First Year of Oregon's Pesticide Use Reporting Drawing to a Close

SALEM - The first year of Oregon's landmark Pesticide Use Reporting System, "PURS" has drawn to a close, but pesticide users have until the end of the month to report their 2007 usage. Meanwhile, it will most likely be July 2008 before the general public sees a summarized report on pesticide use in Oregon.

Although detailed information is being electronically collected, the law that created PURS protects confidentiality of individual users and requires that the data be summarized in the statewide report prepared by the Oregon Department of Agriculture.

"PURS gives us an annual snapshot of pesticide use and, over several years, will allow us to identify trends in the use of pesticides," says ODA Deputy Director Lisa Hanson.

All 2007 pesticide applications must be reported online through PURS no later than January 31st 2008. The requirement to report applies to anyone using a registered pesticide product in the course of business, or for a government entity, or in a public place.

The electronic reporting system allows pesticide users to register and submit information through a Web site to a high security database. PURS will provide information on what pesticides are being used in Oregon, in what quantities, and generally where they are being applied. Information on use of pesticides by homeowners is being collected through a separate survey.

The collection of data, both from PURS and the household use surveys, will result in a yearly statewide report issued by ODA. The format of these reports is still being developed. The Oregon Legislature, through statutes, has imposed restrictions on use of the information submitted to PURS.

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Source: www.salem-news.com