Document Code No.: PUT 8-17 (AEO)
Department/Issuing Agency: King County Executive Office
Effective Date: November 15, 1999
Approved: /s/ Ron Sims
Type of Action: New

EXECUTIVE ORDER

An Executive Order requiring certain King County Departments, Offices, and Agencies to conduct pest and vegetation management activities in accordance with the Tri-County IPM Model Policy and supporting Guidelines, and in accordance with subsequent revisions thereto; designating the Local Hazardous Waste Management Program in King County as the lead agency and resource for Integrated Pest Management by such Departments, Offices, and Agencies; and requiring that such Departments, Offices, and Agencies phase out the use of certain specified materials by June 30, 2000.

WHEREAS, pursuant to the federal Endangered Species Act ("ESA") and effective May 24, 1999, the Puget Sound Chinook Salmon Evolutionarily Significant Unit was listed as "threatened" by the National Marine Fisheries Service, and in the very near future the Puget Sound Bull Trout Evolutionarily Significant Unit will be listed as "threatened" by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service ("USFWS"); and

WHEREAS, the USFWS has promulgated a standing regulation that prohibits all "take" of a threatened species as of the date such a listing becomes effective, and the ESA provides civil and criminal penalties for violations of the ESA and regulations promulgated thereunder; and

WHEREAS, King County Executive Departments, Offices, and Agencies ("King County Agencies") should endeavor to comply with the ESA by minimizing the possibility of causing prohibited "take" of listed species such as the Puget Sound chinook salmon and the bull trout, and King County Agencies should set an example for businesses, other government entities, and citizens in King County to encourage actions that will promote the conservation of such listed species; and

WHEREAS, Integrated Pest Management ("IPM") uses a wide variety of strategies to prevent and address pest problems and to minimize the use of chemical pesticides, and representatives from local jurisdictions in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties developed a model Tri-County IPM Policy and supporting Guidelines with the aim of reducing the potential impact of pesticide use on listed species such as the Puget Sound chinook salmon and the bull trout, and implementation of the model Tri-County IPM Policy and supporting Guidelines by King County Agencies will result in better long-term management of vegetation and pest problems in King County, and is likely to contribute to improvement in public health and the environment in King County, including but not limited to the habitat, food, and sensitive life stages of threatened chinook salmon and bull trout; and

WHEREAS, at the request of the City of Seattle, the Washington Toxics Coalition conducted a Preliminary Assessment of Pesticides Used by the City of Seattle and compiled prioritized tables of products to be phased out of use by the City of Seattle, and at King County's request subsequently compiled similar tables of products to be phased out of use by King County; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to King County Charter §320.20, the county executive shall have all the executive powers of the county which are not expressly vested in other specific elective officers by the charter, and shall supervise all administrative offices and executive departments established by the charter or created by the county council; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to King County Code §2.16.020(E)(8), the county executive may assign duties and functions to departments to ensure that the county complies with applicable state and federal laws, regulations and requirements, so long as such duties and functions are not assigned to another department by the county charter or the county council; and

WHEREAS, matters concerning the internal management of county agencies do not constitute "rules" subject to the requirements of K.C.C. 2.98.010 et seq.;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Ron Sims, King County Executive, hereby do order that the following King County Agencies implement the following internal priorities and procedures regarding IPM in order to comply with the ESA and regulations promulgated thereunder, and to improve public health and the environment in King County:

1. All King County Agencies that conduct pest and vegetation management activities in the course of their assigned duties shall develop Agency-specific IPM programs and conduct other related activities in accordance with the Tri-County IPM Model Policy and supporting Guidelines, dated August 12, 1999, which are attached to this Executive Order and incorporated herein by reference, and in accordance with any subsequent revisions of those or King County-specific documents as may be approved by the Local Hazardous Waste Management Program ("Hazardous Waste Program").

2. The Hazardous Waste Program shall be the lead agency within King County to coordinate, and offer technical assistance for, IPM implementation by King County Agencies that conduct pest and vegetation management activities in the course of their assigned duties. The Hazardous Waste Program shall assist all such King County Agencies to develop Agency-specific IPM programs.

3. King County Agencies shall coordinate implementation of Agency-specific IPM programs via a King County IPM Steering Committee, as described in the Tri-County IPM Model Policy. All King County Agencies that conduct pest and vegetation management activities in the course of their assigned duties shall participate in the King County IPM Steering Committee.

4. By June 30, 2000, all King County Agencies that conduct pest and vegetation management activities in the course of their assigned duties shall, to the maximum extent practicable, phase out use of the products listed in Tier 1 of Tables 1-4 attached to this Executive Order and incorporated herein by reference. The King County IPM Steering Committee and the Hazardous Waste Program shall assist such King County Agencies to phase out use of Tier 1 products in accordance with the Preliminary Assessment of Pesticides Used by the City of Seattle, attached to this Executive Order and incorporated herein by reference, as well as in accordance with the Tri-County Model IPM Policy and the supporting Guidelines.

DATED this 5th day of November, 1999.

/s/ Ron Sims, King County Executive

ATTEST:

/s/ Robert Bruce, Acting Manager
King County Records and Elections Division