Zapur – Agricultural Commissioner / Weights and Measures

What is ZAPUR?

In the United States, pesticides are very carefully regulated. They may only be used or sold following extensive evaluation conducted by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), a process that can take many years. Even after U.S. EPA approval, they still may not be used or sold in California until authorized by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR). If they receive CDPR approval, pesticides become subject to regulation pursuant to an extensive and well-conceived series of laws and regulations found, respectively, in the California Food and Agricultural Code and the California Code of Regulations.

The majority of laws and regulations regarding pesticide use are broadly applicable statewide, but a few only apply to very specific areas such as Ground Water Protection Areas and locations where certain endangered species have been identified. Limitations are sometimes placed on some pesticide uses for other reasons such as the Stipulated Injunction and Order for the protection of the California red-legged frog

The locations within Los Angeles County where area-specific limitations on the uses of pesticides apply are called Zones of Additional Pesticide Use Restrictions (ZAPUR).

ENDANGERED SPECIES

Although much of Los Angeles County’s 4,000 square miles are developed, enough natural habitat remains to support a variety of interesting plants and animals including some that are endangered. Using the interactive ZAPUR-NET map, pesticide applicators can find out if there are any endangered species near where they are going to be applying pesticides and if there are any use limitations applicable to the products they intend to use.

If the map shows that an area in which a pesticide application is planned has one or more endangered species, the applicator should note the Township, Range and Section(s), and go to the Department of Pesticide Regulation website where they can initiate a PRESCRIBE query. The Prescribe query will provide use limitations, if any, for the pesticide products proposed. Alternatively, potential applicators can contact our office for help in determining if there are endangered species in a application area and if any use limitations apply.

Sections

Prescribe Online Database Application

CALIFORNIA RED-LEGGED FROG CRITICAL HABITAT

A 2006 U.S. District Court decision resulted in the designation of certain types of California red-legged frog (CRLF) habitat within which use of specified pesticides is prohibited or restricted. Using the interactive ZAPUR-NET map. pesticide applicators can check for CRLF habitat and other sensitive sites within Los Angeles County. More information on CRLF protection measures is available at the California Department of Pesticide Regulation website or by calling our office at 626.575.5466.

SPECIES STATUS KEY

E,S : Endangered
T : Threatened
PE : Proposed Endangered
PT : Proposed Threatened
R,N : Rare, Not Currently Listed

California Department of Pesticide Regulation

GROUNDWATER PROTECTION AREAS

There are 94 one square mile areas in Los Angeles County designated by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) to be a Ground Water Protection Area (GWPA) because of sensitivity to pesticide leaching or runoff. Anyone proposing to use an herbicide in a GWPA with one of the following active ingredients must first contact our office for a permit:

Atrazine

Simazine

Bromacil

Diuron (except for products with less than 7% diuron that are applied to foliage)

Prometon

Bentazon (Basagran®)

Norflurazon

Using the interactive ZAPUR-NET map, applicators can check for GWPAs and other sensitive sites in Los Angeles County. For a free CD with high resolution aerial images of all of L.A. County’s GWPAs and index maps, contact our office. More information on the statewide Ground Water Protection Program is available below.