Parents have a right to know when pesticides are being sprayed at San Antonio School, which is surrounded by citrus growers on the east end who are spraying up to four times a year to treat the ACP. Pesticides applied within 1/2 mile of San Antonio School, between November 2018- 2019, were applied on 22, with 128 day of application for the year. Pesticides Used: 86 lbs of glyphosate, 19 gallons of DANITOL, 80 gallons of ACTARA.
The school can negotiate with growers and County AG Commissioner to ask for alternative application restrictions.
Map below shows citrus growers within 1/4 mile of San Antonio School. Unfortunately, due to drift, the school is most likely being exposed to pesticides being applied within 1/2 mile of the school, as it is surrounded by growers on the east end.
Here is article from the Porterville Reporter that explains how the new pesticides regulations are not enough.
CA DPT of Pesticide Regulation info on applying pesticides near schools is below.
Here is a study on Agricultural Pesticides Near Schools which concluded:
This study methodology does not attempt to measure school-children’s exposures to pesticides and, therefore, study results cannot be used to predict possible health impacts. Additional information would be needed regarding chemical decay, trans-port, and routes of exposure, all of which are beyond the scope of this report. However, the study methodology and results can help guide current and future pesticide monitoring and exposure assessment efforts — such as air monitoring, soil sampling, and biomonitoring — as well as epidemiologic studies. We also hope the study methodology and results will be used by school officials, local environmental and public health officials, county agricultural commissioners, pesticide regulators, exposure assessment scientists, and others to inform policies that may impact public health, such as school-siting decisions and pesticide application permitting regulations. Overall, we found that the data and technology exist to accurately and efficiently assess pesticide use near potentially sensitive populations with a high degree of geographic resolution. However, some relevant data are not collected and disseminated in a standardized manner throughout California. In conducting this study, the researchers found a need for:
• Routine and standardized collection, digitization, and reporting of data on agricultural field locations of each pesticide use permit, which could then be made publicly accessible via the PUR system in a format convenient for Geographic Information Systems
• An accurate, complete, and publicly accessible database on pesticides applied on school properties
• An accurate, complete, and publicly accessible database of school property boundaries in California
• Ongoing surveillance of the use of pesticides of public health concern near schools and other potentially sensitive locations, in order to understand trends and usage pattern
What Parents Need to Know
Regarding notification to school sites and County AG COMMISSIONER of pesticides to be sprayed near schools:
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Grower must provide annual notification to school sites within 1⁄4 mile and County AG Commissioner by Apr 30 for the following July 1-June 30 year.
Reports are here:
-Monica Ros Notification of Pesticides Used Near Schools copy
-San Antonio Notification of Pesticides Used Near Schools copy
-Topa Topa Elementary Notification of Pesticides Used Near Schools copyReports need to include:
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Summary of regulation and required statements
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Map showing location of field(s) and school site
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Grower and County AG Commissioner contact information
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National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) website
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List of pesticides expected to be used Jul-Jun – pesticides, not on list must be added at least 48 hours prior to use
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Option for 3-party agreement that school requests
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Grower retains notifications for 2 years
The annual notification to schools is required directly from growers of what they intend to spray within 1/4 mile (or 25 feet, depending on pesticide type) of a school. Pesticides are also not to be applied between 6am-6pm Monday through Friday, depending on what is being sprayed. See below for what is required for different types of pesticides.
Question: In the Ojai Valley, many residents live close to growers so why aren’t these notifications provided to residents of unincorporated areas of Ventura County who live next door to growers?
More info at the links below:
https://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/enforce/school_notify/regulation_presentation.pdf
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https://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/enforce/school_not |
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Effective January 1, 2018:
o Two types of restriction distances: 1⁄4 mile (1,320 feet) or 25 feet, depending on the type of application equipment used and type of pesticide applied (some application types are prohibited by labels or do not occur)
*Backpack sprayers that incorporate an airblast sprayer to apply “other” pesticides are prohibited within 1⁄4 mile. o Exceptions to application restrictions: The prohibitions do not apply if school classes are not scheduled for the day of application or the child day care facility is closed during the entire day of the application. This allows applications during the day on holidays and school breaks
o A new grower (through purchase or lease of a field) must provide the first notification within 30 days of assuming control of the property • CalAgPermits is the suggested online method that growers/property operators use to develop and submit the notifications.
This CDPR website used to have all the information on the school notify program but it has been removed. |
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Transition to Organics 