California growers would be barred from applying many agricultural pesticides within a quarter-mile of public schools and day-care centers during school days under a proposed regulation unveiled by the state Department of Pesticide Regulation. It would be the first statewide standard and would take effect in September 2017, says AgNet West.
DNR director Brian Leahy said the rule “builds in additional layers of protection.” Many counties have varying requirements for notification of pesticide application near schools. The DNR rule would apply to 3,500 schools and child-care centers and 2,000 farmers, estimated the DNR. A public comment period is open until Nov. 17.
Under the proposal, many pesticides could not be used from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday within a quarter-mile of schools and child-care facilities. Growers and applicators would be required to notify schools, child-care operators and county agricultural commissioners when pesticides are applied within a quarter-mile. Growers would be required to notify schools once a year of pesticides that they expect to use, and, beginning in January 2018, give 48-hour notice before an application begins.
In 2015, a story by The Nation in partnership with FERN described heavy use of agricultural pesticides near California schools, some in areas with high Latino populations. “If the concentrated use of pesticides near predominantly Latino communities seems unfair, some have argued it’s also illegal,” wrote Liza Gross.