Public Comment Period for Pesticide Regulations Extended

Rules governing how and when farm workers should be notified of plans to spray the fields they work in with a toxic pesticide are being changed. The changes are meant to better protect the health and wellbeing of California farm workers, though advocates say they don’t go far enough. The amendments were proposed by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) on July 4, 2008, and the public comment period was set to expire yesterday, Thursday, November 20, at 5 p.m. However, CDPR is now extending the public comment period until Friday, December 5, at 5 p.m.

Many Santa Barbara activists would like the department to add a neighbor notification rule to the regulations governing pesticide use in the state, but these proposed changes don’t address any residential pesticide use.

To review the regulations, and the proposed changes, go to the California Department of Pesticide Regulation. To comment on the changes or other issues involving pesticide use in California, send email to dpr08002@cdpr.ca.gov.