Detecting and Reducing Allergy Triggers by Educating and Assisting Residents to Manage Risks from Pests and Pesticide use: Application of IPM Methods in Boston Housing

by Don Rivard President & Bryan Glascock

and

Regulating Pesticides under the Act to Protect Family and Children: Some Considerations of the Integrated Pest Management Methods

by Brad Mitchell

Wednesday, January 14, 2004
4:05-4:30 PM Social gathering, light snacks
4:30–6:30 PM Program

Conference Room, CDM
One Cambridge Place, 50 Hampshire Street,
Cambridge, MA

RSVP Required to Korin Scheible at CDM, ScheibleKA@cdm.com by noon the day of the meeting to facilitate security sign in.

Detecting and Reducing Allergy Triggers by Educating and Assisting Residents to Manage Risks from Pests and Pesticide use: Application of IPM Methods in Boston Housing

Don Rivard
President, Rivard Associates
Boston, MA

Bryan Glascock
Environmental Department
City of Boston

Summary: Risks associated with use of chemicals in indoor settings have begun to figure prominently in the medical and risk reduction community as administrators and public health officials strive to find solutions to the epidemic increase of asthma rates among urban families. Appropriately, the Commonwealth has looked to innovative efforts that are combining resources among the state, city and academia to address these concerns from a variety of approaches. IPM is one option.

The City of Boston Environment Department has been interested in integrated pest management (IPM) in their efforts to address pest control, indoor air quality and toxic use reduction issues for over ten years. After numerous attempts at obtaining grant funding for a pilot project, the City was finally funded through the EPA. But the City's rationale for IPM extends beyond the reduction of toxics use, (the value of which has not be calculated and, it is argued, need not be). There exist many other compelling reasons for the City to pursue IPM and other "environmental" policies. The proper application of IPM techniques has much in common with other "good government" initiatives such as performance contracting and interdepartmental coordination and can lead to cost savings, reduced liability and increased efficiency. But most importantly, the City's IPM program is an important component of an overall effort to improve quality of life for residents of public housing by improving their overall health, reducing asthma and other respiratory triggers from their immediate environment and empowering them in making healthy choices in their daily lives. By describing the IPM project, we will discuss risk analysis considerations in administrative decision-making and the constraints inherent in environmental problem solving on a local level.

Biographies:

Donald Rivard (donrivard22@comast.net 177 Seminole Avenue Waltham, MA 02451-0859 Tel: (617) 968-5330 Fax: (617) 642-0693)
With over 35 years in the pest management service industry, Don Rivard brings a unique knowledge of environmental and pest control technologies, as well as, exceptional experience in public health and sanitation, integrated pest management, government affairs and public education. In 1994, Don Rivard founded RIVARD'S RESOURCES: IPM, an environmental management consulting organization specializing in " pest & pesticide reduction.". His work involves a diverse clientele in a variety of contexts including academic, biotech, health care, food processing/service, housing, public health, public works (Boston's Central Artery/Tunnel Project) and school settings. He has developed IPM municipal programs for Newton, Boston, Lexington and Providence (RI) school systems. Currently he is working as a consultant to the Harvard School of Public Health, the Boston Public Health Commission and the Boston Housing Authority. Don was educated at Univ of Mass/ Amherst and earned a graduate certificate in Environmental Management at Bentley College in Waltham. He was a founding member and vice-chair of the Massachusetts IPM Council and recently chaired the committee to write Integrated Pest Management Guidelines for Structural Pests - a document that has led to the creation of an "IPM Registry" for IPM Practitioners and Businesses.

David Bryan Glascock, JD, MPA (Bryan.Glascock@ CI.Boston.ma.us, Environmental Department City of Boston (617) 635-4416)
Bryan Glascock has been the Executive Director of the Boston Air Pollution Control Commission for over ten years and is the Acting Director of the City of Boston Environment Department. He holds a Bachelors degree in Political Science from the University of Massachusetts/Boston, a Juris Doctor from New England School of Law and a Masters in Public Administration from the JFK School of Government at Harvard where he was a Rappaport Urban Scholar Fellow. Prior to coming to the City of Boston, Bryan worked for several environmental engineering consultants doing stationary source air emissions sampling. While with the City, Mr. Glascock has developed programs on household hazardous waste collection, multi-media environmental enforcement, air and noise pollution control, abrasive blasting/chemical cleaning, integrated pest management, environmental impact assessment review, parking supply management, energy conservation and sustainable development

Regulating Pesticides under the Act to Protect Family and Children: Some Considerations of the Integrated Pest Management Methods

Brad Mitchell
Dept of Food and Agriculture
Commonwealth of Massachussetts
Brad.Mitchell@ state.ma.us
(617) 626-1771

Summary: Brad Mitchell will speak on the Integrated Pest Management Approach relative to risk assessment and risk management, highlighting experience internationally as well as his work here in Massachusetts. A brief presentation on the Act to Protect Children and Families from Harmful Pesticides will also be given.

Biography: Brad Mitchell is the Director of Regulatory Services for the Massachusetts Department of Food and Agriculture, overseeing the Pesticide Bureau and the Bureau of Farm Products and Plant Industries. He is also chair of the State Reclamation and Mosquito Control Board. Previously he served as both the Chief and Toxicologist for the Pesticide Bureau.