OXNARD — Dozens of farmworkers and their allies were scheduled to hold a news conference and rally prior to Monday’s California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) “workshop” on plans for a statewide pesticide notification system. The news conference, sponsored by the Coalition Advocating for Pesticide Safety 805 (CAPS 805), was held outside the site of the DPR workshop, the Oxnard Performing Arts Center (800 Hobson Way, Oxnard). CAPS 805 and allies are concerned that the County’s pilot notification system and DPR’s current draft plans will not serve the community without the address or farm location of the pesticide application, among other issues.
Farmworker communities across California are demanding to know before-hand what, when, and where hazardous pesticides will be applied. They want to be able to take safety precautions against exposure to drifting pesticides. Currently, State and County regulators only reveal pesticide information after they’ve already been applied.
Recent studies by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) of past use of hazardous pesticides in Ventura County indicate that more than 32 million pounds of toxic pesticides, including many linked to cancer and respiratory and developmental problems, were used on county ag fields from 2015 to 2020. More than one in four homes in the county are within a half-mile or less of fields sprayed with pesticides linked to serious health harms, including dozens of schools.
“Our findings show why state and federal policymakers must act to better safeguard kids from dangerous exposure to pesticide drift,” said EWG President Ken Cook.
The DPR is holding in Oxnard one of only two in-person “workshops” across California about plans for a statewide pesticide notification system. DPR received $10 million from the State to create the notification program. DPR scheduled a series of online forums to receive public
input with a planned system implementation date of July 2024. Today’s in-person workshop, to begin at 5pm, is designed to receive public feedback on the State’s draft proposals and the pilot notification program in Ventura County’s Nyeland Acres Community.
Irene Gomez, Nyeland Acres resident and member of CAPS 805, said: “My neighbors and I want to be notified about pesticide sprays before they happen, but the pilot system is not what we want. First, we should not have to register to get access to the information. Second, the information is useless without knowing the exact location of where the pesticides are being sprayed. It’s not a notification without location.”
Other CAPS 805 members and allies echoed Ms. Gomez’s concerns. Liseth Gabriel Rodriguez, Community Organizer for the Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE), summarized a list of requests by the group:
“DPR must:
1. Provide exact location of where pesticides will be applied, so that people can take
steps needed to protect themselves.
2. Establish a fully transparent website that displays all planned pesticide applications by chemical name and is available to all without sign-ups or sharing information like where we live.
3. Post notices of intent to apply restricted pesticides now, but also notify about other harmful pesticides, beyond restricted ones, including Prop 65, BeeWhere, and others identified by scientists.
4. Post notification information in multiple languages, including but not limited to Spanish, Mixteco, Zapoteco and Triqui.
5. Create an option for opt-in alerts through email or text without needing to provide a name or address.
6. Include maps, graphics and links to safety data.
7. Include at least 72-hour advanced notice.
8. Establish an environmental justice advisory committee to guide the development of the statewide pesticide notification system.”
On Wednesday, the second in-person DPR workshop will be held in Orosi in Tulare County. DPR will then hold an online workshop on Thursday (5:00-7:00 pm; zoom.us/j/85867200295?pwd=ZGNIMlJOVnFCTEp4VVVsRzBnbmpGQT09; Meeting ID: 858 6720 0295; Passcode: 750189; Call In Number: +1-669-900-9128) and receive written public comments on the statewide pesticide notification plans through November 14th at ProjectNotify@cdpr.ca.gov.