Appointed by Senate President: J. B. Jennings
Appointed by House Speaker: Charles J. Otto
Appointed by Senate President & House Speaker: Joseph Bartenfelder; Ruth Berlin; William W. Bowerman, Ph.D.; Andrew M. Fellows; Judy S. LaKind, Ph.D.; Douglas Myers; Ronald L. Ritter, Ph.D.; Brian Schoonmaker; Julie Spagnoli; Andrea Kidd Taylor, Ph.D.; Stephen L. Weber.
Ex officio: Earl F. Hance, Secretary of Agriculture; Robert M. Summers, Ph.D., Secretary of the Environment; Joshua M. Sharfstein, M.D., Secretary of Health & Mental Hygiene; Joseph P. Gill, Secretary of Natural Resources; Frederick W. Kutz, Ph.D., Chair, Pesticide Advisory Committee, Department of Agriculture.
Staff: Dennis W. Howard
c/o Department of Agriculture
Wayne A. Cawley, Jr. Building, 50 Harry S Truman Parkway, Annapolis, MD 21401 - 8960
(410) 841-2766
e-mail: dennis.howard@maryland.gov
Final Report to Senate Education, Health & Environmental Affairs Committee, & House Environmental Matters Committee due July 1, 2014 (Chapters 523 & 524, Acts of 2013).
In June 2013, the Maryland Pesticide Reporting and Information Work Group was created (Chapters 523 & 524, Acts of 2013).
The Work Group will review data and scientific research on pesticide use and the potential for harm from pesticides. It is to identify gaps in the data on pesticide use; determine whether the need exists for a data reporting program; and what format would be appropriate in making pesticide use data available for research. Also, the Work Group will consider how to protect the privacy of persons reporting data; whether it is feasible to collect data from homeowners and retailers; how best to assemble and maintain data; what regulations and guidelines might be needed for a consistent, unified database; and whether legislation is necessary to facilitate access to pesticide information and data. Finally, the Work Group will study the impact of organic pesticide use on farms, and how the federal approval process for pesticides works; and conduct a cost-benefit analysis of implementing and maintaining a data reporting program.
As necessary, the Work Group may consult with federal agencies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency.
Authorization for the Task Force ends June 30, 2015.
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