Pesticide Warnings Ordered
Click Here to Add CommentSubject: Pesticide Warnings Ordered
Date: Sun, 21 Apr 2002 12:30:27 -0400
From: Stephen Tvedten <steve@getipm.com>
Organization: Get Set Inc. (www.getipm.com)
To: Paul Helliker <phelliker@cdpr.ca.gov>
Director, State of
California, Department of Pesticide Regulation
cc: Christine Whitman whitman.christine@epa.gov
Dear Mr. Helliker, I thought you might like to read an
article dated: April 21, 2002 entitled: Pesticide
warnings ordered By Pamela Batzel, Staff Writer.
Under a new law, school districts can spray pesticides and
herbicides only after attempting prevention and nontoxic approaches to curtail
pests and weeds.
Districts must also tell parents when they will spray the
chemicals if parents request notification under the Pesticide Notification Act
signed into law Thursday by Gov. Mark Schweiker.
Proponents of the legislation celebrated the successful end
to their nine-year quest.
"I think it's a wonderful thing," said Rep. Carole
Rubley, R-157th, of Tredyffrin. "More and more people, especially children,
are susceptible to these substances."
Rubley sponsored the House portion of the bill that focused
on the notification, an aspect of the bill that particularly pleased Robert
Wendelgass, Pennsylvania director for Clean Water Action, and
coordinator for the Campaign to Reduce Pesticide Exposure in Schools.
Wendelgass, who has been a key proponent of the bill that
will become effective in January, hopes it will lessen student illness and
environmental pollution.
"Studies have shown that many of the pesticides used in
schools can have both short- and long-term health effects that range from
headaches, nausea and diarrhea to cancer and birth defects," said
Wendelgass. Notification makes it easier for parents to identify whether a
child gets ill from the chemicals, and to avoid them, he said.
The law also requires that districts spray only when children
will be out of the building or off school grounds for at least seven hours, or
longer periods if prescribed by chemical labeling.
At least six districts in Chester County have reported that
they currently practice integrated pest management, the approach that favors
prevention and nontoxic methods to curtail weeds and pests.
The Downingtown Area School District made the transition three or four years
ago, anticipating the new law, said Gil Lappano, director of facilities,
planning and management.
Food is sealed, trash is removed from the buildings, and
openings are sealed. The district attacks wasps with wasp traps. Ants are
sprayed with pesticides in contained areas, but only when children will be out
of the building for at least 12 hours, he said. Commercially available
herbicides are used on the fields. Oxford Area School District has been
practicing integrated pest management for the past three to four years, said
Roger Madron, director of buildings and grounds.
"We felt it was a much safer type of program," said
Madron. "We do little or no pesticides," he added. Except for
fertilizer, the district has not been treating its grounds, he said.
The West Chester Area School District has been practicing
integrated pest management since September 1999, and parents who request
notification are notified, said Florence Miller, spokeswoman for the district.
Dawn Lawless, who teaches integrated pest management to elementary children at a
Coatesville Area School District school, praised the new law.
"The biggest concern with the use of pesticides and
herbicides is just the overall multiplier effect," said Lawless, who has a
degree in environmental education. "We're constantly being exposed to
several in combination.
"Any time you can take a step to reduce (the chemicals)
in the environment should have a positive effect on the people, the animals and
plants (that) are in that environment," she said.
The Pennsylvania Parent Teacher Association, Pennsylvania
School Boards Association, the Pennsylvania State Education Association and the
Sierra Club were among the groups that have supported the legislation, according
to Wendelgass.
Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, a Republican from Montgomery County,
sponsored the Senate portion of the bill that addressed integrated pest
management.
Companies and school districts that spray pesticides
currently have to notify people named on a state hypersensitivity list who live
or work within 500 feet of the area to be sprayed.
People must provide a physician's signature to the state's
Department of Agriculture to be included on the list.
Wendelgass said he hopes that school districts will do more
than notify the parents who request notification.
"We will be encouraging districts to notify all
parents."
İDaily Local News 2002
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=3909992&BRD=1671&PAG=461&dept_id=17782&rfi=6
Well Mr. Helliker, when I give my IPM booklet entitled:
THE BUG STOPS HERE to the people on Earth Day they will not need to use anything
but the nontoxic controls I have used to remove all pest problems inside and
outside in over 350 schools for many years. I know these safe and far more
effective alternatives will literally stop the use of most (if not all) of your
"registered" POISONS. HAPPY EARTH DAY!
Respectfully, Stephen L. Tvedten
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