GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SOURCES: PESTICIDES

NOTE: The term pesticides encompasses insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, acaricides, rodenticides, and other -cides.

LOCAL:

N.C. Cooperative Extension Service: (N.C. A and T University, P.O. Box 21928, Greensboro 27420-1928; 910/334-7956; or N.C. State University, P.O. Box 7602, Raleigh 27695; 919/515-2811. Cooperative Extension Service Center s are located in each county and the Cherokee Reservation.)

Specialists at the University offices conduct research, produce numerous publications which are available to all Centers, and provide training for Center staff. Contact your county extension agent first for technical assistance; you may be referred to staff at N.C. State or N.C. A and T. The Service also operates a toll-free teletip information service (800/662-7301).

MUNICIPALITES:

Pesticides are used regularly by municipalities, public utilities, and others next to power lines, right-of-ways, parks, grounds, and other public or semi-public areas. Municipalities can provide information on pesticide use in the maintenance of particular areas.

STATE:

N.C. Department of Agriculture (NCDA)

(P.O. Box 27647, Raleigh 27611-7647):

Agricultural Statistics Division (919/733-7293): Collects, prepares, and disseminates statistics for agriculture, including pesticide use. Publishes the annual booklet North Carolina Agricultural Statistics.
Agronomic Services Division (919/733-2655): Analyzes soil samples submitted by farmers and homeowners for nutrients; nematodes; plants; solutions; irrigation water; and animal, municipal and industrial wastes (not for chemicals). Recommends management techniques. Eleven regional agronomists stationed in the field help farmers solve problems. Regional agronomists and their phone numbers are listed in a NCDA pamphlet called "Agricultural Information Source Book." The pamphlet also includes contact information on other field operations such as research stations and state farms.
Food and Drug Protection Division(919/733-7366): Conducts statewide inspections and chemical analyses on foods and pesticides to ensure that those products meet Division standards of safety, wholesomeness, and labeling.
Pesticide Section(919/733-3556): Licenses agricultural, commercial, and residential pesticide applicators including chemical lawn care op erators. Drafts rules and regulations regarding pesticides, which are approved by the Pesticide Board (see entry below). Enforces rules and regulations and investigates complaints about soil and water contamination. Houses a database of information on 10,000 pesticide products. Can provide labels for individual pesticides which include usage recommendations and restrictions plus identification names and numbers. There are no public records of pesticide use by individuals or by lawn care companies.
Public Affairs Division (919/733-4216): Distributes agriculture-related information and routes calls from the public. Publishes Agricultural Review, a newspaper.
Structural Pest Control Division (919/733-6100): Regulates the indoor pest control industry (including indoor pesticide products). Licenses exterminators and administers laws governing the industry. Inspects structural pest control treatments for low quality work, deception, and fraud.

N.C. Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources (DEHNR)

(P.O. Box 27687, Raleigh 27611-7687):

Environmental Health Division (P.O. Box 27687, Raleigh 27611-7687; 919/733-2870): Works to protect public health and the environment through regulation, tec hnical assistance, specialized training, and public education. Provides training and technical assistance for local health departments, which enforce many Division rules.
Public Health Pest Management Section (733-6407): Responsible for prot ecting the public from disease spread by pests. Assists in the development of pest control programs and enforces state mosquito control laws and rules.
Environmental Health Services Section (733-2884): Regulates the sanitation of assorted fo od products. Provides technical assistance and training.
Epidemiology Division - Environmental Epidemiology Section - Pesticide Program (P.O. Box 27687, Raleigh 27611-7687; 919/733-3410): Tests well water for pesticides and makes recommendat ions through county extension agents for well water decontamination. Tests indoor air for pesticides. Advises individuals on remedial actions to take after exposure to pesticides. Maintains databases of reported pesticide poisoning and well contaminati on incidents.
Soil and Water Conservation Division (P.O. Box 27687, Raleigh 27611-7687; 919/733-2302): Works to conserve soil and water resources. Serves as staff for the N.C. Soil and Water Conservation Commission.
N.C. Agriculture Non-Point Source Pollution Control Section (commonly known as the Agriculture Cost-Share Section): Responsible for the voluntary adoption of Best Management Practices (BMPs) to control agricultural non-point source pollution. Administers N.C. Agriculture Cost-Share funds to farmland owners to install conservation measures which protect water quality.
- Programs Section: Coordinates the activities of the 94 local Soil and Water Conservation Districts across N.C., which with few exceptions follow county lines and names. Serves as staff for the N.C. Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts.
- Watershed Planning Section: Responsible for watershed planning, soil surveys, and wetlands inventorying. Supports the planning and implementation of Public Law 566 Small Watershed Projects (under the Soil Conservation Service, USDA), which address community-wide natural resource problems such as flooding and erosion. Collects and classifies soils data and prepares county soil sur vey reports; works closely with the U.S. Soil Conservation Service in this regard. Approximately 84% of the state's land area is mapped, and mapping of all privately-owned land is estimated to be completed by the year 2000.
Pesticide Board (P.O. Box 27647, Raleigh 27611-7647; 919/733-3556): Serves as the governing board for the pesticide management and control programs set forth in the N.C. Pesticide Law of 1971. Adopts rules and regulations; conducts planning, environmental and biol ogical monitoring, and investigations into long-range pesticide-related needs and problems; collects, analyzes, and disseminates related information; and makes annual reports to the Governor. Comprised of seven members.
Soil and Water Conserva tion Commission (P.O. Box 27687, Raleigh 27611-7687; 919/733-2302): Adopts rules and regulations to be followed in the development and implementation of a soil and water conservation program. Comprised of seven members.

N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT)

(1 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh 27601):

Construction and Materials Branch - Roadside Environmental Unit (919/733-2920): Responsible for roadside appearance program and policy development. Coordinates research with industry and academic institutions on pesticide use, growth retardants, turf grasses, wildflower management, and low maintenance plant species.
Division Roadside Environmental Units: Each Division is composed of between five and 14 counties ( a map is available). Each has a Roadside Environmental Unit which applies pesticides to control certain plants.

N.C. Office of State Planning - State Data Center

(116 W. Jones St., Raleigh 27603-8003; 919/733-4131): Published Statistical Abstract of North Carolina Counties (1991), a collection of tables and figures, many of which are broken down by county. The book includes a section on agricultural statistics. Available in many libraries. The data (current and historical) is now av ailable on LINC (Log Into North Carolina), an online database operated by the State Data Center.

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