Councilmember Cheh Introduces Pesticides Reform Bill | News

This notice comes to us from Kiara Pesante:

Today, Councilmember Mary Cheh, Chair of the Committee on the Environment, Public Works, and Transportation, introduced “the Pesticides Education and Control Amendment Act of 2012” at the Council’s monthly legislative meeting.

“I have been concerned about the health effects of pesticides for some time now,” said Councilmember Cheh. “While I understand public health needs sometime require their use, we can be much more judicious and selective about the use of pesticides. This legislation will help ensure that the District’s residents—and especially its children—are protected from the dangers of pesticides.”

The bill, which has been developed over the past six months, builds upon the existing federal guidelines and extends specific protections to pesticide applications in the District of Columbia. Based on designations to be provided by the District Department of the Environment, pesticides classified as restricted use will not be permitted to be applied to schools, day care centers, near waterways, or on property owned by the District.  DDOE may, however, issue exemptions from these restrictions if public health warrants it. It would also add educational requirements for pesticide applicators and educational opportunities for District residents.

Feedback was solicited from numerous organizations to ensure the bill meets community needs. Several groups, including the Mid-Atlantic Center for Children’s Health and the Environment at Children’s National Medical Center, support the legislation introduced today.

“The Mid-Atlantic Center for Children's Health and the Environment at Children's National Medical Center welcomes the legislative proposal entitled the ‘Pesticides Education and Control Amendment Act’ introduced by Ms. Cheh,” said Dr. Jerome Paulson, Director of the Center. “There is a growing body of evidence that many types of pesticides have adverse effects on the brains of children even at low doses. By reducing the use of some pesticides, this legislation will decrease children's exposure and protect them from harm.”

Other jurisdictions have begun to take note of the risk pesticides pose to children and have, as a result, prohibited the use of pesticides on school grounds in all but emergency circumstances. New York and Connecticut both have similar restrictions.  San Francisco has prohibited the use of most pesticides on all city-owned property. One city in Canada recently banned all pesticide use, opting instead for integrated pest management tactics.