FRESNO BEE

January 13, 2007

State fights pesticide accidents

Budget increase aids efforts at regulation

By ROBERT RODRIGUEZ

THE FRESNO BEE

The California Department of Pesticide Regulation is using a $3 million boost in its budget to increase enforcement, pay for programs for less toxic alternatives and push pesticide safety.

Mary-Ann Warmerdam, the department's director, is also aiming to reduce major pesticide illness incidents to zero.

While Warmerdam acknowledged it's a lofty goal — the state averages about 50 such incidents a year — she said it is a necessary one.

"Anything less than zero major incidents is not doing right by our obligation," Warmerdam said. "These are the incidents that affect people, in particular farmworkers."

Major pesticide incidents involve multiple victims requiring medical treatment or hospitalization because of pesticide exposure. They can happen on farms or in urban settings where chlorine spills or exterminator errors occur.

The department's $68.9 million statewide budget — one of the largest for the agency in recent years — restores funding to some programs while increasing money to others suffering from several years of lean budgets.

"We have gone from 450 employees to 320 people over a several-year period," Warmerdam said. "And while we anticipate rebuilding a little bit ofstaffing, most is targeted to program areas."

Stepped-up efforts to collect unpaid fees have increased DPR's revenues.

The Pesticide Alliance Grant Program, which is receiving $780,000, is one of those earmarked for increases. The program was suspended by budget cuts in 2002 after launching statewide projects aimed at reduced-risk pest practices.

Programs to improve protection for workers, including providing them information on howto file confidential complaints, are getting an additional $634,000.

Funds provide greater oversight

Also receiving funding are thecounty agricultural commissioners who help enforce thestate's pesticide regulations. The state's 58 counties will share an additional $715,000, and the state will add six new positions, at a cost of $667,000, to increase oversight of local enforcement.

Susan Kegley, senior scientist for Pesticide Action Network North America in San Francisco, was pleased with DPR's budget increase.

"We have been pushing very hard for enforcement, and I think it is great that the county ag commissioners are getting extra money to do what they need to do," Kegley said. "We need to be doing more inspections on farms and in places were pesticides are being used. It is just like a posting a speed limit without traffic cops."

Fresno County Agricultural Commissioner Jerry Prieto Jr., whose county's farmers lead the state in pesticide use, said any additional funding helps.

Last fiscal year, the county spent $2.9 million on pesticide enforcement. Of that, $1.2 million was paid by the county.

Along with issuing pesticide use permits, the counties also are responsible for monitoring fields to ensure worker safety and that pesticides are being used properly.

"We are happy to get to some additional funding, because most of our programs are already underfunded," Prieto said. "This is a major program."

Fresno County farming officials agreed on the need to fund programs looking at less-toxic pesticide alternatives.

"It may not be something that everyone will take advantage," said Ryan Jacobsen, executive director of the Fresno County Farm Bureau. "But for those who want to pursue those alternatives, it will definitely be a benefit."