Carnoustie Golf Course in Port Coquitlam issued warning for unauthorized use of pesticides

Carnoustie Golf Course in Port Coquitlam has been given a warning from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change for unauthorized use of pesticides on the property.

A pest management officer conducted a scheduled site and office review inspection on Aug. 22, 2023, and found that pesticides “were regularly applied during dates in which no valid pesticides licence was held.”

A warning letter was issued by the ministry on Oct. 17.

“The Ministry requests that Carnoustie Golf Course immediately implement the necessary changes or modifications to correct the non-compliance,” the letter stated.

Pesticide use is not allowed on a property unless the user holds a licence under the Integrated Pest Management Act (IPMA), and complies with the terms and conditions of regulations.

Administrative penalties for contraventions of IPMA can reach up to $40,000, however, the province follows escalating enforcement principals, which allows for advisories and warnings to be issued before before fines.

The golf course has no history involving environmental infractions, but will be prioritized for follow-up inspections as a result of the warning, according to the letter.

Two instances of pesticide use were referenced in the warning letter, involving treatments using Phostrol Pro and Pro Maxx on Jan. 4, 2023.

The ministry has issued a number of similar warnings regarding pesticide use in Coquitlam over the last several months.

Four other businesses have been flagged, and with one other warning issued, regarding non-compliance of IPMA regulations since June 2023.

Patrick Penner, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Tri-Cities Dispatch