O F F I C E O F L E G I S L A T I V E R E S E A R C H
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PA 22-142—sSB 120
Environment Committee
Appropriations Committee
AN ACT CONCERNING THE USE OF CHLORPYRIFOS ON GOLF
COURSES
SUMMARY: This act prohibits using or applying chlorpyrifos (1) on golf courses
or (2) for cosmetic or nonagricultural uses. The act allows the Department of
Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) commissioner to assess a civil
penalty of up to $2,500 on those who violate the ban.
Chlorpyrifos is a “restricted use” organophosphate pesticide used mainly to
control foliage and soil-borne insect pests. By law, because chlorpyrifos is a
restricted use pesticide, it may only be applied by someone (1) certified under state
law to do so or (2) directly supervised by a certified individual. Restricted use
pesticides are classified by the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or
DEEP to have the potential to cause unreasonable adverse health or environmental
effects. An EPA rule for pesticide tolerances (the maximum amount of pesticide
that may remain in or on a food) generally provides no allowance for chlorpyrifos
for land and greenhouse food crops and certain commercial livestock uses.
EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 2023