Steve Tvedten of Get Set, Inc.'s email to Lyndon Hawkins of the California Department of Pesticide Regulation regarding illegal advertising by pest control companies.  No Response received.

Subject:     Pesticide Law
 Date:        Wed, 08 Jul 1998 17:54:10 -0400
 From:       Rosalind Tvedten <stvedten@earthlink.net>
 Organization:   Get Set Inc.
         To:   hawkins@empm.cdpr.ca.gov
         CC:
             Linda Jensen-Pascarella <lindap@idea4u.com>, "Doris J. Rapp, M.D." <djrapp933@pol.net>,
             Will Snodgrass <lookusup@bigsky.net>, "Dr. Marion Moses" <pec@pesticides.org>,
             Sandy Schubert <sandy@checnet.org>, Jay Feldman <ncamp@igc.apc.org>,
             Norma Grier <info@pesticide.org>
 
 
 

Lyndon Hawkins                                            July 8, 1998

Dear Mr. Hawkins:
 

Re:  Pesticide "law"

It was my understanding that it was against the law to advertise that "registered" pesticide poisons were "safe or approved".  In the San Diego, California yellow pages on Monday 6/29/98 I noticed the following advertisements:
 

1. Termite D&S Control on page 1247 said, "We'll get'm...safely. Environmentally safe and (1) we use EPA-approved Vikane*."
2. AA Same Day Exterminators, page 1249 "Protect your health and property."
3. Termite & Pest Control, Bug Squad page 1250 "EPA Safe Treatments!"
4. Bug Shooters on page 1253 "EPA Approved, environmentally safe."
5. Knight Termite & Pest Control on page 1254 "environmentally safe chemicals."
6. Safe Xterminate on page 1256 "safe termite control."
7. Chelsea Pest Control on page 1256 "Clean - Safe - Effective."
8. Uncle Mike's on page 1257 "Environmentally Safe - Supernatural Products."

I really think the above advertisements are clearly in violation of the law; if you would like, I will check all of the phone ads for you that are clearly illegal and/or misleading throughout California.  Seeing that you do not have the time to read my Chapter 13 on the dangers of volatile pesticide poisons, I thought I would start to help you with the misleading California yellow page ads.

On Sunday, June 14, 1998 under the LA Times:  In Lompoc, Pressure is Bringing Change.  Activism:  Groups demanding protection can affect the way farm chemicals (poisons) are used.  By George  Rauh

Our story about Oxnard schools being poisoned by pesticide (poison) drift was a striking deja vu.  Here in Lompoc, a Santa Barbara County city downwind of daily (poison) spraying, an unprecedented (California) state health study has documented high rates of lung cancer, asthma and bronchitis.  And like Oxnard teachers, Lompoc residents suffer a spate of neurological symptoms--chronic fatigue, headaches, nausea, numbness, muscle and joint pain and more.  Colds, flu and other infections hang on forever.  We have learned the hard way that continuous ("registered") pesticide (poison) exposure erodes the immune system as surely as dripping water does a rock.  Back in 1992, this realization prompted us to start Volunteers for  Healthy Valley (VHV), a group of citizen activists that would gather facts, raise community awareness, expose the falsehoods about ("registered") pesticide (poison) safety and ultimately stop the poisoning of our air.  Farmers and some others were indignant.
Agriculture is a sacred cow, they said.  But we have never opposed farming, just poisoning.  Bottom line:  Thou (Mr. Hawkins) shalt not poison thy neighbor (with "registered" poisons!).

Just as an afterthought:  Perhaps you did not realize soap and water are already covered under EPA Registration Number 25B (exempt) and do not have to be registered because they are either considered to be non-toxic or GRAS.  Even so, for you to compare them as potentially more dangerous or problematic or capable of causing greater legal problems for the Fontana Unified School District than the use of the safe, EPA approved ("registered") Vikane is just a little bit extreme, don't you think?

      Respectfully,
 
 

      Stephen L. Tvedten

Copy:        L. Pascarella              NCAMP
                 J. Mitchel                  W. Snodgras
                 L. Wilkie                   CHEC
                 M. Moses                  NCAP
                 D. Rapp                    Others

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