IPM often uses biological controls as a first defense. If non-toxic controls fail, carefully timed and targeted pesticides are used. These pesticides should be chemically targeted to the pest of concern; be chemically non-persistent in soil, air and water; be used only when needed; and be applied to as small an area as possible.

Under an IPM program, execution of individual pest management practices involves the following steps:

• Identify pest,
• Develop plan/strategy,
• Establish action thresholds,
• Monitor pest population,
• Control pest (optional),
• Document results, and
• Evaluate/redesign plan.

Examples of activities that fall under IPM, rather than traditional pest management strategies, include:

• Cleaning up food scraps and other sources of food for pests, repairing water leaks, and increasing ventilation, making areas less attractive to pests.
• Repairing holes, installing barriers, and making areas less accessible to pests.
• Introducing plant species or animal predators that will repel unwanted insects.
• Planting vegetation that is resistant to disease or is native and able to survive the local climate without chemical fertilizers.
• Using physical barriers and traps for eliminate animal pests.
• Using crop rotation and cultivation to eliminate plant pests.

Integrated pest management activities also help facilities to comply with the Department of Navy’s Naval Facilities Engineering Command Planning And Design Policy Statement - 98-01: Design of Sustainable Facilities and Infrastructure, June 18, 1998, which requires all facilities and infrastructure-related design and construction to incorporate sustainable design principles. This includes domestic construction for the Navy, Air Force, and Marines, along with about half of domestic Army construction and about half of all offshore military construction.

Integrated pest management activities also are in compliance with the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996, 7 USC 136r-1, which states, "Federal agencies shall use integrated pest management techniques in carrying out pest management activities and shall promote integrated pest management through procurement and regulatory policies, and other activities."

Implementing sustainable development strategies, such as integrated pest management, also will help facilities meet requirements under the Department of the Army Technical Letter No. 1110-3-491, "Sustainable Design for Military Facilities", released on May 1, 2001.  This letter provides basic criteria for incorporating sustainable design concepts in the design and construction of Military facilities.

The compliance benefits listed here are only meant to be used as a general guideline and are not meant to be strictly interpreted. Actual compliance benefits will vary depending on the factors involved, e.g., the amount of workload involved.

• Reduces toxic chemical use.
• Reduces worker exposure.
• Improves indoor air quality.
• Reduces employee exposure to potentially carcinogenic and neurotoxic chemicals.
• Reduces cost of purchasing pesticides.
• May reduce labor associated with pesticide application.

• May require more labor to be proactive and to maintain the program.
• Requires knowledge of plants, insects, and animals and their interactions.

One example of a successful IPM program is at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas. The facility has tracked quantities of chemicals reduced; however, the associated costs have not been tracked. The Sheppard AFB pesticide program uses an integrated management approach to pest control that uses biological control agents rather than the traditional use of chemicals. Chemical mosquito controls have been completely eliminated.

In 1996, the Pest Management Section installed 24 Purple Martin birdhouses on base. Purple Martins feed on mosquitoes and are the only bird species totally dependent on humans for a supply of nesting sites. Along with the birds, the mosquito control program now uses 100% biological agents. Based on a 1993 baseline, Sheppard AFB has successfully reduced the use of the following chemicals:

*There are multiple MSDSs for most NSNs.
The MSDS (if shown above) is only meant to serve as an example.

Mr. Jimmy Lindsey
Sheppard Air Force Base Pesticide Program
Environmental Control Section
82 CES/CEOHH
Sheppard Air Force Base, TX 76311
Phone: (940) 676-2854
FAX: (940) 736-7875

Mr. Wayne Fordham
Air Force Pest Management Program Coordinator
HQ AFCESA/CESM
139 Barnes Street, Suite 1
Tyndall Air Force Base, FL 32403-5319
Phone: (850) 283-6465
DSN: 523-6465
FAX: (850) 283-6219
DSN FAX: 523-6219
Email:  wayne.fordham@tyndall.af.mil

Armed Forces Pest Management Board
Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Environmental Security)
3400 Defense Pentagon
Washington, DC 20301-3400
or
WRAMC, Forest Glen Annex, Building 172
6900 Georgia Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20307-5001
Phone: (301) 295-7476
DSN:  295-7476
FAX: (301) 295-7473
DSN FAX:  295-7473
Gary Breeden, Executive Director
Email:  gary.breeden@osd.mil