21—45.51(206) Restrictions on the distribution and use of pesticides containing the active ingredient atrazine or any combination of active ingredients including atrazine.

1. 45.51(1)  Atrazine is the common name for the pesticide chemical 2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-1,3,5 triazine.
2. 45.51(2)  All pesticides containing the active ingredient atrazine or any combination of active ingredients including atrazine distributed for sale or use in Iowa shall be classified as restricted use pesticides. All pesticides containing the active ingredient atrazine shall be restricted for retail sale to and use by certified pesticide applicators only.
3. 45.51(3)  A pesticide dealer selling a pesticide containing the active ingredient atrazine shall file an annual report listing the full trade name of the pesticide product, EPA registration number and total volume in gallons or pounds of product sold. This report shall be included with the annual report required under rule 21—45.47(206).

4. 45.51(4)  Atrazine use limitations.

   1. a. The application rate for the actual active ingredient atrazine shall be limited to three pounds or less actual active ingredient per acre per calendar year with the exception where further restrictions on the maximum allowable application rates of the active ingredient atrazine apply.
   2. b. Pesticides or any other substance containing the active ingredient atrazine shall not be applied within 50 feet of a sinkhole (outer edge of slope), well, cistern, lake, water impoundment or other similar areas. This includes, but is not limited to, abandoned wells, agricultural drainage wells and drainage well surface inlets and drinking water wells.
   3. c. Pesticides, or any other substance containing the active ingredient atrazine unless handled in the original unopened container shall not be mixed, loaded or repackaged within 100 feet of any well, cistern, sinkhole (outer edge of slope), streambed, lake, water impoundment or other similar areas. This includes but is not limited to any well, whether in use or abandoned, including agricultural drainage wells and drainage well inlets. This paragraph shall not apply where pesticides are handled in compliance with the secondary containment of pesticide mixing and loading sites as specified in 21—Chapter 44.
   4. d. Atrazine mixing, loading, and equipment cleanout shall be carried out in a manner that meets the secondary containment requirements in 21—Chapter 44 or in the field of application, provided all other restrictions are followed regarding the application of atrazine or rinsates containing atrazine to labeled use areas. Equipment and container wash waters shall be applied to labeled use areas or used as part of dilution makeup water and applied to labeled use areas in accordance with the label instructions and any other restrictions that may apply.

   5. e. The following areas shall be designated as pesticide management areas regarding the application of pesticides containing the active ingredient atrazine. The application of atrazine shall be limited to no more than one and one-half pounds of the actual active ingredient atrazine per acre per calendar year in the following designated areas:

      1. (1) All of Allamakee, Clayton, Dubuque, Floyd, Humboldt, Jackson and Winneshiek counties.

      2. (2) All areas within the townships of the following counties:

         COUNTIES	TOWNSHIPS
         Black Hawk	Poyner
         Bremer	Douglas, Frederika, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Polk, Washington
         Butler	Bennezette, Butler, Coldwater, Dayton, Fremont, Pittsford
         Cerro Gordo	Owen, Portland
         Chickasaw	Bradford, Chickasaw, Deerfield
         Clinton	Elk River, Hampshire
         Delaware	Bremen, Colony, Delhi, Elk, Milo, North Fork, Oneida, South Fork, Union
         Fayette	Auburn, Clermont, Dover, Eden, Fairfield, Illyria, Pleasant Valley, Union,
         	Westfield, Windsor
         Howard	Albion, Chester, Forest City, New Oregon, Vernon Springs
         Jones	Castle Grove, Clay, Hale, Lovell, Oxford, Richland, Washington and Wyoming
         Kossuth	Sherman
         Linn	Marion
         Mitchell	Burr Oak, Cedar, Liberty, Mitchell, Newburg, Osage, Otranto, Rock, St.
         	Ansgar, Union, West Lincoln
         Pocahontas	Garfield
         Worth	Barton, Kensett
         Wright	Grant, Lincoln, Wall Lake

   6. f. Persons conducting research with atrazine shall be exempt from the use limitations described in this rule provided that such research is under the supervision of a federal or state agency or educational institution authorized to conduct research and the persons conducting research are properly certified.
5. 45.51(5)  Best management practices. The department of agriculture and land stewardship and the Iowa State University extension service shall jointly develop and implement a set of best management practices (BMPs) and a targeted education program aimed at preventing further contamination of groundwater with atrazine. The pesticide applicator certification training and testing programs shall include information related to the atrazine BMPs.
6. 45.51(6)  As new information becomes available, changes in atrazine use or management shall be reevaluated periodically.

This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code sections 206.19, 206.20, and 206.21.

[ARC 9145C, IAB 4/30/25, effective 1/1/26]