The Florida Senate

Before the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services begins an emergency response to a plant pest infestation which involves the aerial application of a pesticide to an urbanized area, the department shall notify the public in the area in which the pesticide is to be applied of its impending action. Notice must be given at least 48 hours before beginning the aerial application of a pesticide to an urbanized area. The department shall use all reasonable methods to disseminate information required under this section as widely as possible. Information to be disseminated includes, but is not limited to: a copy of any Environmental Protection Agency permit or other permit under which the pesticide will be applied, and the source, including the date of publication, of any technical information, if available, about the pesticide which is included in the notice; the projected area over which the pesticide will be applied; the predicted duration of the application period; and the number of the Department of Health’s toll-free hotline. When the emergency response to a plant pest infestation requires the aerial application of a pesticide to an urbanized area for a period longer than 1 week, the department shall notify the public in the area of the program’s continuation. The department shall notify the public in the area when an emergency response to a plant pest infestation which requires the aerial application of a pesticide to an urbanized area is terminated.