### Department of Pesticide Regulation Public Participation, E ducation, and Outreach

1 Department of Pesticide Regulation’s Policy

Strategic Plan: The Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) is committed to working with other government agencies, communities, advoc acy groups, regulated industries, and other interested parties to ensure environmental just ice (EJ). To accomplish this, DPR has focused on incorporating EJ in its progr ams and activities. For exam ple, in 2008, DPR revised its departmental Strategic Plan and among its five goals is, “Ensure environmental justice—All Californians, regardless of race, age, culture, in come, or geographic loca tion, are protected from adverse environmental and health effects of pestic ides.” Among other initiatives to integrate EJ principles into its core progr ams, DPR has taken steps to en sure public par ticipation; to strengthen field enforcement; to make its decisionmaking more transparent and understandable;
and to reduce risk and conduct outreach to worker s and others that may be impacted by pesticide

use.

Communication Tools and Publications

Community Guide to Recognizing and Reporting Pesticide Problems (English/Spanish) <http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/dept/comguide/index/htm>

Decisions Pending and Opportuniti es for Public Participation <http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/dept/quicklinks/com_opts.htm>

DPR EJ Web site link (provides access to bilingual PDF documents) <http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/envjust/index.htm>

Consumer Fact Sheets (English/Spanish) <http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/dept/factshts/factmenu.htm>

Pesticide Safety Information Series (PSIS) (English, Spanish, Punjabi): Leaflets explaining regulations and other worker safety information. <http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/whs/psisenglish.htm>

Pesticide Safety Comic Books (Spanish) produced by Migrant C linicians Network and available
on DPR’s Web site. <http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/license/spanish/comic_proteccion_de_su_salud.pdf>

Emergency cards for fieldworkers in case of pesticide exposure: Wallet-sized cards developed for agricultural fieldworkers with info rmation on who to contact if they become ill or injured from pesticide exposure. <http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/pressrls/spanish/emergency_cards_sp.pdf>

### Department of Pesticide Regulation Public Participation, E ducation, and Outreach

2 Toll Free Pest Line : Outreach wallet cards distributed to workers containing information for contacting the county agricultural commissione r (CAC), 1-877-378-5463 (1-87-PestLine and Poison Control, 1-800-222-1222). These toll free lin es are in wide distribution and included on fact sheets, community gui des, and DPR’s Web site.

“

Regulating Pesticides: The California Story ” : Information on pesticide laws and regulations, an explanation of regulatory and registration processes, a descripti on of local and state enforcement activities, and details on DPR initia tives to protect people and the environment. <http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/pressrls/dprguide.htm>

Environmental Justice Listserve: DPR set up an e-mail listserve focusing on EJ and routinely sends out announcements about Web postings of interest, public meetings, regulatory developments and activities of interest to EJ stakeholders. <http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/dept/listserv/listdesc.htm>

Outreach Activities

Worker Health and Safety Branch : In 2008, DPR expanded worker outreach by assigning a full-time, bilingual staff member to liaison with worker advocates, health professionals, and community workers. This outreach specialist work s with other DPR staff to provide information on pesticide safety and the rights of employees, and files confiden tial complaints about pesticide exposure. Each year, DPR staff take part in co mmunity meetings, health conferences, and other events to educate and promote pesticide safety fo r workers and their families. Staff also promote pesticide safety in guest appearances on Spanis h-language media outlets in the Central Valley. From 2008-2010, staff conducted outreach to worker s and families at 64 events; in 2011, staff
conducted outreach at 58 events.

Community Guide to Recognizing and Reporting, Pesticide Problems: Published in both English and Spanish, this 34-page guide offers plain language explana tions that focus on practical solutions for real-world situations. The guide has beco me a popular reference for public health agencies, emergency responders, comm unity advocates, industry, local government officials, and individuals with pesticide questions or complaints . Topics include step-by-step
instructions on what to do in a pesticide emergency, a discussion of pesticide drift and odor, and a checklist to use when reporti ng a pesticide incident. The firs t printing of 5,000 English copies ran out quickly. DPR printed several thousand mo re copies early in 2009, including a Spanishlanguage version targeted for dist ribution at ethnic venues. DPR posted the guide online and sent it to more than 900 community health centers, co unty health departments, and to every public library in the state. It has also been sent to 97 school districts in five counties with high fumigant use and with significant numbers of Latino school children. Ca lifornia Poison Control Centers

### Department of Pesticide Regulation Public Participation, E ducation, and Outreach

3 use it for staff training. DPR outreach specialis ts distribute the guide and other safety information at health and community fairs in Latino communities (see below).

