Illinois Laws > Health And Safety > Environmental Safety > Lawn Care Products Application and Notice Act.

ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(415 ILCS 65/) Lawn Care Products Application and Notice Act.

    (415 ILCS 65/1) (from Ch. 5, par. 851)
    Sec. 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Lawn Care Products Application and Notice Act.
(Source: P.A. 86‑358.)

    (415 ILCS 65/2) (from Ch. 5, par. 852)
    Sec. 2. Definitions.
    For purposes of this Act:
    "Application" means the spreading of lawn care products on a lawn.
    "Applicator for hire" means any person who makes an application of lawn care products to a lawn or lawns for compensation, including applications made by an employee to lawns owned, occupied or managed by his employer and includes those licensed by the Department as licensed commercial applicators, commercial not‑for‑hire applicators, licensed public applicators, certified applicators and licensed operators and those otherwise subject to the licensure provisions of the Illinois Pesticide Act, as now or hereafter amended.
    "Department" means the Illinois Department of Agriculture.
    "Facility" means a building or structure and appurtenances thereto used by an applicator for hire for storage and handling of pesticides or the storage or maintenance of pesticide application equipment or vehicles.
    "Fertilizer" means any substance containing nitrogen, phosphorus or potassium or other recognized plant nutrient or compound, which is used for its plant nutrient content.
    "Golf course" means an area designated for the play or practice of the game of golf, including surrounding grounds, trees, ornamental beds and the like.
    "Golf course superintendent" means any person entrusted with and employed for the care and maintenance of a golf course.
    "Lawn" means land area covered with turf kept closely mown or land area covered with turf and trees or shrubs. The term does not include (1) land area used for research for agricultural production or for the commercial production of turf, (2) land area situated within a public or private right‑of‑way, or (3) land area which is devoted to the production of any agricultural commodity, including, but not limited to plants and plant parts, livestock and poultry and livestock or poultry products, seeds, sod, shrubs and other products of agricultural origin raised for sale or for human or livestock consumption.
    "Lawn care products" means fertilizers or pesticides applied or intended for application to lawns.
    "Person" means any individual, partnership, association, corporation or State governmental agency, school district, unit of local government and any agency thereof.
    "Pesticide" means any substance or mixture of substances defined as a pesticide under the Illinois Pesticide Act, as now or hereafter amended.
    "Plant protectants" means any substance or material used to protect plants from infestation of insects, fungi, weeds and rodents, or any other substance that would benefit the overall health of plants.
    "Turf" means the upper stratum of soils bound by grass and plant roots into a thick mat.
(Source: P.A. 86‑358.)

