In 1989, the Commissioners adopted the County’s first Pesticide Use Policy as recommended by the study committee. In 1993, the Commissioners adopted a revised Thurston County Pest and Vegetation Management Policy.

The new Policy includes:

1. The Policy applies only to County operations.

2. The County needs to adopt Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices to reduce the use of pesticides.

3. Each department would need to develop IPM Programs and be approved by the Board of County Commissioners

4. Criteria to be used by the Environmental Health Department in reviewing and making recommendations on proposed pesticides to be used by county departments.

5. The creation of the Pest and Vegetation Management Advisory Committee - a permanent oversight committee made up of 9 citizens.

Thurston County Requirements for Integrated Pest Management Plans

Thurston County requires Integrated Pest Management Plans (IPMP) for certain land use projects located in a Category I or II Aquifer Recharge Areas where drinking water sources are vulnerable to contamination.

IPMPs are required for:

1)         Subdivisions of 10 lots or greater (excluding large lots).

2)         Any land use project that incorporates maintained open space areas totaling more than five acres.

3)         All land use projects located within a delineated well head capture zone for a group A public water supply.

Changes to the IPMP will be submitted to Thurston County for review and approval prior to implementation.