Colorado Department of Agriculture
Plant Industry Division
Rules and Regulations Pertaining to the Administration and Enforcement of the Pesticide Applicators’ Act
8 CCR 1203-2
Part 2.	The Licensing System.
Subpart A	Commercial Applicators
2.15.	A business not engaged in the business of applying pesticides for hire, and not licensed under the Act, may solicit and enter into a written contract which incidentally requires one or more pesticide applications only in accordance with the provisions of this section. Examples of such contracts, but not by way of limitation, are maintenance and paving contracts. If such business hires a licensed commercial applicator to perform the pesticide application as a subcontractor, then the primary contractor need not itself be licensed under the Act. If the primary contractor does not hire a licensed commercial applicator to perform such applications, then the primary contractor must obtain a license prior to entering into the primary contract. Entry into any such contract that does not have an express written statement that the contractor will subcontract with a licensed commercial applicator to perform the pesticide application(s) called for in the contract, shall constitute a violation of § 35-10-117(1)(c), C.R.S. Failure to include such a statement in any solicitations, whether oral or written, to enter into such a contract shall constitute a separate violation of § 35-10-117(1)(c), C.R.S.
2.16.	A commercial applicator not licensed in a category (“contractor”) may solicit and enter into a written contract with a customer to perform pesticide applications in said category only if the contractor subcontracts with a commercial applicator licensed in said category (“subcontractor”) to perform the pesticide application in that category. In this case, the subcontractor shall be responsible for all aspects of the application. If the contractor hires the subcontractor to perform the pesticide application, then the contractor need not itself be licensed in the category. If the contractor does not hire a subcontractor to perform such applications, then the contractor must obtain a license in said category prior to entering into any contract with a customer for any pesticide application in said category. Entry into any such contract that does not have an express written statement that the contractor will subcontract with a subcontractor licensed to perform the pesticide application(s) called for in the contract, shall constitute a violation of § 35-10-117(1)(c). C.R.S. Failure to include such a statement in any solicitation, whether oral or written, to enter into such a contract shall constitute a separate violation of § 35-10-117(1)(c), C.R.S.
Subpart D	Private Applicators
2.49.	Any person who uses or supervises the use of a restricted use pesticide for purposes of producing any agricultural commodity on property owned or leased by the applicator or the applicator's employer or, if the pesticide is applied without compensation other than trading of personal services between producers of agricultural commodities, on the property of another person must be a licensed private applicator. The holder of a private applicator license is only authorized to use restricted pesticides for the purpose of producing an agricultural commodity as defined in Part 1, Rule 1.02(l). 
2.60.	Private pesticide applicator licensure classification: Category 401, Private Pesticide Applicator Pest Control, is for the application of restricted use pesticides for the purpose of producing any agricultural commodity on property owned or leased by the applicator or the applicator's employer or, when the pesticide is applied without compensation other than trading of personal services between producers of agricultural commodities, on the property of another person.
Subpart E	Licensure Actions, Suspension, Denial, Revocation
2.61.	Any of the following actions shall constitute grounds for the suspension, restriction, refusal to renew, denial, or revocation of a license or certification, whether alone or in conjunction with violations of any provision of the act or of any other provision of these rules:
Part 6.	Records.
Subpart A	Recordkeeping Requirements for Commercial, Registered Limited Commercial and Registered Public Applicators
6.03.	Such records shall include all of the following information:
(k)	Endangered Species Protection Bulletin for the county and month in which the application was made for any pesticide product used, when required by the label. If there is not an active Endangered Species Bulletin use limitation for the county and month in which the application was made, no Endangered Species Protection Bulletin is required to be maintained in the applicator’s records. For purposes of complying with this subsection (k), a single Endangered Species Bulletin record may be applied to multiple applications that are subject to that Bulletin.
Part 7.	Business Practices, Equipment Identification, Notices.
7.05	The original product container with labeling or a copy of the pesticide label and any associated labeling for the intended use, for each product in use shall be in the possession of the commercial, registered limited commercial, or registered public applicator employee at the site of application whenever a pesticide application is performed. This rule shall not apply to aerial applicators, private applicators, or Endangered Species Protection bulletins referenced on the label.
Part 8.	Agricultural Applicators.
8.01.	The agricultural classification includes the following categories:
(a)	Category 101: Agricultural Insect Control: the application of pesticides to agricultural plants, including applications performed on pastures, croplands and non-crop agricultural lands, to control invertebrate pests, including insects, mites, slugs, snails, and nematodes.
