7-EXHIBIT E IPM POLICY.pdf

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Town of Hilton Head Island

INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT POLICY

Adopted October 15, 2024 Amended June 17, 2025

Purpose

The purpose of this Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Policy is to minimize risks associated with pest control measures to human and animal health, the environment, and non-target organisms by outlining a sustainable, effective, and environmentally responsible approach to managing pests and maintaining facilities in the Town of Hilton Head Island.

Policy

The Town of Hilton Head Island will implement an organic first IPM Policy to manage pests on its properties and facilities in a manner that is environmentally responsible, protective of human and animal health, minimizes impact on non-target organisms, is economically viable, and is aesthetically accepted as determined by the Town. This policy applies to all properties, road rights-of-way, and facilities owned, operated, or managed by the Town of Hilton Head Island. This policy does not apply to residential or commercial properties within the Town which are not owned or managed by the Town.

Pest Management Guiding Principles

1. Pest management decisions shall be made by Town staff and will be based on monitoring data, pest population thresholds, potential risks to human and animal health, the environment, and benefits and risks of available control methods.

2. Pest management actions shall be based on an organic first approach by prioritizing preventative measures and the use of cultural, physical, and/or biological controls before pesticide controls are employed. Pest thresholds are site and pest specific. Pest thresholds shall be established in an IPM Plan for Town owned and managed properties and approved by the

Town’s Facilities Director, or qualified designee.

3. Use organic pesticides on all Town owned and managed properties and limit exposure to synthetic pesticides in areas where children and the general public congregate and in environmentally sensitive locations. Use EPA level pesticides in a targeted manner and only if deemed necessary to protect public health and prevent economic loss by the Town Integrated Pest Management Specialist that is appropriately licensed in the State of South Carolina for such applications, in conjunction with Town Staff, when other methods do not adequately control the pest. Such uses shall be reviewed at least annually with a third-party advisor appropriately licensed in the State of South Carolina for such applications or certified in organic land management.

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4. The Town will partner with all landscape and pest control contractors that work with the Town of Hilton Head Island to maintain its properties. The Town will ensure contractors are educated and capable of compliance with the Town’s policy.

Applicability to Town Service Contracts

1. Any contracted services for the Town are required to comply with this policy as part of the contracted work on Town managed properties or facilities.

2. Upon adoption of this policy, this IPM Policy shall be in effect and apply to all new contracts Any existing contract that is in effect upon adoption of this policy, shall be evaluated to determine if compliance with this policy is required. If compliance is required and the contract does not already require compliance with this policy, the contract shall either be amended to require compliance or be terminated per the terms of the contract and a new contract executed so as to require compliance with this policy. All existing contracts will be required to be compliant as soon as reasonably possible and no later than within twelve (12) months from the adoption of this policy.

Procedures

Prevention

1. Prevention begins in the design phase of projects, where Staff shall review all new development and rehabilitation Town project plans to verify compatibility with the site’s environment.

2. Preventative measures include utilizing available science, research, and techniques based on the

Town’s ecosystem and environment to reduce the need for pesticide control on Town owned or managed property. This includes, but is not limited to, proper plant selection, proper watering schedules, proper maintenance heights of plants, solid waste removal and control, and following a preventative maintenance schedule for buildings.

Monitoring

1. Town staff and contractors shall provide regular monitoring services for all the Town’s properties and report pest concerns to the Town’s Facilities Director, or qualified designee.

2. Town staff and contractors shall report if pest populations are increasing, decreasing, or staying the same and, through collaboration, recommend the type of control, consistent with this IPM Policy, to manage the pest.

3. Town staff shall have final approval of all pest control measures.

Non-Pesticide Control Measures

1. The Landscape or maintenance staff and contractors shall utilize cultural controls, which are modifications of normal plant care activities that reduce or prevent pests. These methods include adjusting the frequency and amount of irrigation, fertilization, and mowing height.

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2. Landscape or maintenance staff and contractors shall utilize mechanical control tactics involving the use of manual labor and machinery to reduce or eliminate pest problems using methods such as handpicking, physical barriers, or machinery to reduce pest abundance indirectly.

