No notice needed for spraying

OLYMPIA – Schools, hospitals and day-care centers don’t need two days of written notice before their farmer neighbors spray dangerous pesticides, the state agriculture director decided Friday.

The decision is a victory for growers – particularly orchardists – who argued the proposal was burdensome and unnecessary.

Environmental and farm worker advocates criticized the ruling, saying the state’s enforcement of pesticide regulations is far too weak.

The proposed rule would have required growers to give written notice to schools, nursing homes, hospitals and adult or child day-care centers within a half-mile of their farms at least 48 hours before applying Category I pesticides, which are considered dangerous or poisonous.

The state Department of Agriculture proposed the rule after farm worker advocates and public health officials raised alarms about the potential for residents to inhale airborne chemicals.

After three years of meetings with supporters and opponents, including four public hearings this year, Director Valoria Loveland decided Friday to withdraw the proposed rule.

In a statement, Loveland said there was too much disagreement about the proposal and not enough interest from schools and other entities that would have received pesticide notices.

“The environmental community believed this rule didn’t go far enough, while growers thought it created unnecessary regulation when it is already illegal to allow drift of these pesticides,” Loveland said.