| Press Release
January 9, 2002
Contact: Neal Lewis
631-963-5454
New Neighbor Notification Law Encourages Schools to Use Safer
Alternatives to Pesticides
A preliminary survey of Long Island schools has found that most
Long Island public school districts are complying with the notice
requirements in the new Neighbor Notification of Pesticide Spraying
Law, and that a number of schools are responding to the incentives
in the law to use safer, less toxic pest control products and
practices. "We have heard from school officials that they
are changing their pest control programs to reduce or eliminate
pesticide use that would have to be reported under the new law,"
said Neal Lewis, Executive Director of the Long Island Neighborhood
Network, an environmental and public advocacy organization that
supported passage of the pesticide notice law.
There has, however, been inconsistent compliance with the timing
of the first required notice detailing pesticide use. "Parents
should be receiving in their mailboxes this week a detailed report
of pesticides used at their children's schools since the
beginning of the school year. Unfortunately, some parents may
find their mailboxes empty since as many as 50% of schools contacted
indicated confusion about when the notice is due, and apparently
have not yet sent the notices out." said Mr. Lewis.
Inconsistent compliance with the new law is in part due to confusion
over how schools define "Winter Recess." The law says
a notice must go out within two days of the end of Winter Recess
which the State Department of Education has defined as the break
around New Year's Day, but some local school officials say
their school defines winter recess as the break in February.
Background of Law's Notice Requirements
The 48 Hour Neighbor Notice Law regarding pesticide spraying
was signed into law by Governor Pataki in August 2000. It requires
commercial applicators to give written notice to neighbors in
adjacent properties to any residence they are treating with chemical
pesticides. The law also includes notice provisions pertaining
to schools which went into effect in summer of 2001, making the
current school year the first in which schools are required to
comply. All schools, both public and private, now must:
- provide notice at
the beginning of the school year that informs parents and staff
that pesticides may be used, that they can be put on a list
of names to receive prior notice of pesticide use, and the name
and phone number of the contact person to get more information
about pesticide use;
- maintain a list
of people who request prior notice of pesticide use, and provide
them with notice 48 hours prior to application of pesticides;
and
- provide three notices
throughout the school year that report pesticides applied since
the last notice, and remind people of the registry. The first
of these notices is now due.
Winter Notice
Due this Week
The first of the three
notices detailing any pesticide use, and reminding parents and
staff about the registry, was required to be sent out within 2
days of the end of winter break which for most schools was January
4th. The remaining two notices must be sent within 2 days of the
end of spring recess, and within ten days of the end of the school
year. These notices must state the name and EPA registration number
of each product used. This information empowers parents to get
more involved in urging their school to adopt toxics-free maintenance
programs. The law allows for exemptions from the notice requirements
when less hazardous products such as boric acid, silica gels,
food-based repellents such as mint oil, and nonvolatile baits
in tamper-resistant bait stations are used.
So, did schools comply?
Yes and no.
Some Problems
Besides several schools
not realizing that the first summary notice was due last week,
some others did send out the two notices required so far but failed
to include all of the correct information. For example, one school
omitted mention of the registry and contact person, and simply
stated, "Please be aware that the School District does not
use pesticides." This denies parents their legal right to
be placed on a registry in the event that an emergency chemical
use takes place. Another school representative did not know that
the law also applied to pesticides used on school athletic fields
where children play, and not just to the pesticides used indoors
for "structural" pest control.
Overall, Law
Helps Raise Awareness
On the positive side,
many schools are aware of the requirements and are implementing
successful Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs which minimize
or eliminate pesticide use. IPM includes good sanitation, exclusion
methods such as caulking, and monitoring, with pest control products
used only as a last resort. Also, the law names a certain list
of safer, less hazardous products and methods that are not subject
to the notice requirements--thus providing further incentive to
move away from the use of toxics in areas where children spend
so much time during the day. All schools contacted but one are
maintaining a registry of people who opted for the 48 hour prior
notice.
Some of the school
districts with very successful programs include Baldwin (which
has been a leader in chemical-free pest control for many years),
and Locust Valley, and may also include Wantagh, Southold, and
Port Washington.
"The encouraging
part is that there are so many new, safer alternatives to toxic
pesticides now than there were even a few years ago," said
Lewis, a long time advocate of "organic" approaches
to turf maintenance that involve building up healthy soil and
enhancing microbial life to balance out diseases and pests. In
November, the Neighborhood Network held workshops on using less
hazardous, alternative pest control methods, for school districts
employees. Representatives of thirty-four school districts from
Nassau and Suffolk attended the workshops, which were held in
three locations around Long Island. Many schools contract out
their pest control, and companies are emerging with expertise
in IPM to meet the demand. All these new efforts and innovations
hopefully indicate good things in terms of reducing our children's
toxic exposures.
To receive more information
about school notice requirements or alternatives to toxic pesticides,
contact Neighborhood Network at 631-963-5454.
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