(b)	Category 102: Agricultural Plant Disease Control: the application of pesticides to agricultural plants, including applications performed on pastures, croplands and non-crop agricultural lands, to control plant diseases.
(c)	Category 103: Agricultural Weed Control: the application of pesticides to agricultural lands, including pastures, croplands and non-crop agricultural lands, to control weeds.
(d)	Category 104: Seed Treatment: the application of pesticides to seeds.
(e)	Category 105: Livestock Pest Control: the application of pesticides to livestock.
(f)	Category 106: Forest Pest Control: the application of pesticides in forests, forest nurseries, forest seed producing areas managed for the production of timber and other forest products or maintained as wood vegetation for such indirect benefits as protection of catchment areas or public recreation, including windbreaks and downed timber. For applications in forested areas within fifty (50) feet of a residential or commercial structure, an applicator must also hold the ornamental pest control category in accordance with Part 9 of these rules and comply with all of the posting and notification requirements in section 35-10-112, C.R.S., of the Pesticide Applicators' Act. This additional certification in the ornamental pest control category shall not apply to aerial applicators or ground applications made by federal, state, or local governments on property they own. This category does not apply to pesticide applications made to control vertebrate pests.
(g)	Category 107: Rangeland Pest Control: the application of pesticides to land which is not managed for turf, pasture or forest on which the vegetation is predominantly native plant species of introduced species managed as native species such as grasses, grass-like plants, forbs or shrubs. Rangelands include but are not limited to natural grasslands, shrublands, deserts, tundras, and meadows. For applications performed in rangeland areas within fifty (50) feet of a residential or commercial structure, an applicator must also hold the turf pest control category in accordance with Part 9 of these rules and comply with all of the posting and notification requirements in section 35-10-112, C.R.S., of the Pesticide Applicators' Act. This additional certification in the ornamental pest control category shall not apply to aerial applicators or ground applications made by federal, state, or local governments on property they own. This category does not apply to pesticide applications made to control vertebrate pests.
(h)	Category 108: Aquatic Pest Control: the application of pesticides to standing or running water when made to control weeds, amphibians, fish and other pests in water, except for pesticide applications which are included in the “Public Health” category, at rule 8.01(j).
(1)	Category 113: Metam sodium for root control in sewers: the application of metam sodium in sewers to control roots. For purposes of this sub-category, “sewer” shall mean any artificial conduit for the transmission of wastewater to a wastewater treatment plant.
(i)	Category 109: Industrial and Right-of-Way Weed Control: the application of pesticides to maintain roads, sidewalks, trails, paths, utility lines, railways, parking lots, drilling rigs, substations, open irrigation and drainage structures or similar areas and adjacent land within right of ways associated with such areas for the purpose of establishing or maintaining definable cover or bare ground.
(j)	Category 110: Public Health Pest Control: the application of pesticides for control of disease vectors, except vertebrates.
(k)	Category 111: Research and Demonstration: the application of pesticides in the course of conducting field research or demonstration. No license or certification will be issued in this category unless the applicant also obtains licensing or certification, in the specific category listed in these rules, which is appropriate to the research activity.
Part 9.	Ornamental Applicators.
9.01.	The ornamental classification includes the following categories:
(a)	Category 206: Turf Pest Control: the application of pesticides to: (1) turf to control invertebrate pests, including insects, mites, slugs, snails, and nematodes, or to control plant diseases or weeds; or (2) ornamental beds to control weeds.
(b)	Category 207: Ornamental Pest Control: the application of pesticides to ornamental trees, shrubs, beds, flowers and other ornamental plants, except turf or indoor ornamental plants, to control invertebrate pests, including insects, mites, slugs, snails and nematodes, or to control plant diseases.
Part 10.	Structural Applicators.
10.01.	The structural pest control classification includes the following categories.
(a)	Category 301: Wood Destroying Organism Pest Control: the application of pesticides to control termites, carpenter ants, powder post beetles, fungi, and/or other wood destroying organisms in structures and/or adjacent outside areas.
(b)	Category 302: Outdoor Vertebrate Pest Control: the application of pesticides intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any reptile, bird, feral dogs and cats, moles, voles, bats, wild carnivores, rabbits, skunks, amphibian pests not in water and any other vertebrate pest, except rats and mice.
(c)	Category 303: Fumigation: the application of a fumigant to one or more rooms in a structure or to the entire structure at a desired concentration and for a length of time necessary for the control of rodents and/or insect pests, including the application of a fumigant to a localized space or harborage within a structure for local insect and/or rodent control.