3. Landscape or maintenance staff and contractors shall consider a biological control practice that uses living organisms to reduce pest populations. These organisms, also referred to as beneficials, natural enemies, or bio-controls, act to keep pest populations low enough to prevent significant economic damage. Bio-controls include pathogens, parasites, predators, competitive species, and antagonistic organisms. Beneficial organisms can occur naturally or can be purchased and released. The most common organisms used for biological control in landscapes are predators, parasites, pathogens, and herbivores.

Pesticide Control Measures

1. Synthetic pesticides are to be utilized only after other control methods have been determined by Town staff to be ineffective in the acceptable control of the pest problem.

2. The use of any pesticide containing a substance known to be a human carcinogen is prohibited on any Town owned or managed property. Substances known to be human carcinogens are those listed in the most recent U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Report on Carcinogens Section as required by 301(b)(4) of the Public Health Service Act, 42 USC 241(b)(4), as amended.

3. Glyphosate (i.e. Roundup TM) is prohibited on Town owned or managed properties.

4. Non-organic pesticides shall not be applied within twenty-five (25) feet of the mean high-water line of any water or marsh edge.

5. The Town and its contractors will apply only EPA labeled pesticides, appropriate for the target pest, and as such pesticide application must strictly follow the label of the product as required by “South Carolina Pesticide Control Act,” [S.C. Code Ann. § 46-13-10, et seq. (Supp. 2024)] and S.C. Code of Regulations R. Ch. 27, Art. 17, including restrictions on use in environmentally sensitive areas as identified by the label of the product.

6. Selection of pesticide control shall be based on the following:

a. Prioritize use of organic pesticides.

b. Use EPA Level pesticides in a targeted manner and only if deemed necessary to protect public health and prevent economic loss by the Town Integrated Pest Management Specialist that is appropriately licensed in the State of South Carolina for such applications, in conjunction with Town Staff, when other methods do not adequately control the pest. Such uses shall be reviewed at least annually with a third-party advisor appropriately licensed in the State of South Carolina for such applications or certified in organic land management. EPA level is identified on the product label with the following signal words Level III “Caution”, Level II “Warning”, Level I “Danger”.

c. EPA level I “Danger” pesticides shall not be used on Town owned or managed properties unless it is deemed necessary to protect public health and prevent economic loss by the Town Integrated Pest Management Specialist that is appropriately licensed in the State

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7. In accordance with the pesticide control requirements set forth above, pesticides are to be utilized as approved by Town staff, in a prioritized approach on all Town owned and operated properties as follows:

a. Organic pesticides

b. EPA Level III “caution” label pesticides only when deemed necessary to protect public health and prevent economic loss by the Town Integrated Pest Management Specialist that is appropriately licensed in the State of South Carolina for such applications, in conjunction with Town Staff, when other methods do not adequately control the pest

c. EPA Level II “warning” label pesticides only when deemed necessary to protect public health and prevent economic loss, by the Town Integrated Pest Management Specialist that is appropriately licensed in the State of South Carolina for such applications, in conjunction with Town Staff, when other methods do not adequately control the pest

Approvals and Application of Pesticides

1. A written recommendation of proposed pesticide, including commercial name, concentrations, allocation rates, usage and reentry time shall be prepared by an appropriately licensed South Carolina applicator and site-specific schedule submitted for approval by the Town’s Facilities Director, or qualified designee. Copies of Safety Data Sheets and specimen labels shall be given to the Town prior to pesticide use on Town property. Any pesticide use must be approved in writing by the Town’s Facilities Director, or qualified designee, prior to its use.

2. For Facilities and Building Maintenance, the referenced responsibilities of a licensed pest control applicator presented throughout this policy are to be performed by an appropriately licensed South Carolina applicator.

3. Pesticides shall only be applied by those persons possessing an appropriate, valid South Carolina applicator license; or supervised by a person possessing an appropriate, valid South Carolina applicator license as required by South Carolina regulation. Application shall be in strict accordance with all governing regulations.

4. Pesticides shall be applied in a manner that avoids any contamination of non-target areas.

Notification Requirements

1. Precautionary measures shall be employed to keep the public from entering the area where any Pesticide has been applied until it is safe through the posting of signage. Posting of signs shall be required at all park facilities when any application of pesticides is performed. Specific requirements for posting are as follows:

a. All signs shall be posted forty-eight (48) hours prior to spraying pesticide applications.

b. For spot-spraying and all other non-broadcast pesticide applications, signs will be posted in conspicuous locations at area of application. Along walkways and trails, signs will be placed at regular intervals facing the pedestrian walkway and park kiosks.

