Thursday, July 16, 2015

Deadline coming up to comment on pesticide use near California schools

Last year, the Department of Public Health published a report on the use of pesticides near California schools. The report documented 144 different hazardous pesticides being used near schools — chemicals that can cause cancer and derail the development of a child’s brain and nervous system.

Last month, about a hundred teachers from the Central Coast packed a hearing of the California Department of Pesticide Regulations, demanding that stricter guidelines are established to prevent children from inhaling toxic chemical fumes. If you missed it, here's a story I wrote about it.

If you wanted to voice your opinion and couldn't make the meeting, you still have a chance. July 31 is the deadline for public comments on pesticides use near schools. You can write to Brian Leahy, director of the Department of Pesticide Regulation, and let him know your thoughts. He can be reached at (916) 445-4000 or Brian.Leahy@cdpr.ca.gov

You can send a letter to: 1001 I Street, P.O. Box 4015, Sacramento, CA 95812-4015

Or you can join the action organized by the United Farm Workers. Here's their link.

Update:
Many teachers had been asking the Department of Pesticide Regulations to impose a mile-wide buffer zone between schools and areas where pesticides are applied. A supporter with the Californians for Pesticide Reform has started a petition online for this cause. You can access it here.


3 comments:

  1. Claudia, Please get this out on Facebook & Twitter...there has been a petition started for this same cause.
    Whatever you can do is appreciated.
    https://www.change.org/p/institute-a-1-mile-buffer-zone-between-schools-and-spraying-pesicides-and-at-least-a-week-s-notice-to-schools-before-spraying-begins

    ReplyDelete