Categories · federal
Right-of-way pest control
Roadsides, rail lines, powerline corridors, pipelines and similar maintained strips. Pairs naturally with ornamental and turf for vegetation-management businesses.
Short answer
Right of way pest control is the federal commercial category for applicators who use or supervise restricted use pesticides maintaining roadsides, powerlines, pipelines, railway rights-of-way and similar areas, which is the chemical side of right of way vegetation management. It requires commercial certification, a minimum age of 18 and a passed written exam, and it expires after at most five years.
| Key fact | Under the federal standard |
|---|---|
| Federal category | Right-of-way pest control, 40 CFR 171.101(f) |
| Where it applies | Roadsides, powerlines, pipelines, railway rights-of-way and similar maintained corridors |
| Typical work | Vegetation management for utilities, highway departments, railroads and their contractors |
| Who certifies | Vegetation management contractors, utility contractors, public works crews |
| Common pairing | Ornamental and turf, for businesses that also treat landscapes and turf |
| Requirements | Commercial certification by written exam, minimum age 18, renewal every five years at most |
What the regulation says
40 CFR 171.101, as published
(f) Right-of-way pest control. This category applies to commercial applicators who use or supervise the use of restricted use pesticides in the maintenance of roadsides, powerlines, pipelines, and railway rights-of-way, and similar areas.
Who certifies here
Vegetation management contractors, utility contractors, public works.
The requirements every category shares
- Commercial applicator certification by written examination, with a minimum age of 18.
- Certification expires five years after issuance under the federal standard; your authority may set a shorter period.
- Renewal by re-examination or an approved continuing education program.
- Noncertified workers may operate under the direct supervision of a certified applicator, subject to the supervision requirements.
Is right-of-way vegetation management the same as right-of-way pest control?
Largely, for certification purposes. The federal right-of-way category covers commercial applicators who use or supervise restricted use pesticides maintaining roadsides, powerlines, pipelines, railway rights-of-way and similar areas, which is the chemical side of vegetation management on those corridors. Whether other work on those corridors needs a license is a question for your state lead agency.
How the categories pair up in a working business is covered inthe commercial applicator categories, explained.
Read next
- Pairing right-of-way with ornamental and turf in a lawn business
- The ornamental and turf category
- All 16 commercial applicator categories
Sources
- The federal certification standards: 40 CFR Part 171, Certification of Pesticide Applicators, as published in the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations.
- Your state lead agency and its EPA-approved certification plan, the authority on categories, exams, fees and renewal where you work.
Other categories
The certification map, free
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