Sponsored by:
Senator CHRISTOPHER "KIP" BATEMAN
District 16 (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset)
Senator BOB SMITH
District 17 (Middlesex and Somerset)
SYNOPSIS
Requires pesticide applicator to notify beekeeper when applying pesticide within three miles of registered honey or native beehive or beeyard.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the application of pesticide products near beehives and beeyards and supplementing P.L.1971, c.176 (C.13:1F-1 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. Within 180 days after the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), the department shall adopt, pursuant to the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), rules and regulations: (1) permitting beekeepers to register their honey or native beehives or beeyards with the department; and (2) requiring pesticide applicators to notify a registered beekeeper before making an outdoor application of a pesticide product that may be toxic to bees within three miles of a registered honey or native beehive or beeyard.
b. The department shall adopt, by rule or regulation, specific requirements for the registration of beehives and beeyards and for the notification required pursuant to this section. The department may also provide for exceptions to the notification requirement.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would direct the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to adopt regulations: (1) permitting beekeepers to register their honey or native beehives or beeyards with the DEP; and (2) requiring pesticide applicators to notify a registered beekeeper before applying a pesticide product that may be toxic to native bees within three miles of a registered honey or native beehive or beeyard. The bill would direct the department to adopt specific requirements for the registration and notification processes, and authorize the department to make exceptions to the notification requirement.
Under existing regulations, N.J.A.C.7:30-9.11, apiarists may register their apiaries with the DEP, and pesticide applicators are required to notify apiarists prior to applying pesticide products that may be toxic to bees within three miles of a registered apiary. However, the term “apiary” is generally understood only to refer to honey bees. It is the intent of this legislation to codify the existing registration and notification regulations and expand them to native beehives and beeyards.