(d)	Category 304: Residential/Commercial Pest Control: the application of pesticides or bait stations intended for use for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating structural pests, including without limitation insects and rodents. However, this category does not include the application of fumigants or actions taken to control wood destroying organisms, outdoor vertebrates, or grain storage pests.
(e)	Category 305: Stored Commodities Treatment: the application of pesticides for the treatment of pests in raw grain stored in facilities which are not used for animal or human habitation; the application of plant growth regulators to agricultural commodities stored in facilities which are not used for animal or human habitation; and the application of pesticides to commodity processing equipment or commodity storage facilities (not including offices or other structures).
(f)	Category 306: Wood Preservation and Wood Products Treatment: the application of pesticides to prevent, destroy, repel or mitigate pests in wood or wood products which are, or are capable of being, incorporated into a structure, not including downed timber prior to bark removal or sawing.
(g)	Category 307: Interior Plant Pest Control: the application of pesticides to house plants and other indoor ornamental plants kept or located within structures occupied by humans, including, but not limited to houses, apartments, offices, shopping malls, other places of business and other dwelling places, to control invertebrate pests that adversely affect such plants, including insects, mites, slugs, snails and nematodes; and to control plant diseases.
10.02.	An applicant for licensing as a qualified supervisor in the structural pest control categories of wood destroying organisms, residential/commercial pest control, and fumigation must have the following field experience or equivalents. Such field experience must have been obtained during the five years immediately preceding the date of the applicant's application for licensing. Experience using pesticides gained while the applicant was maintaining his own home, or performing janitorial or maintenance duties for another in a residential, industrial or commercial location will not satisfy experience requirements imposed by these regulations.
Part 15.	Enforcement.
15.05	Any person who operates any device for hire that produces a pesticide as defined in § 35-10-103(10) C.R.S., must be licensed as a commercial applicator and be licensed as or employ or contract with a qualified supervisor in the appropriate licensure category. It is a violation of these Rules for a commercial applicator to use any such device in a manner inconsistent with labeling directions or requirements or in an unsafe or negligent manner.
Part 16.	Statements of Basis, Specific Statutory Authority & Purpose
Statements of Basis, Specific Statutory Authority and Purpose for rulemaking activity from 1968 through 1991 are no longer in the Departments files and are presumably in the state archives.
16.14.	June 11, 2013 – Effective July 30, 2013
Statutory Authority
These amendments to these rules are proposed for adoption by the Commissioner of the Colorado Department of Agriculture (“CDA”) pursuant to his authority under the Pesticide Applicators' Act (the "Act"), §§ 35-10-118(2)(a) & (b), and (9.5) C.R.S. 
Purpose
The purpose of these proposed Rules is to clarify the Rule in regards to solicitations made prior to entering into a contract, create a new Rule to require that a record of active Endangered Species Bulletins be maintained and add a new Rule defining devices that produce a pesticide; which when used for hire require a commercial pesticide applicator license. All other proposed Rule amendments add clarification to the current interpretation, enforcement and intent of the existing Rules. Specifically:
1.	Parts 2.15 and 2.16 are amended to clarify when solicitations to subcontract incidental pesticide applications can be made by a business that is not acting as and is not licensed as a commercial applicator. 
2.	Part 2.60 creates a new Rule defining the Private Applicator category and license purpose.
3.	Part 6.03(k) creates a new Rule to require commercial applicators to maintain a record of any active Endangered Species Bulletin. 
4.	Part 7.05 is amended to clarify what labeling must be in the applicator’s possession when applications are being performed and exempt Endangered Species Bulletins from this requirement. 
5.	Parts 8, 9 and 10 are amended to add the numeric category reference to each pesticide licensure category. 
6.	Parts 8.01(f),(g) and (h) and Part 10.01 (b) are amended to clarify which pests may be treated under these categories.
7.	Part 10.02 is amended to correctly state the licensure category. 
8.	Part 15.05 creates a new Rule requiring that devices that produce a pesticide, such as carbon monoxide, that when used for hire to control a pest requires a commercial applicator license. 
Factual and Policy Issues
The factual and policy issues encountered when developing these rules include: 
1.	Part 2.15 allows a business that does not apply pesticides for hire to enter into a contract that incidentally requires the application of pesticides as long as there is a written provision in the contract expressly stating that the business will subcontract the application to a licensed applicator. Part 2.16 similarly allows a business that applies pesticides for hire and is licensed as a commercial applicator to subcontract applications that require a qualified supervisor licensed in a category not held by the business’s own qualified supervisors, to subcontract the work if the contract expressly discloses that plan. Absent such statements, the Department would consider such contracts to constitute violations of the statutory provision, § 35-10-117(1)(c), C.R.S., which makes it a violation of the Act to present oneself to be qualified to perform or to solicit pesticide related services without a “valid commercial license.” The Department realizes that in order to enter into such contracts, businesses must necessarily engage in some form of a solicitation – i.e., they must make an offer to their potential customers, whether oral or written. These amendments to Parts 2.15 and 2.16 clarify that a business proposing to enter into a contract with such a subcontracting provision must also disclose that they will subcontract pesticide applications that require licensure beyond what they hold at the time of the solicitation. 
