Exhibit 4_SCNF Drift Detection Monitoring Protocol.docx

Drift Detection Monitoring Card Results

Unit Name/No:

Date:

Observer:

Latitude:

Longitude:

Moisture/Type of Moisture:

Type/Name of Boundary:

Distance from Boundary:

25’ ☐

50’ ☐

75’ ☐

100’ ☐

150’ ☐

200’ ☐

250’ ☐

300’ ☐

Other (specify distance): ☐

Inside Tx Unit (specify distance within):

NOTES:

SCNF Aerial Herbicide Drift Monitoring Form SCNF Aerial Herbicide Drift Monitoring Procedure During aerial herbicide applications, it is important to keep herbicide from extending beyond treatment units or from reaching non-target areas such as water bodies, sensitive sites like rare plant populations or wetlands, or private land. This can be accomplished by following herbicide label direction, paying careful attention to weather conditions and wind speed and direction, and, where needed, establishing buffer distances from sensitive areas. Data from the Bitterroot NF shows that a 300-ft buffer from bodies of water is more than sufficient to prevent herbicide drift from aerially applied herbicides from reaching water bodies (Kulla 2002). Monitoring for drift is conducted using drift detection cards. Drift detection cards are made of specially coated paper that records contact with even minimal amounts of water by turning blue where water makes contact with the coated surface. These cards are very sensitive to moisture (even to high levels of humidity, overnight dew or morning dew, or sweat and skin oil on fingers and palms of hands) and must be handled very carefully.

Monitoring Procedure To monitor for potential drift across treatment unit boundaries and/or reaching non-target areas, drift detection cards will be placed perpendicular to and across the slope or upslope from areas where potential drift might be detected. Cards may also be placed within treatment units to monitor the spray pattern. These are useful for determining the distribution of spray within treatment units, whether desired coverage is being attained, and for comparison purposes outside units. Where a treatment unit is bisected by a stream, drift detection cards may be placed on both sides of the stream, depending on buffer distance and wind direction and speed.

Before the day’s application, project managers will determine strategic locations for drift cards lines. GPS coordinates and photos will be taken, and an individual ID number recorded at the site of each card holder. Project personnel will observe and record information on humidity levels, dew, or potential precipitation. Extreme care is required in setting out cards as they are very sensitive to moisture of any kind. Personnel must wear latex, nitrile or other form-fitting gloves when handling drift cards. Personnel must also learn to recognize marks made by birds, insects or rodents that land on or come to inspects the cards as they leave marks behind as well.

Place drift detection cards at intervals moving outwards from the non-treated area or from the treatment unit boundary, as appropriate. Place cards in locations on open sites where drift could potentially occur and be detected.

Observations by personnel at the time of collection are critical to an accurate reading. To complete and document monitoring, project personnel will observe and record spray detection on the cards before carefully removing each card from the card holders. If desired, personnel may photograph each card as well before removing it from the card holder. Tag or record each card with identifying information and place card in a Ziploc bag labeled with the treatment unit number and drift detection line details for transport and storage. Remember to handle cards carefully with gloved hands and only along the edges to avoid damage to the record. Record non-spray markings such as human sweat, animal moisture and other markings on the data form along with the herbicide droplets. Record number of droplets on each card by using hash marks or a dot box in the correct cell on the form for the Line Number and Distance from Boundary. If there are no droplets, record zero.

Complete the drift detection monitoring card data form and attach map and photos.