AGRICULTURAL PLT OF AN SMA SEL CROP SPRAYER RECEIVED A COMPLAINT OF A RESIDENT NEAR A FIELD OVER WHICH HE WAS DISPENSING COTTON CTL SUBSTANCE.

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I WAS MAKING A ROUTINE CROP SPRAYING APPLICATION TO COTTON FIELDS LOCATED JUST E OF THE TARBORO ARPT ON OCT/TUE/97 AT APPROX XA30-XB00. THIS APPLICATION WAS MADE WITHIN ALL GUIDELINES OF FAR PART 137 AND STATE OF NC PESTICIDE REGS. THIS AREA IS NEAR TOWN BUT IS THE APPROPRIATE DISTANCE WITH RESPECT TO PART 91 MSA'S. THE MATTER IN QUESTION IS THE AREA WHICH I FLEW DIRECTLY OVER AND NEAR WITHIN 2000 FT HORIZ AND OPERATED CLOSER THAN 500 FT AGL TO MAKE THE APPLICATION. THIS AREA; AS ARE MANY OF THE AREAS IN WHICH I OPERATE HAVE RURAL HOMES; BARNS; ETC; AND THE QUESTION IS IF THIS IS CONSIDERED SPARSELY POPULATED OR CONGESTED? THIS SEEMS TO BE A GREY AREA WITH THE FAA. WHAT DO THEY CONSIDER CONGESTED. THE AREA CONTAINED A SMALL TRAILER PARK WITH FEWER THAN 10 TRAILERS; OTHERWISE; A HOUSE SCATTERED HERE AND THERE. THE PROB IS THAT A RESIDENT DID COMPLAIN. IF THIS AREA IS CONSIDERED SPARSELY POPULATED; I AM IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE REGS UNDER PART 137; HOWEVER IF CONSIDERED CONGESTED; I WOULD HAVE HAD TO FILE A PLAN WITH THE FSDO SHOWING MY INTENTIONS IN THE EVENT OF A PROB. I FEEL THIS AREA IS ONE IN WHICH THE FAA NEEDS TO CLARIFY; AND GIVE DEFINITE GUIDELINES AS TO WHAT IS CONGESTED; SO THAT AERIAL APPLICATORS CAN MAKE ACCURATE DECISIONS ON THEIR INTENDED JOBS. THIS AREA IS VERY CLOSE TO A MAJOR TOWN; BUT WELL OVER 2000 FT HORIZ OF ANY EASILY DEFINED CONGESTED AREA. THE AREA I WOULD ASSUME TO BE SPARSELY POPULATED BUT NOT CONGESTED ACCORDING TO THE REGS.