Yesterday, Western Growers testified against the Department of Pesticide Regulation’s (DPR) proposed regulation on agricultural pesticide use near schools during the Senate Environmental Quality Committee’s Oversight Hearing.
The proposed regulation, which is slated to take effect in September 2017, prohibits certain pesticide applications within ¼ mile of a school and requires notification of other pesticide applications within ¼ mile of a school.
Matthew Allen, director of California government affairs, testified on behalf of Western Growers. “Farmers prioritize maintaining a safe and healthy environment for their workers and for the surrounding farm communities, which includes local schools,” said Allen during the hearing. “To that end, farmers are diligent that pesticides are applied according to the law because they live and work within these same communities.”
Allen emphasized that this newly-proposed regulation is not based on sound science and may cause unforeseen consequences for both growers and schools. We will continue to voice our concerns to DPR.
Click here to watch the “Oversight Hearing of the Department of Pesticide Regulation: Are Proposed Regulations Protective of Children’s Health?” The video is labeled “Senate Environmental Quality Committee, Wednesday, March 1st, 2017” and Allen’s testimony begins at 2:40.
RESOURCES ON PROPOSED REGULATION
For more information, please contact Matthew Allen at (916) 446-1435.
