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In the fall of 1999 the City of Seattle and King County announced a strategy to eliminate use of the most hazardous pesticides by June 2000 and to reduce overall pesticide use on public lands managed by the city and county. This was to be accomplished through the use of Integrated Pest Management (IPM). IPM is a holistic approach to pest (including weed) management. IPM stresses the prevention of pest problems through design and maintenance practices and uses a range of pest management techniques, including biological, cultural and mechanical. Chemical controls were to be considered a last resort.
In King County, the 1999 Integrated Pest Management Executive Order signed by Executive Ron Sims
required all county departments to conduct landscape management activities in accordance with the Tri-County IPM Guidelines as well as develop agency-specific IPM policies for their own operations. The King County IPM Steering Committee was established to coordinate pest and vegetation management activities across departments in a collaborative process. The Local Hazardous Waste Management Program was designated to coordinate the efforts and offer technical assistance when needed.
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