User:Cfraker/Office of Pest Management Arizona

Office of Pest Management Arizona (OPM)

This article is about the Office of Pest Management in the U.S. State of Arizona

History

This agency was originally formed to guard the general public from improper structural pest control by licensing and regulation of the commercial pest control industry.[1]

Overview

As of July 19, 2011, the oversight of the OPM was transferred from the Director of the Arizona Department of Administration to the Director of the Arizona Department of Agriculture. This became official when SB1194 [5]was first passed by the Arizona Legislature in February then later signed by the Governor in April 2011.[2] The Office of Pest Management does not manage the regulation of agricultural pesticides.

Purpose

The Office of Pest Management Arizona agency has several duties to manage within the pest control industry. These are the main three responsibilities of this agency. First, this agency is tasked to educate, train and issue licenses for all commercial applicators and inspectors as well as the license for any pest control companies doing business in the State of Arizona. It must also maintain a current database for all licensed applicators [3] and businesses.[4] Their second responsibility is the enforcement of all federal and state laws pertaining to the use and storage of pesticides. They do this by providing education to licensees and businesses, and by training inspectors to perform inspections at business offices and pest control vehicles as mandated by the agency. Third is consumer advocacy. Consumers are provided channels to file complaints involving licensed businesses. The investigators within the agency present all findings to the Acting Director of the Arizona Department of Agriculture. If violations are confirmed, businesses and/or applicators may incur sanctions as issued from the Acting Director that can range from further education classes and fines to revocation of a license. Definition

The Office of Pest Management oversees control of pests in and around structures in Arizona. There are five categories of structural pest control of which each one has separate training and licensing. These categories add specific segments of the pest control industry and are: Wood-destroying insects, Weed control, Pests of ornamental plants and turf, Aquatic pests and weeds and Pests affecting public health.[6]