2.	Part 2.60 is being created as a result of amendments being made to Parts 8, 9 and 10, to add the numeric categories for all pesticide licensure categories. When creating the language to classify a Private Applicator license as Category 401, the Department felt that stating the purpose of this licensure category would more clearly define what the license may be used for and match the category classification definitions in Parts 8, 9 and 10 of the Rules. 
3.	Part 6.03(i) creates a new Rule to require commercial applicators to maintain a record of any active Endangered Species Bulletin. 
The Environmental Protection Agency in recent years has added Endangered Species (ES) specific language to certain pesticide labels that require pesticide applicators to obtain and abide by the Endangered Species Protection Bulletin. The requirements in an ES Bulletin are enforceable because compliance is mandated by the label. Therefore, applicators must follow all requirements on the ES Bulletin and failure to do so would be a label violation under both the Federal Insecticide, Rodenticide and Fungicide Act (FIFRA) and the PAA. In addition, as a condition of the EPA enforcement grant CDA is required to verify compliance with all elements of the label. EPA also has specified in our grant that the CDA must determine applicator compliance with the Endangered Species Act by verifying that applicators are referencing the ES Bulletins when required. In 2012 Colorado’s first ES Bulletins for Rozol Prairie Dog Bait came into existence and ES Bulletin language is showing up on labels regularly now. The best way for CDA to verify that an applicator has referenced the ES Bulletin and followed all use restrictions for the pesticide, county and month the application was made is to require that the applicator maintain a copy of any active Bulletin that pertains to applications they have made in their records. A record of the Bulletin will only be required to be maintained when there is an active Bulletin for the product, county and month in which the application took place. 
4.	The intent of Part 7.05 is to require an applicator to have the original or a copy of the original pesticide label and any additional labeling directions in the possession of the applicator at the time of an application so all use directions are available at the job site. Currently Part 7.05 states, “...a copy of the pesticide label and any attached labeling for each product in use shall be in the possession of the commercial…applicator...” The word “attached” no longer represents how labels and labeling may be accessed with new technologies. Labels and labeling are now more likely to be downloaded from the registrant’s or EPA’s website and maintained electronically. Some products do not have labeling physically “attached” to a product. Therefore, the Department feels that changing the word “attached” to the word “associated” would clearly state the requirement of Part 7.05, which is to have copies of the pesticide label and all of its associated labeling. The word “copies” does not designate or restrict the form or manner in which the label copy must be in the applicator’s possession. 
The definition of “labeling” found in the Pesticide Act in relation to the Endangered Species (ES) Bulletins excludes “current official publications” of the EPA. ES Bulletins are publications of EPA that are not created and distributed with the pesticide label. CDA is proposing to add a clarifying statement that, for the purposes of Part 7.05, ES Bulletins are not required to be in the possession of the applicator at the time of the application, since an ES Bulletin is not “labeling”. It should be noted, however, that any requirements in an ES Bulletin are enforceable because compliance is mandated the label. Therefore, applicators must still follow all requirements on the ES Bulletin just as any other requirement on the label and failure to do so would be a violation of the PAA. CDA felt clarification is needed in Part 7.05 so applicators understand that although they must have a copy of the label in their possession at the time of application, they are not required to have the ES Bulletin in their possession. CDA is proposing to amend Part 7.05 to clearly state the ES Bulletin is not required to be in the applicator’s possession at the time of an application. 
5.	Parts 8, 9 and 10 are amended to add the numeric category reference to each pesticide licensure category. CDA routinely refers to pesticide applicator licensure categories with a numeric reference in publications, enforcement documents, license documents, examination documents, etc.; i.e.: Category 101, Agricultural Insect Control. CDA is proposing that all licensure category descriptions in Parts 8, 9 and 10 be amended to reflect the appropriate numeric category reference number to ensure Department publications, administrative documents and enforcement documents legally coincide. 
