Pesticide applications close to homes a major concern for residents 

On June 7, 2007, the residents of Moss Landing Heights in Monterey County were informed that methyl bromide, Telone and chloropicrin would be applied directly across the street from their homes. All three pesticides are extremely toxic and can seriously threaten human and environmental health: Methyl bromide is a neuro-toxicant that has been linked to birth defects and chronic respiratory problems; Telone is a probable carcinogen and known groundwater contaminant. Each of these pesticides contributes to smog and air pollution.

Understandably, community members were alarmed that these dangerous pesticides would be applied across the street from their homes. In addition to the health of their families, many residents were also concerned about the dangers to the environment: the applications were to happen just 100 feet from protected wildlife habitat.

With help from California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc (CRLA), residents filed an appeal to the Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner’s (CAC) office and the Department of Pesticide Regulation to stop the application. Over two-thirds of the community’s residents attended a public hearing to speak out against the applications and organizations and individuals all over the state supported the Moss Landing Heights community, yet the legal appeals were rejected.

At first, CRLA lawyers were able to obtain a preliminary injunction to halt the spraying but the court eventually lifted the temporary injunction and one of seven applications began on Tuesday, August 14. The judge ruled that the applications could proceed based on the state Department of Pesticide Regulation’s argument that the applications are safe, and ruled that the applications must be observed by independent monitors However, considering that 90% of all pesticides in the state of California are prone to drifting away from where they are applied—particularly the three applied in this case—independent monitoring of the applications may prove the claims of safety to be false.

The situation of the Moss Landing residents is akin to that of millions of California residents who live, work, study and play dangerously close to fields where pesticides are applied. The advocacy groups supporting the community and community residents will be watching the Moss Landing applications closely to build a strong case that the pesticides applications were indeed unsafe. By documenting the on-the-ground reality of the applications, this case may still that better protection of community members from pesticide drift is needed. The Moss Landing story is not yet over!

For more information, contact Glen Chase, Moss Landing Heights Resident.