SAN
FRANCISCO—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has fined a California-based
national distributor of agricultural products, the Wilbur-Ellis Company, $99,600
for 21 alleged violations of federal pesticide law.
The case was the result of investigations conducted by regulators in Arizona, Idaho,
Navajo Nation, Ft. Mojave Indian Tribe, and EPA’s Pacific Southwest and Pacific
Northwest Regional Offices.
"Through the cooperation of several regulatory agencies, we were able to bring to the
attention of this large corporation some serious problems," said Katherine
Taylor, associate director of the Communities and Ecosystems Division in EPA's
Pacific Southwest region. "Failure to include personal
protective equipment requirements on a label for a highly toxic pesticide is a
serious violation of federal pesticide
laws."
Following a Fort Mojave Indian Tribe inspector’s discovery of a pesticide product with a
single page copy of a label which appeared to be missing several key safety
elements, the U.S. EPA requested that Arizona conduct an inspection of
Wilbur-Ellis Company. In 2007, Arizona Department of
Agriculture investigators found that the Wilbur-Ellis facility in Ehrenberg,
Arizona was distributing and selling a misbranded pesticide, in violation of
federal law. A separate inspection in 2008 by Arizona
Department of Agriculture investigators found that Wilbur-Ellis was distributing
a minimum risk pesticide with a label that failed to meet the regulatory
requirements.
Navajo Nation EPA, Idaho Department of Agriculture and U.S. EPA inspectors found the
following significant violations:
-
Navajo Nation EPA found Wilbur-Ellis applicators on Navajo Nation were
not wearing Personal Protective Equipment as required by pesticide
labels.
-
Numerous pesticides were found to be misbranded by Idaho Department of
Agriculture and U.S. EPA Region 10 inspectors. Among the
misbranded products was Vengeance Plus, a highly toxic pesticide which
Wilbur-Ellis Company distributed and sold with a label that failed to include
protective equipment requirements for applicators.
-
U.S. EPA Region 10 inspectors documented distribution of a Restricted Use
Pesticide by Wilbur-Ellis Company to a non-certified applicator at Yakima, WA
The Wilbur-Ellis Company has agreed to pay the fine to resolve this enforcement
action.
Before selling or distributing any pesticide in the United States, companies are
required to register the pesticide with the EPA and include labeling approved by
EPA that includes directions for use and other information necessary to protect
human health and the environment. Federal law requires that pesticide
applicators comply with these labeling directions during pesticide applications
to protect their workers and the public.
For more information on pesticide regulation and enforcement, please visit: www.epa.gov/pesticides
Note: If a link above doesn't work, please copy and paste the URL into a browser.
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