6.	Recently the question was brought to the Department’s attention, asking if rodents can be treated in rangeland areas with the Rangeland Pest Control Category vs. the Outdoor Vertebrate Control Category. The licensure category description in the Rangeland category is a very broad, stating that this category is for the “application of pesticides to rangeland”. Arguably this language would allow the applications of any pesticide, including those applied to rodents in Rangeland areas. However, the Outdoor Vertebrate licensure category clearly states that the Outdoor Vertebrate Pest Control category must be held to apply pesticides to control outdoor vertebrate pests, regardless of the site they inhabit; adding to the confusion. 
The original intent of the Rangeland category was for the application of pesticides to rangeland areas for pests other than rodents, i.e.: weeds, insects, etc. The Outdoor vertebrate category was intended to apply pesticides for the control of vertebrate pests, regardless of the site they may be found (i.e.: water, rangeland, structures, pasture, right-of-way, etc.). During our review, we found this broad statement not only in the Rangeland category but also in the Forestry and Aquatic categories, making the licensure requirements confusing unless the applicator reads the Outdoor Vertebrate licensure category with these other definitions. Even then, it is not clear if the Outdoor Vertebrate Pest Control license would be needed. 
The other licensure categories do have specific descriptions as to what that licensure category does and does not allow. For example: 
8.01 (a) Agricultural Insect Control: the application of pesticides to agricultural plants, including applications performed on pastures, croplands and non-crop agricultural lands, to control invertebrate pests, including insects, mites, slugs, snails, and nematodes.
8.01 (j) Public Health Pest Control: the application of pesticides for control of disease vectors, except vertebrates.
9.01 (a) Turf Pest Control: the application of pesticides to: (1) turf to control invertebrate pests, including insects, mites, slugs, snails, and nematodes, or to control plant diseases or weeds; or (2) ornamental beds to control weeds.
The CDA is proposing that the Rangeland Pest Control and Forest Pest Control category definitions be amended to clearly state that these categories allow the application of pesticides to be applied to control pests “except vertebrates”, as similarly stated in the Public Health Pest Control Category. 
During our discussion with the Pesticide Advisory Committee it was pointed out that amphibian and fish pest control is currently under the Outdoor Vertebrate Control category. It was recommended that the Department allow these vertebrate pests to be treated under the Aquatic Pest Control license, since the pesticide applications are being made directly to water. The Department agreed with this reasoning and therefore is proposing to clarify the licensure requirements for controlling vertebrate pests in and out of water in the Part 8.01(h), Aquatic Pest Control and Part 10.01(b), Outdoor Vertebrate Pest Control. 
7.	CDA recently identified a discrepancy in Part 10.02, which outlines the structural pest control experience requirements for licensure as a qualified supervisor. The current language incorrectly references the Residential/Commercial Pest Control licensure category, found in Rule 10.01 (d), as “household pest control”. The Department believes this was an oversight in the terminology when the Rule was originally enacted, since nowhere in the PAA is “household pest control” referenced as a license category. CDA proposes to amend Part 10.02 to remove the reference to “household pest control” and correctly state the licensure category referenced in Part 10.01(d), Residential/Commercial Pest Control. 
8.	In FY 2012 it was brought to the attention of the Department that a licensed commercial applicator wanted to use a device, called the Pressurized Exhaust Rodent Control (PERC), to convert gasoline to carbon dioxide (and other gases) and then pump carbon monoxide into a building void (in a strip mall) to treat bird mites and other pests associated with a bird infestation. The PERC is a device intended to only control rodents; it generates carbon monoxide with an attached engine, pressurizes it into a large tank, and the gas is then pumped into rodent burrows. The directions prohibit use on structures and recommend the applicator maintain a 150 ft. buffer from structures. 
Under 35-10-118 (9.5) - Powers and duties of the Commissioner, adopted as a result of the 2006 Sunset review, it states: 
The Commissioner shall designate by rule which devices, when operated for hire, require the operator to be licensed as a commercial applicator. Licensure shall be required only for the use of those devices that, as determined by the Commissioner, may constitute a significant risk to public health or safety.
Since the CDA does not currently have any devices in Rule designated to require licensure, the CDA has no regulatory authority over individuals using these devices. Therefore, the CDA cannot require licensure when using these devices for hire or take any enforcement action on a commercial applicator when the device is used incorrectly, even when it would cause a risk to the public’s health or safety. 
The CDA is proposing the creation of a new Rule 15.05 that requires licensure for the use of any device that generates/produces a pesticide as defined in the Pesticide Applicators’ Act § 35-10-103(10), C.R.S., to help ensure public safety, by requiring applicators have the proper training and licensing to use any device for hire that produces a pesticide. In addition, Rule 15.05 requires the applicator to use the device in accordance with the manufacturer’s directions.