The definitions set out in chapter 2 of this division shall apply to this chapter. In addition:
(a) "Abatable source" means any property that supports the development, attraction or harborage of eye gnats in numbers that cause human discomfort.
(b) "Applicable eye gnat abatement measure" means a validated eye gnat abatement measure that is technically suited to a crop or crops and to conditions and practices at a specific commercial organic farm, and that would reduce eye gnat development, attraction, harborage, or off-farm flight if used at that farm.
(c) "Barrier crop" means plants grown in a specified area for the purpose of intercepting eye gnats, which can be treated with conventional pesticides. (Barrier crops treated with pesticides can be used by farmers on a voluntary basis, but the Director cannot order that they be used.)
(d) "Commercial organic farm" means a farm that grows and sells certified organic products.
(e) "Cultural control method" means any farming practice that is selected at least in part to reduce or prevent eye gnat development, attraction or harborage.
(f) "Department" mean the Department of Environmental Health and Quality.
(g) "Director" means the Director of the County Department of Environmental Health and Quality and any person appointed or hired by the Director to administer and enforce this chapter.
(h) "Eye gnat breeding hazard" means an avoidable or mitigable condition on a commercial organic farm that is likely to contribute to the development of eye gnats in numbers that could contribute to a nuisance in a nearby community.
(i) "Eye gnat source identification testing" means any reliable technical method for determining whether a farm or other property is developing, attracting or harboring eye gnats, and includes but is not limited to emergence trapping on the farm or other suspected sources, grid trapping to determine concentrations of eye gnats in the vicinity of the farm, and the use of trap count patterns to determine whether eye gnat populations are greater closer to the farm or other property than further away.
(j) "Grower" or "farmer" means any person who can direct changes in practices on a commercial organic farm.
(k) "Last resort situation" means a public nuisance as defined in Chapter 4, for which a commercial organic farm alone is a predominant cause, which has not been abated within nine months after the implementation of abatement measures by that farm pursuant to an agreed voluntary plan or abatement order. Where a commercial organic farm is a predominant cause of a public nuisance only in combination with other sources, a last resort situation does not exist until those other sources also take or are ordered to take abatement actions the Director determines are appropriate. Notwithstanding any other provision of this ordinance, the Director may also exercise the last resort powers described in section 64.403 where a farmer fails or refuses to participate in the voluntary plan process or fails or refuses to comply with a previously issued abatement order or approved voluntary plan.
(l) "Predominant cause" of a public nuisance means any cause or combination of causes contributing substantially more to the existence of that nuisance than other causes, which, if mitigated, would substantially reduce nuisance conditions in the community.
(m) "Public nuisance" means conditions that constitute a public nuisance as defined in section 3480 of the California Civil Code, predominantly caused by the development, attraction or harborage of eye gnats on a commercial organic farm and by the migration of eye gnats from that farm.
(n) "Reasonable precautionary and protection measures" means the use of any inexpensive, convenient, and relatively non-invasive practice by an individual property owner to abate eye gnats on that owner's property and shall include the use of abatement traps in good condition and maintained at least once a week in structure and bait by the individual property owner, provided traps and bait are furnished free of charge to such property owner.
(o) "Validated eye gnat abatement measure" includes any farming practice, cultural control measure, or other eye gnat abatement measure that has been reviewed as set out in section 64.405 and determined by the Director to be effective in some organic farming situations. As of September 2015 those measures include proper fertilizer use and irrigation practices, as described on the Department eye gnat web page. Any subsequently validated measures will also be shown on that page.
"Validated eye gnat abatement measure" also includes the following measures which research and experience had shown to be effective before the County's eye gnat program was adopted:
1. Reduced tilling of fresh or dry organic matter into soils
2. Barrier crops
3. Flight barriers
4. Trapping to intercept eye gnats or to reduce eye gnat numbers
5. Fallow or dry periods
(p) "Voluntary plan" means the written proposal submitted to the Director by an organic farm or other agricultural operation describing the owner's or grower's plan to control eye gnat breeding. The voluntary plan includes any changes requested by the Director and agreed to by the owner or grower.
(Added by Ord. No. 10240 (N.S.), effective 1-4-13; amended by Ord. No. 10257 (N.S.), effective 5-10-13; amended by Ord. No. 10412 (N.S.), effective 2-26-16; amended by Ord. No. 10709 (N.S.), effective 1-15-21)