Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Pesticide Flagging topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee releases bill to require uniform silver flags for pesticide applications after testimony from landscapers and public-safety advocates
Summary
S-1118, which would require a uniform silver flag to mark certain pesticide applications for 72 hours, was released after testimony from landscapers and public-health advocates who debated flag color, existing DEP regulation and plastic waste concerns.
The Senate Environment and Energy Committee released Senate Bill 1118, which would require the use of a uniform silver flag to mark certain pesticide applications.
Ed Waters of State Street Associates testified on behalf of the New Jersey Green Industry Council in opposition to the bill as drafted but said the industry supports a uniform flag. Waters noted an existing New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection regulation (7:39-13) that prescribes a white flag with contrasting lettering for pesticide applications and warned that introducing a new color could confuse the public. "Putting a new color flag out will only confuse people," Waters said.
Testifiers who supported a single-color flag cited public-health and safety concerns. A former landscape professional and volunteer firefighter told the committee that existing utility flag color codes (used by New Jersey 1 Call) cause confusion when landscaping and excavation markings both use white and said a uniquely colored pesticide flag would make it easier for the public to identify treated lawns.
Sponsor Senator McKeon argued the change was common-sense public information to protect children and pets, and the committee released the bill on a roll-call vote after a motion and second (mover: Senator McKeon; second: Senator Greenstein).
Votes at a glance: On the motion to release S-1118 the vote recorded Senators Tyver (no), Space (no), McKeon (yes), Greenstein (yes), and Chairman Smith (yes); outcome: bill released.
