EA for Integrated Treatment of Exotic Invasive Plants on the Tonto National Forest 1

Appendix D: Soil, Water, and Air

Best Management Practices

The Soil and Water Conservation Practices Handbook (FSH 2509.22) was developed in concert 

between the USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region and both Departments of Environmental 

Quality from Arizona and New Mexico. It is a formalized agreement with the specific purpose to 

respond to the objectives defined by Congress in the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as 

amended. The main objective of this law is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and 

biological integrity of the Nation’s water.

Basically, the Forest Service has agreed to ensure that all project work contains site-specific best 

management practices (BMPs) developed through the National Environmental Policy Act

process. The Forest Service has also agreed to implement a BMP monitoring strategy that 

includes implementation monitoring to ensure application of BMPs as specified in the project, as 

well as effectiveness monitoring to determine if the BMP met stated objectives.

A best management practice is defined as a practice or combination of practices, that is 

determined by the State after problem assessment, to be the most effective and practicable means 

of preventing or reducing the amount of pollution generated by nonpoint sources to the level 

compatible with water quality goals (FSH 2509.22).

The following lists of BMPs have been developed for this project and are designed to minimize 

any potential water quality problems with approval of herbicide use on the forests. All BMPs are 

considered standard procedure and do not constitute deviation from normal planning or 

implementation processes. BMPs identified for this project are also listed in the Soil and Water 

Conservation Handbook (2509.22). Application of the BMPs will ensure compliance with the 

requirements of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act.

• 21.11: Pesticide Application According to Label Directions and Applicable Legal 

Requirements — All approved herbicides will be applied according to label instructions 

to avoid water contamination. Directions found on the label of each herbicide are detailed 

and specific and include legal requirements for use. These constraints will be 

incorporated into individual project plans and contracts. Responsibility for in-service 

projects rests with the Forest Service’s project supervisor who shall be a certified 

applicator. For contracted projects, it is the responsibility of the contracting officer or the 

contracting officer’s representative to ensure that label instructions and other applicable 

legal requirements are followed.

• 21.12: Pesticide Application Monitoring and Evaluation — The objective of this BMP is 

to determine whether pesticides were applied safely, restricted to intended target areas, 

and deposited at the right rates. It is also designed to evaluate if non-target species were 

impacted. Another component is also to provide early warning of possible hazardous 

conditions and determine the extent, severity, and duration of any potential hazard that 

might exist. Monitoring methods include spray cards, dye tracing, and direct 

measurements of herbicides on plants or near water. Monitoring of existing herbicide 

concentrations will be conducted prior to any treatments in riparian corridors where 

perennial water is found.

• 22.13: Pesticide Spill Contingency Plan — The objective of this BMP is to eliminate 

contamination of water or the soil resource that may occur from accidental spills. 
Appendix D: Soil, Water, and Air Best Management Practices

2 EA for Integrated Treatment of Exotic Invasive Plants on the Tonto National Forest

• 24.14: Cleaning and Disposal of Herbicide Containers — This BMP is designed to 

prevent water contamination from cleaning or disposal of herbicide containers. The 

cleaning and disposal of these items will be done in accordance with Federal, State, and 

local laws. The forest or district pesticide use coordinator will approve proper rinsing 

procedures in accordance with State and local laws and regulations, and arrange disposal 

of containers when in-service personnel apply the product. When a contractor applies the 

herbicide, the contractor is responsible for proper container disposal in accordance with 

label instructions.

• 21.16: Controlling Pesticide Drift During Spray Application — The objective of this 

BMP is to minimize risk of pesticides falling directly into water or non-target areas. The 

spray application of herbicides is accomplished according to a prescription which 

accounts for terrain and that specifies the following: spray exclusion areas, buffer zones, 

and factors such as formulation, equipment, droplet size, spray height, application 

pattern, flow rate, and the limiting factors of wind speed and direction, temperature, and 

relative humidity. On in-service projects, the Forest Service project manager supervisor is 

responsible for ensuring the prescription is followed, whereas if contracted, the 

contracting officer is delegated the responsibility.