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This comes from Brian Swingle, and is dated March 3:
The U.S. Senate unanimously approved an amendment by U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) giving parents a two-day warning before harmful pesticides are used in their children's schools.
The amendment, which was accepted last night as part ofthe Education Savings Account bill, also directs the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to improve its outreach to help schools reduce their use of toxic pesticides.
Boxer said, "Parents have a right to know when their children will be exposed to toxic pesticides, and schools have a right to learn about less-harmful alternatives. This amendment will protect children by giving parents an opportunity to express their concerns in a timely manner and giving schools an opportunity to learn about reducing the use of toxic compounds."
Boxer's amendment requires schools to give parents 48-hour notice before the application of any pesticide that contains a known carcinogen, a developmental or reproductive toxin, or an acute nerve toxin. It also directs EPA to distribute its existing booklet which tells schools how to reduce the use of toxic pesticides.
The amendment is part of the Children's Environmental Protection Act, Boxer's broader bill to protect children fromenvironmental hazards.
Boxer said, "This bill is necessary because we know that children are more vulnerable than adults to the effects of pesticides and pollution. I am pleased that the Senate has passed part of my children's environmental protection bill to help give parents and schools information they need to protect children. I will remain vigilant and work to make sure that my amendment stays in the bill when it goes to conference with the House."
The Amendment reads:
Page: S1148 GPO's PDF
Mrs. BOXER proposed an amendment to the bill, S . 1134 , supra; as follows: At the end, add the following:
- In General: Each school that receives Federal funding shall--
- take steps to reduce the exposure of children to pesticides on school grounds, both indoors and outdoors; and
- provide parents and guardians of children that attend the school with advance notification of certain pesticide applications on school grounds in accordance with subsections (b) and (c).
- EPA List of Toxic Pesticides:
- In general: The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall distribute to each school that receives Federal funding the current manual of the Environmental Protection Agency that guides schools in the establishment of a least toxic pesticide policy.
- List: Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall provide each school that receives Federal funding with a list of pesticides that contain a substance that the Administrator has identified as a known or probable carcinogen, a developmental or reproductive toxin, or a category I or II acute nerve toxin.
- Parental Notification of Toxic Pesticide Applications in Schools:
- In general: On or after the date that is 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, any school that receives Federal funding shall not apply any pesticide described in paragraph (b)(2) on school grounds, either indoors or outdoors, unless an administrative official of the school provides notice of the planned application to parents and guardians of children that attend the school not later than 48 hours before the application of the pesticide.
- Notice: The notice described in paragraph (1)--
- shall include--
- a description of the intended area of application; and
- the name of each pesticide to be applied; and
- shall indicate whether the pesticide is a known or probable carcinogen, a developmental or reproductive toxin, or a category I or II acute nerve toxin.
- Incorporation of notice: The notice described in paragraph (1) may be incorporated in any notice that is being sent to parents and guardians at the time at which the pesticide notice is required to be sent.
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