Herbicide applications and SEPAAndy Hemingway

• How to notify SEPA before using herbicides in or near water

• On-site management of Japanese Knotweed

Briefly….

The Law

• Not illegal to have invasive species on your land

• But Wildlife and Countryside Act • Offence to cause the spread of invasive

species• WANE 2011• If allow to spread to nearby landowner – may

be a civil matter • JK and contaminated soil is controlled waste

Notify if….Herbicide Use in or Near Water?

• All direct applications into water

• ‘Near water’ • significant risk of entering water • including applications to land susceptible to

flooding

Is Herbicide Use Essential?

• Herbicides potentially toxic and polluting

• Alternatives?• Cutting/burning/bashing• On site burial• Off site disposal

• Address root cause of infestation

How to Notify us…

• SEPA website – under ‘Application forms’• Complete non-aerial application form• At least 3 weeks before• Include site plan• Paper or on-line

Which are Approved?

• List of approved pesticides - The Blue Book• Now internet only• Pesticides.gov.uk• CRD• Pesticides Register

• ‘Aquatic use permitted’• Mostly Glyphosate as active ingredient

Your Responsibilities…

• Scottish Water? – public DW supplies• LA? – private DW supplies• SNH, SWT? - Nature conservation sites • Fisheries interests?• Others? - fish farms

SEPA Approval

Japanese KnotweedOn-site Management of JK and contaminated soils

• SEPA Guidance Note - website• Options

• Spraying on site – best if time allows • Burning – WML exemption• Cutting – not strimming / flailing• Burial

On-site Burial of JK

• Precautions • Only glyphosate• Locate where won’t be disturbed –

erosion, development• >5m• cover with geomembrane, eg heavy

plastic• Record location

Off-site disposal of JK and soils

• Last resort?• Careful not to spread by hauliers or tracked

machinery!• Controlled waste - transfer notes• Inform haulier and landfill operator• Site must have appropriate WML• Disposal at landfill requires

• >5m depth etc

Herbicide Applications – simple!

• Notify SEPA• Notify others who may be affected• Follow manufacturer’s instructions

Other on site management of JK – not so simple!

• contact SEPA if unsure

Contacts

• Stirling office for herbicide notifications for• Falkirk, Stirling, Clacks, W Fife and part

West Lothian Council

• andrew.hemingway@sepa.org.uk

• 01786 452595

• Out of hours pollution incident

0800 807060

Questions?