FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Pat Charlebois (847) 872-0140; charlebo@illinois.edu

August 17, 2006

Invasive Species Workshop to Train Pesticide Applicators

URBANA - As they move from one water body to another, pesticide applicators whose job is to control the number of weeds in lakes and ponds, typically take precautions to prevent the spread of invasive species. Now, they can step up their efforts to a state-of-the-art plan.

On Friday, September 22, in Andrews, Indiana, a Category 5 Aquatic Pesticide Applicator Training workshop will introduce Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) as a means to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS). At this workshop, participants will become familiar with the HACCP model, which was designed to prevent contamination in food products for the space program and has been used extensively by the seafood industry to ensure food safety. They will also learn through hands-on experience how to write an AIS-HACCP plan.

"Knowing whether your activity poses a risk is the first step in the HACCP process," said Pat Charlebois, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant aquatic invasives specialist. "It also involves analyzing each step in field activities to pinpoint where significant risk of transporting AIS can occur. That's where it is most appropriate and efficient to take action to prevent the spread of AIS."

This training provides four CCHs for Category 5 Licensed Applicators and Registered Technicians. The workshop is sponsored by Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, the Illinois Natural History Survey, and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, with funding from the Great Lakes Protection Fund.

The workshop will take place at the Salamonie Interpretive Center, 3691 S. New Holland Road, Andrews, Indiana. It will run from 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. EDT with lunch provided.

A detailed schedule of the workshop can be found online on Sea Grant's Web site at www.iisgcp.org/news/haccp0922.htm. For more information, call (847)872-8677.

To register, contact Kristin TePas at Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant by September 15 at (847) 872-0141 or ktepas@illinois.edu.

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The Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant College Program is one of more than 30 National Sea Grant College Programs. Created by Congress in 1966, Sea Grant combines university, government, business and industry expertise to address coastal and Great Lakes needs.  Funding is provided by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U. S. Department of Commerce, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Purdue University at West Lafayette, Indiana.

Irene Miles
Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant
376 NSRC
1101 W. Peabody Dr.
Urbana, Il 61801
Phone:  217-333-8055
Fax:  217-333-8046
miles@illinois.edu