The Pesticide Analytical and Response Center (PARC) was created by executive order in 1978. The program was reauthorized in 1991 under the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) as ORS 634.550.
PARC is mandated to perform the following activities with regard to pesticide-related incidents in Oregon that have suspected health or environmental effects: Collect incident information, mobilize expertise for investigations, identify trends and patterns of problems, make policy or other recommendations for action, report results of investigations, and prepare activity reports for each legislative session.
PARC does not have regulatory authority. Its primary function is to coordinate investigations to collect and analyze information about reported incidents. This function supports PARC’s most fundamental purpose, to identify trends and patterns, and consequently make recommendations, when warranted, to state agencies. Recommendations may include public education and industry consultation, regulatory and legislative changes, and other possible approaches. Member agencies conduct most of the investigations and take any necessary enforcement action(s). The eight member agencies include the following: Oregon Health Authority (OHA), Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODF&W), Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OR OSHA), Office of the State Fire Marshal (SFM), Oregon Poison Center (OPC), and Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA).
Investigation coordination includes collecting reports produced by member agencies and consultation as necessary with a toxicologist with Oregon State University. Other governmental bodies may also participate in the reporting or investigation of an incident.
PARC's pesticide-incident response process
Abbreviated look at PARC members' standard operating procedures. PARC's operating procedures
Pesticide use request form for health-care providers treating patients exposed to pesticides. Submit to PARC when completed via fax, 503-986-4735, or email parc-hcprequest@oda.state.or.us. Pesticide use request form for health-care providers
Position: PARC Administrator View Profile
Title with Organization: Program Manager, Pesticides Program, Oregon Department of Agriculture. Phone Number: (503) 986-4651. Fax: (503) 986-4735. Email: gilberto.uribe.valdez@oda.oregon.gov. Address: 635 Capitol St. NE, Salem, OR 97301-0110
Position: Board Co-Chair View Profile
Title with Organization: PARC Coordination Team Leader, Oregon Department of Agriculture. Phone Number: (503) 986-6470. Fax: (503) 986-4735. Email: warren.hanson@oda.oregon.gov. Address: 635 Capitol St. NE, Salem, OR 97301.
Title with Organization: Manager, Domestic Well Safety Program. Phone Number: (971) 388-7385. Email: jennifer.seamans@oha.oregon.gov. Address: 800 NE Oregon St., Suite 640, Portland, OR 97232.
Position: Representative View Profile
Title with Organization: Water Quality and Mitigation Specialist, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Phone Number: (971) 375-7394. Email: Rebecca.A.Anthony@odfw.oregon.gov. Address: 4034 Fairview Industrial Drive SE, Salem, OR 97302.
Title with Organization: Technical Specialist, Standards and Technical Division, Oregon OSHA. Phone Number: (503) 378-3274. Email: theodore.bunch@dcbs.oregon.gov. Address: PO Box 14513; 1340 Tandem Ave. NE, Suite 160, Salem, OR 97309.
Title with Organization: Columbia River Coordinator, Headquarters, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. Phone Number: (503) 719-2282. Email: david.gruen@deq.oregon.gov. Address: 700 NE Multnomah St., Suite 600, Portland, OR 97232.
Title with Organization: Assistant Chief Deputy, Regulatory Services Division, Office of State Fire Marshal. Phone Number: (503) 934-8214. Fax: (503) 373-1825. Email: mark.johnston@osp.oregon.gov. Address: 3565 Trelstad Ave. SE, Salem, OR 97317.
Organization: Vegetation Management Coordinator, Oregon Department of Transportation. Phone number: (503) 986-3010. Email: william.lackey@state.or.us. Address: 455 Airport Road SE, Building K.
Title with Organization: Director, Oregon Poison Control Center. Phone Number: (503) 494-2569. Email: pizarroo@ohsu.edu. Address: 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, mail code-CSB 550, Portland, OR 97239.
Title with Organization: Forest Practices Field Support Coordinator, Oregon Department of Forestry. Phone Number: (971) 374-3351. Email: stacy.savona@odf.oregon.gov. Address: 2600 State St., Salem, OR 97310.
Position: Community Representative View Profile
Position: Consultant View Profile
Title with Organization: Director, Toxicology Information Center, Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences. Phone Number: (503) 494-7366. Fax: (503) 494-4278. Email: bermanf@ohsu.edu. Address: 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97201-3098.
NPIC provides objective, science-based information about pesticides and pesticide-related topics to enable people to make informed decisions about pesticides and their use. NPIC is a cooperative agreement between Oregon State University and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. National Pesticide Information Center website
Discusses ways to reduce pesticide-related illness and injury by surveying incidences and educating the public. Pesticide Exposure, Safety and Tracking Program website
Reference guide for health-care providers. Recognition and management of pesticide poisonings website
Reconocimiento y Manejo de los Envenenamientos por Pesticidas website