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c. For broadcast pesticide applications, including spot-spraying pesticide applications over a large area or field, signs will be posted in conspicuous locations at the area of application and at high traffic areas, including defined and undefined entrances and at park kiosks.

d. Signage shall include a URL and/ or QR code linking to the Town’s IPM Policy and a list of all approved pesticides. Signage, at a minimum, must contain the chemical name of the active ingredients, product name, date of the application, target pest, EPA registration number as specified on the product label, and re-entry Interval of the product as specified on the product label.

e. Signs shall be a minimum of three (3) square feet in area, per side if double sided, and shall be weatherproof.

f. Signs will remain in place for a minimum of twenty-four (24) hours after the applications are completed and not less than the re-entry interval of the product as specified on the product label.

g. Emergency pesticide application may be required for pest control. In this rare event, there may not be adequate time to post signage within forty-eight (48) hours prior to the application. Town staff must be notified immediately prior to pesticide application.

In the event of an emergency pesticide application, signs notifying the application of pesticides shall be posted prior to the pesticide application.

Records and Reporting

Records of all pesticides used by contractors on Town property shall be retained by the contractors in accordance with the SC Department of Pesticide Regulations, as defined in the Rules and Regulations for the Enforcement of S.C. Regs. 27-1083 and provided to the Town. Records shall include information such as the quantity of each pesticide used, the common chemical name of the active ingredient(s), the product name, the pest or purpose for which the pesticide was applied, and the date and place of application and any other information required by “South Carolina Pesticide Control Act,” [S.C. Code Ann.

§ 46-13-10, et seq. (Supp. 2024)] and S.C. Code of Regulations R. Ch. 27, Art. 17.

Public Education and Outreach

1. The Town of Hilton Head Island will develop and implement public education and outreach programs to inform residents, businesses, and visitors about the Town’s IPM principles, practices, and benefits. This includes posting at least annually on the Town’s website a report providing information related to pesticide applications on Town owned and managed properties.

2. Uses of EPA level pesticides shall be reviewed at least annually with a third-party advisor appropriately licensed in the State of South Carolina for such applications or certified in organic land management.

3. Collaboration with community organizations, schools, and other stakeholders will be encouraged to promote IPM adoption and awareness throughout the community.

Review and Evaluation

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1. This policy will be reviewed and evaluated periodically by Town Staff to assess its effectiveness in achieving the desired pest management outcomes and to identify opportunities for improvement.

2. Updates or revisions to the policy may be made as necessary to address changing conditions, new information, or advancements in pest management technologies.

Definitions

1. The following terms shall have the same meaning as the “South Carolina Pesticide Control Act,” [S.C. Code Ann. § 46-13-10, et seq. (Supp. 2024)]:

a. Insecticides: Any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any insects which may be present in any environment whatsoever.

b. Pest: (a) Any insect, snail, slug, rodent, nematode, fungus, weed, or (b) any other form of terrestrial or aquatic plant or animal life or virus, bacteria, or other microorganism (except viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms on or in living man or other living animals) which the Director declares to be a pest.

c. Pesticides: (a) any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any pest, (b) any substance or mixture of substances intended for use as a plant regulator, defoliant, or desiccant.

2. Biological control: The use of active manipulation of living natural enemies to control pest population densities.

3. Chemical control: The use of pesticides to control pest populations. Pesticides include synthetic or organic formulations of the chemical.

4. Cultural control: Practices that reduce pest establishment, reproduction, and dispersal.

Practices can include but not limited to, the use of selecting pest resistant variety of plants, selecting native plant species, or optimizing irrigation practices.

5. Integrated Pest Management (IPM): A comprehensive, science-based approach to managing pests by integrating biological, cultural, physical, and chemical control methods to reduce pest populations to acceptable levels while minimizing risks to human health, the environment, and non-target organisms.

6. Physical control: Also referred to as mechanical control can include methods such as sanitation, use of physical barriers or traps, hand destruction, or spraying water to remove pests.