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December 5, 2000 Jacobs Passes Pesticide Neighbor Notification Law
New Law to Protect Residents from Potentially Dangerous Chemicals Nassau County Presiding Officer Judy Jacobs (D-Woodbury) joined the full legislature in passing legislation on Wednesday, Nov. 29 that establishes countywide notification requirements for commercial and residential lawn pesticide applications. The legislation effectively allows the County sign onto a state law passed previously this year that established uniform notification standards for lawn pesticide applications. In addition, the law requires schools and day care centers to provide certain types of notification before and after pesticides are applied on their premises. "My Democratic colleagues and I firmly believe that pesticides may pose serious health and safety risks to people, particularly children, pregnant women, and the elderly," said Legislator Jacobs in a joint statement by the Democratic majority. "We also believe that residents have the right to know about pesticides to which they may be exposed so that they can take the appropriate actions to protect their family." According to the legislation, written notification of certain pesticide applications must be made to neighboring properties within 150 feet of the application. In addition, people who apply their own lawn pesticides will have to flag the treated areas, the way lawn care companies already do. Legislator Jacobs stated that he hopes the legislation would make property owners more aware of the hazards of traditional pesticides and of the availability and effectiveness of safer alternatives, such as low-toxicity or nontoxic pesticides. "It is possible for property owners to maintain a beautiful lawn without the use of potentially dangerous pesticides." Legislator Jacobs further stated that residents wishing to minimize exposure to pesticides when they are being applied locally should do so by closing windows; keeping pets and children indoors; covering barbecues, pools, and outdoor furniture; bringing in children's toys, pet bowls, and laundry; and covering gardens, ornamental plants, and birdfeeders. Nassau County had previously attempted to regulate commercial pesticide applicators in 1996, but was prohibited from doing so by state law. That obstacle was removed when through a bipartisan effort in Albany, which was spearheaded by Assemblyman Thomas DiNapoli and State Senator Carl Marcellino, the State enacted its version of a Pesticide Neighbor Notification law earlier this year. The law will take effect the first day of January after it has been signed into law. |