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IPM
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West Point Child
Development Center
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To view press release, click here. February 14, 2006 The 130 pre-school charges at West Point’s Child Development Center (CDC) may not be able to do 42 pushups with two minutes, but they do benefit from a top-notch IPM program along with the 4000 college-age cadets billeted at the post. Integrated Pest Management, or IPM, is defined in the Installation’s pest management plan as “cultural, mechanical, physical and chemical controls” with chemical controls “used to the least extent possible.” Pest control excellence at the childcare facility has been recognized by IPM STAR certification. West Point CDC is the third such facility in the nation to receive the award, presented by the IPM Institute of North America in partnership with the US Environmental Protection Agency Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program. The military academy’s IPM program, coordinated by James Beemer, natural resources manager, deals with more than the typical ant, rodent and cockroach pests. Although the installation is less than an hour drive from New York City, rattlesnakes, bears and even poachers round out the menagerie of occasional problems. Beemer’s office includes a variety of stuffed and mounted native animals and birds, most recovered after unfortunate encounters with cars on the post. Dr. Thomas Green, entomologist and IPM Institute president, conducted the day-long, on-site IPM STAR evaluation. “I was impressed with how much Beemer and his colleague William Grohoski know about all the critters that share the base,” Green relates. “They do a great job of keeping up on the latest research on animal behavior and incorporating that information in their management strategies.” “Cleanliness was excellent,” continued Green. “The facility is inspected monthly for both food service and general sanitation and maintenance. This process goes a long way towards making the facility pest proof. When pests can’t get access to food and water, they can’t survive. Keeping a facility clean, and food stored properly, is the best way to achieve excellent pest control without overuse of pesticides.” One lesson learned the hard way is that design and construction practices can greatly impact pest management once a facility is up and running. Unfortunately, sheet metal cladding located where the roof meets exterior walls and continuing through the eaves, is impossible to keep sealed. “Constant heating and cooling from sun and weather expand and contract the joints between the metal sheets,” reports Grohoski. “There’s simply no practical way to keep those joints closed to prevent pests from getting in.” Exterior lights are also mounted on the building, rather than on light poles that would draw flying insects away from the building at night. Playground equipment includes holes that invite stinging insects looking for nesting sites. These experiences have resulted in an Army Environmental Center program to review all new construction and renovation designs for pest-friendly elements – and correct them before building starts. The IPM program receives excellent support from a private service provider, Alleymor Pestmaster. The company’s technicians inspect the facility monthly, identifying and recommending corrections to any “pest friendly” conditions they spot. These conditions can include food stored improperly, door or window seals in poor condition, or stinging insect nests on or near the building. Pest problems reported by staff are immediately entered into a work order system that can trigger a Pestmaster visit if necessary, and tracks response to the problem until resolved. Due to the emphasis on long-term, preventative solutions, pesticide applications are few and far between. Beemer and crew also get excellent support from CDC staff. Kay Roche, CDC director, hosted Beemer for an IPM training presentation to the facility staff this year. The training covered both IPM concepts and practical tips to help prevent pest access to food, water and shelter in the childcare environment. The IPM STAR is the second honor for West Point CDC in the past year. The National Association for the Education of Young Children recently awarded the facility a five-year accreditation seal of approval, after a thorough evaluation the center’s curriculum, health and safety policies, staff qualifications, student-teacher interaction, physical environment and other factors affecting the welfare of the children. The IPM STAR initiative is
being implemented throughout the Army with the support of the US Army
Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management and the
US Army Environmental Center. |
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