WHEREAS, the Suffolk County owned and operated golf courses at Timber Point, West Sayville and Indian Island represent an important recreational resource open to all Suffolk County residents; and

WHEREAS, because of the intense maintenance requirement and stress placed on golf course turf, the turf is often susceptible to pest problems; and

WHEREAS, non-pesticide alternatives are not always effective or practical in these circumstances; and

WHEREAS, the CAC is not aware of any golf course in the Northeast that is maintained without the use of pesticides that could be used as a model for Suffolk County Golf Courses; and

WHEREAS, the CAC is concerned that without the use of pesticides in some cases, the playability of the golf course may be reduced, which may decrease revenue for Suffolk County; and

WHEREAS, without the use of pesticides for some pest problems for which alternatives are not available or effective, the CAC is concerned that greens may have to be replaced at a significant cost; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation has been working with Cornell Cooperative Extension Suffolk County to research and conduct trials of additional practices that may reduce the need for pesticides as well as alternative products to treat for pest problems; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation has invested in equipment and materials that will hopefully reduce the need for pesticides, including a compost tea brewer, Verti Drains and rollers, aerators, Toro 8 bladed cutting units, irrigation equipment, hydrajets and sprayers specifically for compost tea; and

WHEREAS, the Suffolk County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation has submitted an application for a special use exemption for selective use of pesticides on County golf courses, attached hereto as Exhibit "A" and incorporated by reference; and

WHEREAS, at meetings on April 30, 2003 and May 21, 2003, the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) reviewed the above mentioned request for a Special Use Exemption; and

WHEREAS, the CAC has discussed various pest problems and possible practices or alternatives to reduce the need for pesticides over the course of several meetings and conducted a teleconference with Dr. Frank Rossi, Cornell University; and

WHEREAS, a presentation regarding the request was provided by William Maxwell, Suffolk County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation and Sadie Puglisi, Cornell Cooperative Extension Suffolk County; and

WHEREAS, based upon these meetings and discussions, the CAC believes that pesticide use on county golf courses can be reduced but at this point it is not feasible for the golf courses to become pesticide-free without the risk of loss of revenue or greens; and

WHEREAS, a Special Use Exemption for the use of Roundup Pro for vegetation control on Suffolk County property has already been approved by Resolution Number 3-13-03; and

WHEREAS, efforts to minimize public exposure to pesticides, such as applying early morning before the golf courses are opened to the public and applying in low wind conditions, are already practiced by the Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation; and

WHEREAS, Local Law 3-2002 was previously reviewed under the State Environmental Quality Review Act ("SEQRA"); and

WHEREAS, by separate resolution, dated May 21, 2003, under the State Environmental Quality Review Act ("SEQRA"), N.Y. Envtl. Conserv. Law Art. 8, the CAC has determined that this action is a Type II action, pursuant to Volume 6 of New York Code of Rules and Regulations ("NYCRR") §§617.5(c)(20) and (27), in that the resolution pertains to routine or continuing agency administration and management, not including new programs or major reordering of priorities that may affect the environment; now

Be it therefore

RESOLVED, that a one year Special Use Exemption, pursuant to Suffolk County Code Section 380-5(E), be granted to the Suffolk County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation for the use of select pesticides on County golf courses under certain conditions; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that this exemption is granted with the following conditions:

1. Only pesticides specified on attachment B and utilizing the guidelines on attachment B are included in this special use exemption; and

2. The Suffolk County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation will provide monthly reports to the CAC on the pesticides used and estimates of the amount of pesticides that would have been used if there were no restrictions on the use of pesticides, as well as under the use restrictions of 2003. These reports will include the use of pesticides under the emergency provisions of , Local Law 3-2002; and

3. The Cornell Cooperative Extension Suffolk County will conduct trials this year on alternatives for golf course turf. Included in this Special Use Exemption are pesticide products used in a trial covering an area no greater than a quarter of an acre. The CAC will be made aware of all protocols for such trials; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that following the one year time period, a renewal request may be submitted; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that this Resolution shall take effect on July 1, 2003.

Motion by: Joyce Rodler

Seconded by: Dominick Ninivaggi

Committee Vote: Appointed Members: 8
Total Voting: 6
Ayes: 6
Nays: 0
Abstentions: 0

I hereby certify that the Community Advisory Committee duly adopted this resolution on May 21, 2003 in accordance with Suffolk County Code Section 380-5(E).

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Signed

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Dated