Updated 08/20/07

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The Pesticide Management Division of the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) is responsible for ensuring that pesticides are used safely and legally. To accomplish this responsibility, WSDA performs a number of activities including registering the pesticidal products in the state, investigating complaints of possible misuse, maintaining a registry of pesticide sensitive individuals and administering a waste pesticide collection program. These duties are performed under the authority of the Washington Pesticide Control Act (15.58 RCW), the Washington Pesticide Application Act (17.21 RCW), the General Pesticide Rules (WAC 16-228), the Worker Protection Standard (WAC 16-233) and a number of pesticide and/or county specific regulations.

The National Pesticide Telecommunications Network provides objective, science based information regarding human and environmental issues related to pesticides through their national hotline at 800-858-7378.

WSDA's Pesticide Management Division, as a regulatory agency, does not provide information on pest identification and control. There are a variety of other organizations that can help the homeowner, grower, commercial pest control firm and others identify pest control problems and their chemical and non-chemical solutions. 

One of the first people to contact is your local WSU county extension agent. Look in your telephone directory's county pages under "Cooperative Extension." Some counties also have a Master Gardener program, staffed by trained, experienced volunteers who can provide homeowners with valuable gardening information. Your county extension agent can let you know if there are volunteers in your county and how to contact them. 

There is a wealth of pest identification and control information in your local library and on the Internet. The Washington State Pest Management Resource Service provides information as well as links to many other agencies and organizations. For instance, this site provides a link to WSU's ornamental bulletin board. Another valuable Pacific Northwest site is the Oregon State University's Extension and Experiment Station Communications site. They carry many pest control publications including the Pacific Northwest Insect Control Handbook. 

Those interested in a resource for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for schools, may want to visit the Urban Pesticide Education Strategy Team web site. This site addresses IPM strategies for landscape and indoor pest problems in Washington. Another resource for school IPM information is the University of Florida Cooperative Extensive Service School IPM site. The University of Florida's AgriGator web site provides a collection of Internet sites and resources that provide agricultural and biological related information. The National Pesticide Information Center provides objective, science based information regarding human and environmental issues related to pesticides through their national hotline at 800-858-7378.

If you believe that you have located an exotic pest, please contact Eric LaGasa, WSDA Chief Entomologist. For information on noxious weeds, you may contact the Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board at (253) 395-3095 or, in most counties, your county noxious weed control board. Look in your telephone directory's county pages under "Noxious Weed Control," or go to a staff listing on the Washington Pesticide Page. 

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