SC Comments on DEP Pesticide Rule

Today the DEP is holding a public hearing on their proposed amendments, repeal, and new rules in the Pesticide Control Code, N.J.A.C 7:30. The Department’s rules must be at least as stringent as the Federal requirements; the Department may regulate the sale or use of pesticides, provided the Department does not allow any sale or use prohibited by FIFRA. The Department also proposes to amend the Agricultural Worker Protection provisions at N.J.A.C. 7:30-12 to ensure that the State’s requirements will be no less stringent than the Federal requirements. Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club released the following statement:

“We’re entering into an environmental crisis because of loss of bees and pesticides is the main factor. This has a dramatic impact on farming and the environment. Bees are dying in record numbers and hives are collapsing. Unfortunately, DEP’s proposal on pesticide control does not go far enough to protect workers or our environment from pesticides.  If New Jersey really wants to help save wildlife and bees, we need to avoid using pesticides that are harmful to them. With this proposed rule, DEP is siding with the agricultural industry over protecting our ecosystem and bees.

“This rule will have stinging consequences for New Jersey’s bee populations. DEP’s 24-hour spraying notice is not enough time for beekeepers to get their bees back into their hives to protect them. There should be warning signs and postings in the community well in advance. Spraying should only be allowed at night. DEP need to also establish 500ft buffers between colonies and between any organic farms or streams. More importantly, there should be buffers where there are farms in urban areas to protect children playing at nearby playgrounds at school or near residential housing. Overall, we believe DEP should not be allowing the use of these pesticides at all. These insecticides are not only harmful to human health but are destroying our bee population who are critical to our ecosystem and food supply. These toxins have also posed a risk to other animals like birds.

“New Jersey needs to immediately prohibit the use of insecticides called neonicotinoids, especially imidacloprid and chlorpyrifos. Chlorpyrifos is an insecticide that especially threatens the health of children and pregnant women since it’s a neurotoxin. It also affects farmers and farmworkers, as well as hurts wildlife and threatened bee populations. There have been cases where Farmworkers who were exposed to the chemical have gotten sick from it. Hawaii has already banned this harmful insecticide, and it’s critical for the health and safety of our children and farm workers that New Jersey does to. We also need to incorporate an integrated pest management system as we start to ban certain pesticides.

“We are also concerned that the pesticide rule follows Federal regulations when the Trump Administration has made it clear that they don’t value environmental or wildlife protections or the agencies that regulate them. Sierra Club is in court with the EPA over its ongoing effort to roll back safeguards for pesticides and toxic chemicals. We believe the DEP should be banning the use of pesticides and instead educating workers and the public on spraying.

“Bees have been dying in record numbers and we’re concerned we could see them go extinct. This would have devastating effects on ecosystems across the country but also on our food supply. Bees are in dire trouble across the county and unfortunately, DEP’s proposed Pesticide Control rule amendments do not go far enough to protect them. There is already legislation introduced to prohibit harmful pesticides like S1810 (Turner) and S2288 (Smith).  It is critical that the Murphy Administration and legislature work together to prohibit pesticide use and protect our bees. Without bees, many crops would cease to exist and will make human existence much harder.”