    (415 ILCS 65/3) (from Ch. 5, par. 853)
    Sec. 3. Notification requirements for application of lawn care products.
    (a) Lawn Markers.
        (1) Immediately following application of lawn care      products to a lawn, other than a golf course, an applicator for hire shall place a lawn marker at the usual point or points of entry.         (2) The lawn marker shall consist of a 4 inch by 5      inch sign, vertical or horizontal, attached to the upper portion of a dowel or other supporting device with the bottom of the marker extending no less than 12 inches above the turf.         (3) The lawn marker shall be white and lettering on      the lawn marker shall be in a contrasting color. The marker shall state on one side, in letters of not less than 3/8 inch, the following: "LAWN CARE APPLICATION ‑ STAY OFF GRASS UNTIL DRY ‑ FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: (here shall be inserted the name and business telephone number of the applicator for hire)."         (4) The lawn marker shall be removed and discarded      by the property owner or resident, or such other person authorized by the property owner or resident, on the day following the application. The lawn marker shall not be removed by any person other than the property owner or resident or person designated by such property owner or resident.         (5) For applications to residential properties of 2      families or less, the applicator for hire shall be required to place lawn markers at the usual point or points of entry.         (6) For applications to residential properties of 2      families or more, or for application to other commercial properties, the applicator for hire shall place lawn markers at the usual point or points of entry to the property to provide notice that lawn care products have been applied to the lawn.     (b) Notification requirement for application of plant protectants on golf courses.
        (1) Blanket posting procedure. Each golf course      shall post in a conspicuous place or places an all‑weather poster or placard stating to users of or visitors to the golf course that from time to time plant protectants are in use and additionally stating that if any questions or concerns arise in relation thereto, the golf course superintendent or his designee should be contacted to supply the information contained in subsection (c) of this Section.         (2) The poster or placard shall be prominently      displayed in the pro shop, locker rooms and first tee at each golf course.         (3) The poster or placard shall be a minimum size of      8 1/2 by 11 inches and the lettering shall not be less than 1/2 inch.         (4) The poster or placard shall read: "PLANT      PROTECTANTS ARE PERIODICALLY APPLIED TO THIS GOLF COURSE. IF DESIRED, YOU MAY CONTACT YOUR GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT FOR FURTHER INFORMATION."     (c) Information to Customers of Applicators for Hire. At the time of application of lawn care products to a lawn, an applicator for hire shall provide the following information to the customer:
        (1) The brand name or common name of each lawn care      product applied;         (2) The type of fertilizer or pesticide contained in      the lawn care product applied;         (3) The reason for use of each lawn care product      applied;         (4) The range of concentration of end use product      applied to the lawn and amount of material applied;         (5) Any special instruction appearing on the label      of the lawn care product applicable to the customer's use of the lawn following application; and         (6) The business name and telephone number of the      applicator for hire as well as the name of the person actually applying lawn care products to the lawn.     (d) Prior notification of application to lawn. In the case of all lawns other than golf courses:
        (1) Any neighbor whose property abuts or is adjacent      to the property of a customer of an applicator for hire may receive prior notification of an application by contacting the applicator for hire and providing his name, address and telephone number.         (2) At least the day before a scheduled application,      an applicator for hire shall provide notification to a person who has requested notification pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection (d), such notification to be made in writing, in person or by telephone, disclosing the date and approximate time of day of application.         (3) In the event that an applicator for hire is      unable to provide prior notification to a neighbor whose property abuts or is adjacent to the property because of the absence or inaccessibility of the individual, at the time of application to a customer's lawn, the applicator for hire shall leave a written notice at the residence of the person requesting notification, which shall provide the information specified in paragraph (2) of this subsection (d).     (e) Prior notification of application to golf courses.
        (1) Any landlord or resident with property that      abuts or is adjacent to a golf course may receive prior notification of an application of lawn care products or plant protectants, or both, by contacting the golf course superintendent and providing his name, address and telephone number.         (2) At least the day before a scheduled application      of lawn care products or plant protectants, or both, the golf course superintendent shall provide notification to any person who has requested notification pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection (e), such notification to be made in writing, in person or by telephone, disclosing the date and approximate time of day of application.         (3) In the event that the golf course superintendent      is unable to provide prior notification to a landlord or resident because of the absence or inaccessibility, at the time of application, of the landlord or resident, the golf course superintendent shall leave a written notice with the landlord or at the residence which shall provide the information specified in paragraph (2) of this subsection (e).     (f) Notification for applications of pesticides to school grounds other than school structures. School districts must maintain a registry of parents and guardians of students who have registered to receive written notification prior to the application of pesticides to school grounds or provide written notification to all parents and guardians of students before such pesticide application. Written notification may be included in newsletters, bulletins, calendars, or other correspondence currently published by the school district. The written notification must be given at least 2 business days before application of the pesticide and should identify the intended date of the application of the pesticide and the name and telephone contact number for the school personnel responsible for the pesticide application program. Prior written notice shall not be required if there is imminent threat to health or property. If such a situation arises, the appropriate school personnel must sign a statement describing the circumstances that gave rise to the health threat and ensure that written notice is provided as soon as practicable.
(Source: P.A. 91‑99, eff. 7‑9‑99; 92‑16, eff. 6‑28‑01.)

