Hawaii Cooperative Extension Service
Horticulture Digest #105
EPA's "TOP 10" PESTICIDE INFRACTIONS
Public perception of pesticides' dangers is responsible for many of the regulations regarding pesticide application, at least that's the opinion of one EPA official. But according to Jim Lorah, compliance monitoring coordinator for EPA's Region III office
, pesticide regulators must follow the letter of the law, whether these regulations are "flawed or not."
At a fall 1993 horticulture conference, Lorah listed the 10 most common violations of the EPA's rules and regulations:
- Invalid business or applicator license.
- Label violation_use on plants no longer supported by label. not following container's labeled instructions.
- Improper mixing.
- Applicator didn't survey site before pesticide application.
- Poor preparation for spills or other emergencies.
- Drift complaints.
- Records incomplete or missing.
- Spray tank not properly cleaned; applicator unfamiliar with tank's history.
- Applicator makes erroneous product-safety claims.
- Failure to use required personal-protective equipment.
Lorah urges pesticide applicators to realize that inspectors are just doing their jobs. In addition, these officials are often caught between those who decry the use of pesticides and those whose livelihoods depend on their use. Lorah also offers one sali
ent word of advice: "Contact the inspector for help before he shows up to do an inspection."
Source: Landscape Management
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