesday, March 9, 2005.  The day will include briefings with state agencies, the "how to's" of meeting with legislators, in addition to appointments with California legislators in the afternoon. The "Day at the Capitol" will be an excellent opportunity to educate legislators about invasive weed issues and how these issues affect all Californians!

Please register by Wednesday, February 16th for 2005 Invasive Weeds Day at the Capitol. Questions? contact Wendy West, CALIWAC Education Committee at  wkwest@ucdavis.edu. Event information and the registration form are posted at www.cal-ipc.org --- click on the link for 2005 Invasive Weeds Day at the Capitol and tell your friends and associates!

 

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Copies of Journal Text Available on Glyphosate Impact on Invertebrates and Amphibians

Joel Trumbo, Staff Environmental Scientist, at the Pesticide Investigations Unit, CA Dept of Fish and Game is offering copies of his recent journal article, “An Assessment of the Hazard of a Mixture of the Herbicide Rodeo and the Non-Ionic Surfactant R-11 to Aquatic Invertebrates and Larval Amphibians (California Fish & Game, Vol 91, Number 1).  If you're interested, contact Brianne O'Rourke at borourke@ospr.dfg.ca.gov. Make sure to give Brianne your mailing address and tell her how many copies you would like.

 

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EPA Issues Interpretive Statement on Pesticides and Water and Seeks Comment on Proposed Rule

US EPA Press Release January 27, 2005

Contact: Cathy Milbourn 202-564-7824 / milbourn.cathy@epa.gov

Enesta Jones 202-564-7873 / jones.enesta@epa.gov

 

EPA is issuing an interpretive statement and a proposed rule in response to recent court decisions highlighting the need for EPA clarification regarding Clean Water Act (CWA) permitting requirements for the application of pesticides to or over the nation's waters. The statement and proposed rule reflect EPA's long-standing policy that a CWA permit is not required where application of a particular pesticide to or over water is consistent with requirements under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Any pesticide that is approved for use in the United States must undergo extensive study and review to help ensure that, when properly used, it does not pose unreasonable risk to human health and the environment.

 

Benjamin Grumbles, assistant administrator for water at EPA, noted, "Clarifying this issue is critical because confusion over permitting requirements could keep public health officials from preventing or responding to an infestation of mosquitos or from controlling an invasive species." Through this action the agency is reinforcing the importance for local officials, resource managers, agricultural producers, and other pesticide users of applying pesticides in accordance with their label directions. Applications of pesticides in violation of the labels are subject to enforcement under all appropriate statutes including FIFRA and the CWA.

 

EPA first solicited public comment on this issue in a Federal Register Notice published on Aug. 13, 2003. The public may provide input on the current proposed rule during a 60-day comment period. The statement and proposed rule are available at: . Information about FIFRA and the pesticide program is available at: and .

 

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Job Announcement: Pesticide Application Technician Needed – SRS Technologies

One position beginning ASAP for the eradication efforts of jubata grass on Vandenberg AFB, located in Santa Barbara County near Santa Maria and Lompoc. Duties include applying Roundup Pro to jubata grass, some physical removal, mapping and monitoring of treated areas, and equipment maintenance. Scheduling is somewhat flexible at approximately 30-55hrs a week; mornings will begin at 7am. Truck mounted spray tanks and backpack sprayers will be used. Training and applicator certificate fees will be provided for non-certified pesticide applicator holders.

 

Applicants must: -be a US citizen, -have reliable personal transportation, -California driver's license, -be in good physical condition, able to carry backpack sprayer, -have a good sense of direction, -be self motivated, -able to take meticulous field notes, -able to read topographical maps as well as aerial photos,

 

Compensation: Hourly rate is $10-12/hr for a non-certified pesticide applicator. For certified persons rate is negotiable.

 

Email resume to Regina Butala at SRS Technologies, regina.butala@VAFB.SRS.com

 

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IPMNet Outreach – IPM Newsletter Subscription Invitation

IPMNet is an electronic (only) Integrated Pest Management information resource specifically focused on contemporary, economic, environmentally aware approaches to managing/controlling weed, pathogen, insect, nematode, and vertebrate pests in crops and amenity plantings, as well as preventing or containing invasive crop-related species. IPMNet inivites subscription to IPMNet NEWS. The NEWS is designed to provide very brief, timely, multi-disciplinary, "news-you-can-use" (but no paid advertisements) to all concerned with IPM and crop pest and invading species management topics, such as: * development * field implementation * research * extension/adoption * policy * impact/socio-economics. For a free subscription, to request a sample newsletter or for more information, send an email to IPMnet@science.oregonstate.edu or visit their website at http://www.ipmnet.org. IPMNet NEWS also welcomes receiving information about global/local IPM developments at that same address.

 

IPMNet is sponsored by the not-for-profit Consortium for International Crop Protection (CICP), a pioneer in international implementation of environmentally responsible pest management. The Consortium comprises 10 U.S. land grant universities, the University of Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.

 

 

EDUCATIONAL EVENTS

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Flaming Workshop

Ken Moore, founder of the Wildlands Restoration Team, is offering two opportunities to learn about flaming and have your questions answered.  “Flaming” is a brief application of flame to a plant by means of a propane torch.  It is an effective, non-toxic treatment for French broom seedlings and potentially many other wildland weeds. You can read all about it in Ken Moore’s article, “Think Heat,” published in the California Invasive Plant Council newsletter last Spring: http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/freeform/ceppc/documents/Cal-IPC_News5112.pdf   

 

Workshop topics include **Safety considerations: How to recognize safe (or unsafe) site conditions for flaming. **Tools: Which tank? Which torch? **Technique: Flaming technique and maintaining your equipment. **Species: Demonstration of flaming French broom seedlings and discussion of application to other species.

The workshop will be held at Quail Hollow Ranch County Park, Santa Cruz County (800 Quail Hollow Rd, Ben Lomond CA).  To accommodate your schedules two workshops are scheduled on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2005; 8:00 am – 10:00 am and again on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2005; 8:00 am – 10:00 am.  There is no cost to attend.  To attend reply to Cynthia Harrington at cynthia@wildwork.org, (831) 460-9453.


GRANTS

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Private Stewardship Grant

Contact:   Patricia Fisher (202) 208-5634

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking proposals for private lands conservation funding through its Private Stewardship Grants Program.  About $6.5 million is available FY 2005 through this grant program to support on-the-ground conservation efforts on private lands.


This program provides Federal grants on a competitive basis to individuals and groups engaged in voluntary conservation efforts on private lands that benefit imperiled species including federally listed endangered or threatened species as well as proposed, candidate and other at-risk species.  Landowners and their partners may submit proposals directly to the Service for funding to support those efforts.

In August 2004, the Service awarded 97 grants totaling more than $7 million to individuals and groups to undertake conservation projects for endangered, threatened and other at-risk species on private lands in 39 states.

 

For more information regarding this grant opportunity and on how and where to submit proposals, visit the Services Private Stewardship Grants Website at http://endangered.fws.gov/grants/private_stewardship.html. The Private Stewardship Grants Program is identified in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance as number 15.632.

You may also contact:  U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Branch of State Grants, Endangered Species Program, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Room 420, Arlington, VA 22203  Phone:  (703) 358-2061.

 

 

Sincerely,

David Chang

Agricultural Commissioner's Office

263 Camino del Remedio

Santa Barbara CA 93110

(805) 681-5600

http://www.agcommissioner.com/wma

 


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