    (415 ILCS 65/4) (from Ch. 5, par. 854)
    Sec. 4. Applicator certification and training requirements. Applicators for hire must be certified and licensed by the Department under the Illinois Pesticide Act, as now or hereafter amended, before they can apply lawn care products to lawns.
(Source: P.A. 86‑358.)

    (415 ILCS 65/5) (from Ch. 5, par. 855)
    Sec. 5. Containment of spills, wash water, and rinsate collection.
    (a) No loading of lawn care products for distribution to a customer or washing or rinsing of pesticide residues from vehicles, application equipment, mixing equipment, floors or other items used for the storage, handling, preparation for use, transport, or application of pesticides to lawns shall be performed at a facility except in designated containment areas in accordance with the requirements of this Section. A lawn care containment permit, issued by the Department, shall be obtained prior to the operation of the containment area. The Department shall issue a lawn care containment permit when the containment area or facility complies with the provisions of this Section and the rules and regulations adopted under Sections 5 and 6.
    (b) No later than January 1, 1993, containment areas shall be in use in any facility as defined in this Act and no wash water or rinsates may be released into the environment except in accordance with applicable law. Containment areas shall include the following requirements:
        (1) The containment area shall be constructed of      concrete, asphalt or other impervious materials which include, but are not limited to, polyethylene containment pans and synthetic membrane liners. All containment area materials shall be compatible with the lawncare products to be contained.         (2) The containment area shall be designed to      capture spills, washwaters, and rinsates generated in the loading of application devices, the lawncare product‑related servicing of vehicles, and the triple rinsing of pesticide containers and to prevent the release of such spills, washwaters, or rinsates to the environment other than as described in paragraph (3) of this subsection (b).         (3) Spills, washwaters, and rinsates captured in the      containment area may be used in accordance with the label rates of the lawncare products, reused as makeup water for dilution of pesticides in preparation of application, or disposed in accordance with applicable local, State and federal regulations.     (c) The requirements of this Section shall not apply to situations constituting an emergency where washing or rinsing of pesticide residues from equipment or other items is necessary to prevent imminent harm to human health or the environment.
    (d) The requirements of this Section shall not apply to persons subject to the containment requirements of the Illinois Pesticide Act or the Illinois Fertilizer Act of 1961 and any rules or regulations adopted thereunder.
(Source: P.A. 92‑113, eff. 7‑20‑01.)

    (415 ILCS 65/6) (from Ch. 5, par. 856)
    Sec. 6. This Act shall be administered and enforced by the Department. The Department may promulgate rules and regulations as necessary for the enforcement of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 86‑358; 87‑1033.)

    (415 ILCS 65/7) (from Ch. 5, par. 857)
    Sec. 7. When an administrative hearing is held by the Department, the hearing officer, upon determination of any violation of this Act or rule or regulation, shall either refer the violation to the States Attorney's office in the county where the alleged violation occurred for prosecution or levy the following administrative monetary penalties:
        (a) a penalty of $100 for a first violation;
        (b) a penalty of $200 for a second violation; and
        (c) a penalty of $500 for a third or subsequent      violation.     The penalty levied shall be collected by the Department, and all penalties collected by the Department under this Act shall be deposited into the Pesticide Control Fund. Any penalty not paid within 60 days of notice from the Department shall be submitted to the Attorney General's office for collection.
    Upon prosecution by a State's Attorney, a violation of this Act or rules shall be a petty offense subject to a fine of $100 for a first offense, a fine of $200 for a second offense and a fine of $500 for a third or subsequent offense.
(Source: P.A. 86‑358; 87‑1033.)

    (415 ILCS 65/8) (from Ch. 5, par. 858)
    Sec. 8. Nothing in this Act shall be interpreted to affect the existing powers of any unit of local government, including any home rule unit.
(Source: P.A. 86‑358.)