Advocacy group Safe Ag Safe Schools sought expanded notifications. Photo by: Malcolm Carlaw CC BY 2.0
According to an article published in Monterey County Weekly, the Board of Supervisors has rejected requests to increase public notification of pesticide use. Asaf Shalev reports that the board has decided there is no need to expand the public warning system that notifies locals of impending crop fumigation.
“Agricultural Commissioner Henry Gonzales appeared before the board on Sept. 22 and updated the supervisors on the county’s Pesticide Notification Near Schools pilot program,” Shalev writes.
Advocacy group Safe Ag Safe Schools asked at the meeting for an expansion of efforts that would reach all county schools, and that notices of intent to fumigate be posted as they became available.
“The issue of posting notices of intent is a statewide issue,” Gonzalez said in an email to the Weekly. “It would not be appropriate for a county agricultural commissioner to act ahead of the state.”
