The South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources issued the General Pesticide Permit for any pesticide use in which pesticides will reach waters of the state on July 1, 2023.
Documents and Links:
General Pesticide Permit
Statement of Basis
Notice of Intent
Notice of Termination
Annual Report
Daily Record
Frequently Asked Questions
Endangered Species (sorted by County)
Pesticide Discharge Management Plan (PDMP) as a Word Document
The South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources issued the Animal Pest General Pesticide Permit for any point source pesticide application used for control of aquatic invasive or nuisance pests in which pesticides will reach waters of the state on October 1, 2020.
Documents and Links:
General Pest Pesticide Permit
Statement of Basis
Annual Report
Daily Record
Frequently Asked Questions
Endangered Species (sorted by County)
Pesticide Discharge Management Plan (PDMP) as a Word Document
Federal pesticide legislation was first passed in the United States in 1910. The intent of the legislation was simply to reduce economic exploitation of farmers by manufacturers and distributors of ineffective pesticides. Congress did not address the potential risks to human health posed by pesticide products until it enacted Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) in 1947. Broader concerns about long- and short-term toxicity effects of pesticides on people, wildlife, food, and the environment led to a complete revision of FIFRA in 1972. The 1972 law completely replaced the original 1947 law, and is the basis of current federal policy.
In 1972, Congress also passed the federal Clean Water Act which was intended to address water quality impacts in the United States. Until 2009, FIFRA was the governing legislation over pesticide use. If pesticides were used in water bodies in accordance with FIFRA, no Clean Water Act permits were required.
However, in 2009, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the application of pesticides to water bodies in the United States required a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued under the federal Clean Water Act.
Initially the permit was scheduled to be issued April 9, 2011. However, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) filed a request with the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals requesting an extension to the deadline for obtaining a permit. On March 28, 2011, the Court granted the extension and the pesticide permit was not required until October 31, 2011.
EPA delegated the NPDES regulatory authority within South Dakota to the State of South Dakota in 1993. Therefore, the state is responsible for issuing permits to applicators who propose to discharge pesticides to waters of the state.
For additional information about the pesticide general permit, please contact Jacob Suter at (605) 773-3351.