NEWS RELEASE

NEIGHBOR NOTIFICATION LAW GOES INTO EFFECT IN ERIE COUNTY
Environmental and Public Health groups gather to thank Erie County Legislature

Buffalo, NY - Environmental, public health and children’s organizations came together to thank Erie County Executive Joel Giambra and the Erie County Legislature for adopting the Pesticide Neighbor Notification Law (local law 14), which went into effect January 1, 2004. With the pesticide spraying season just around the corner, the groups held a press conference to educate the public about the importance of preventing exposure to pesticides, now that the law offers advance notification to all Erie County residents.

“County Executive Joel Giambra is looking forward to working with all of the people and businesses whose cooperation is essential to the success of this new law,” said Larry Rubin of the Erie County Department of Environment and Planning. “The Health Department and the Department of Environment and Planning are developing a public information campaign to help the public, lawn care businesses, retail establishments and commercial property owners understand this law and its impact on them."

The advocates also encouraged the Legislature to make the law permanent at the end of the year when the law sunsets.

“We are delighted that the County Executive has signed the Erie County Neighbor Notification Law passed by the Legislature,” said Brian Smith, Program Coordinator for the Citizens Campaign for the Environment. “The next step in protecting the public’s health is for the law to be made permanent after it sunsets at the end of the year,” continued Smith.

Erie County passed the Pesticide Neighbor Notification law in December 2003 after acknowledging the failure of a Voluntary Pesticide Registry program. During the 2003 summer, nearly 12,000 Erie County residents signed up to be notified when pesticides were sprayed near their homes.

“The overwhelming public support of the registry program last year made it clear that citizens want the right to know when pesticides are sprayed near their homes,” said Mary Carney, NYPIRG’s Western New York Regional Coordinator. “Erie County did the right thing by passing this law, and this year we hope to see even greater public awareness of the dangers associated with pesticides.”
"Everyone deserves this 'right-to-know' information that the Pesticide Neighbor Notification Law provides, a law that may prevent far-reaching health consequences," said Ellen Neumaier, Natural Resources Chair of the League of Women Voters of Buffalo/Niagara. “Children and pregnant women are most at risk from pesticides, and this law gives them time to make plans to protect themselves and their families from exposure," continued Neumaier.

The new law will require pesticide companies to provide 48-hour written prior notice for most lawn pesticide applications to abutting properties within 150 feet of an application. The notice will contain a variety of information to help protect the recipient from exposure to potentially hazardous chemicals. For more information about the Pesticide Neighbor Notification law, residents can contact the Erie County Department of Environment and Planning at (716) 858-8390.

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