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Pesticides:
structural pest control: licensure exemption

Our Position: oppose
Bill Number: SB1221
Sponsor: Leff: Harper
Legislative Session: 2006 Legislative Session

Status

After languishing for several weeks, the bill went to committee of the whole where it was amended.  The comments by Representative Allen indicated that everyone had come to an agreement on it.  They certainly did not ask us or the licensed applicators.  The amendment addresses some of the issues with the bill, but still leaves giant loopholes.  The Governor has five days to sign, veto, or let the bill become law without her signature.

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Background

SB1221 structural pest control: licensure exemption!

SB1221 structural pest control: licensure exemption (Leff: Harper) exempts from licensure people who apply herbicides and who are conducting lawn and garden maintenance for weed control.  They are exempt if they are using containers that hold 8 gallons or less and they are using herbicides that are not labeled for restricted use and that are commercially available to the public.  Just because something is commercially available does not mean it is safe.  People applying these chemicals should be properly trained and licensed in order to better protect themselves, the public health, the land, and our water resources. 

The licensed applicators proposed a modified license with fewer hours of training required for those applicators in this landscaping category.  Unfortunately, that was not considered and instead, the bill opens up a large loophole and will rewards the least responsible applicators.

Endocrine and toxic effects in mammals of one of the most commonly used herbicides, glyphosate, commonly known as Roundup, have been indicated in recent research.[i]   There is also considerable research linking certain ailments in children to exposure to pesticides and in particular to herbicides.  Researchers have found that pesticide exposure can induce a poisoning effect linked to asthma.[ii]  By not requiring the licensure and the training that accompanies it, this measure will put both the applicators and the people they serve at risk by potentially exposing them to these chemicals at harmful levels.

Herbicides also pose a threat to water quality.  Recently, the US Geological Survey released a report that found that most of our streams and rivers in the United States are contaminated with pesticides, including several herbicides.[iii] In fact the three most frequently found pesticides were the herbicides atrazine, metolachlor and cyanazine, which are primarily used on farms.  In urban areas, the three most common were the herbicides simazine, prometon and tebuthiuron. It is important that applicators are aware of these findings and use precautions to limit impacts to our rivers and streams.

We should use precaution when it comes to these potentially harmful chemicals, by ensuring that those who use them are properly trained, licensed, and insured.