Tell Ulster County, N.Y. residents when commercial lawn pesticides are used now. Lobby for a stronger law later.
That was the prevailing message at a recent public hearing on the proposed Ulster County Neighbor Notification Law.
The measure would require commercial pesticide applicators to give 48 hours written notice to anyone living within 150 feet and on abutting property of where certain pesticides will be sprayed. Shops selling pesticides must mark where pesticides are displayed and post information about the law as well.
Passed in 2001, the state law is voluntary. Eight counties, including Rockland and Westchester have voted to implement it.
Registry voluntary
Ulster has a voluntary notification registry. People sign up to receive notification by phone, fax, mail or e-mail within 24 hours of pesticide use on nearby properties.
Woodstock resident An-nie Mullen Patrick prefers the voluntary program.
"Every time the guy across the street [hires a company to] spray pesticides, we're notified," she said.
Under the mandatory law, that would no longer happen because Patrick lives across the street from her neighbor, not on an abutting property.
Joe Carmody owns a lawn care company based in Woodstock. He said the cost of providing written notification for each of his 50 annual accounts would be a financial burden on his small business.
"Rather than do that," he said, "we'd have to get out of that part of the business."
The Legislature is set to vote on the law Dec. 6.