Health Canada Fines Westech $4,000 For Pesticide Infraction

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Subject: Health Canada Fines Westech $4,000 For Pesticide Infraction
Date:     Fri, 28 Jun 2002 08:43:18 -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

Wednesday, June 26, 2002 - Summerside Journal-Pioneer

Health Canada fines Westech $4,000 For pesticide infraction

NANCY MACPHEE

ALBERTON -- A strawberry growing operation in Alberton has been fined $4,000 by Health Canada for not following proper directions in applying the pesticide called Vapum.

Last fall, 13 workers from Westech Agricultural Ltd. ended up at the local hospital after being exposed to chemical fumigants applied to the land.

The shortness of breath was caused by vapor from Vapum, a fumigant injected in the soil to reduce pests in the company's strawberry fields.

A little girl was also exposed to the chemical while she was waiting for her school bus that morning. She was taken to the hospital for treatment later in the day, suffering the same symptoms caused fromchemical exposure.

Westech has three options. It can write a cheque, appeal the decision or sign a compliance agreement allowing the company to invest $8,000 in new equipment or training and avoid paying the fine.

No one with Health Canada or its Pesticide Management Regulatory Agency could be reached for comment.

The owner of Westech did not return calls made by The Journal-Pioneer before press time.

© Copyright 2002 Summerside Journal-Pioneer

http://www.canada.com/search/site/story.asp?id=DF9F6D49-61DD-4EBC-971B-A5C5696D83B1

Well Mr. Helliker, what would be the fine, if a man personally and needlessly assaulted a group of innocent people and sent 13 to the hospital?

Respectfully, Stephen L. Tvedten

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