Other activities:

• Urban and rural outreach to promotores and workers that includes training, handouts, public service announcements, and education encouraging reporting illnesses.

• Pesticide Illness Surveillance Program (PISP). DPR and the CACs investigate all reported pesticide-related illnesses a nd incidents. The California Poison Control System (CPCS) remains a major source of case identification.

• DPR distributes magnets with CPCS phone numbe rs and brochures in English and Spanish
for the National Pesticide Information Center.

• California Pesticide Illness Query program (CalPI Q) allows Web users to develop reports to their own specifications on pesticide illn esses reported, beginning in 1992.

• DPR revises and translates employ ee safety handouts (plain language, Spanish/English/Punjabi).

• Comic Books: Aunque Cerca Sano (Comic book for families living near the field); LO QUE
BIEN EMPIEZA...BIEN ACABA (Pesticide Prevention During Pregnancy); and Protección de
su salud (farmworker training manual)

.

• In 2004, DPR trained more than 70 trainers in tw o classes in Mexicali and Ensenada in order to target daily workers that come across th e border. DPR also educated farmworkers, pesticide handlers, and their familie s about the risks of pesticides.

• Watsonville Farmworker Focus Group : In 2001, DPR conducted a focus group in
Watsonville to address communication and outre ach between farmers and the farmworker community.

• Safety Videos: In 2003, DPR helped the Fresno CAC’s office produce a series of worker safety videos in English, Spanish, and Hmong.

• Worker Safety Brochures: A 2004 survey by DPR and CACs found that more than 10,000 California farmworkers speak Punjab i, a language of India. As a result, worker safety leaflets were translated into Punjabi and distributed to the community and are available online.

• Mixtec Training Video: A training video for Mixtecs wa s produced by the Fresno CAC with a $50,000 federal grant secure d by DPR. Tens of thousands of Mixtecs work in Central Valley fields. The Mixtec videos were aired on a Fresno TV station in 2004 with a live, question-and-answer session.

Public Participation

DPR has worked to meet EJ concerns identified by stakeholders. For example, in a series of “listening sessions” sponsored by DPR in 2004, co mmunity members brought several EJ issues to DPR’s attention. Community members asked DPR to improve public participation, outreach,

### Department of Pesticide Regulation Public Participation, E ducation, and Outreach

4 field enforcement, and recognition and reduction of pesticide-related i llnesses. They also advocated reinstatement of the gr ants project and doing more to encourage the adoption of leasttoxic pest management strategi es, particularly in public housi ng and government buildings. (The Alliance program was restored in 2007). In 2005 , DPR formed a work group of stakeholders from EJ organizations, regulated industries, and other interested partie s to develop advisory recommendations to guide the department’s de velopment of an EJ implementation plan. The work group had 10 facilitated meetings between July 2006 and April 2007 . With the assistance of the consulting firm that managed and facili tated the meetings, the work group presented a
series of recommendations to DPR. Howe ver, resource constraints postponed further development of DPR’s formal EJ plan.

Nonetheless, DPR has moved to address concerns raised in the listeni ng sessions and by the EJ work group. For example, DPR had been criticize d for failing to provide information on how to recognize and report pesticide problems to commun ities affected by pesticide use. To help address this issue, in late 2006, DPR launched an automated, toll-free line that provides CAC phone numbers and offers to tran sfer the caller to th e appropriate CAC office. The automated service, in English and Spanish, is designed to encourage timely filing of pesticide complaints, a key to successful investigation.

Regulatory Hearings/Rulemaking: DPR routinely schedules regul atory hearings outside the Sacramento area at times and places convenient to local residents, with simultaneous translation into Spanish. Key rulemaking documents are ro utinely translated into Spanish. To further increase transparency in d ecisionmaking, in 2007, DPR require d all program managers and supervisors to attend five days of training on how to ensure more public involvement in the decisions they make on policies and activities. DPR staff also participated in the Border 2012 project, a state and federal initiative to help Me xican agencies set up and manage pesticide safety programs. For example, DPR staff help train Me xican employers on the safe use of pesticides. DPR worked with farm labor representatives, in dustry, and others to dr aft rules that focus on keeping workers better informed when pe sticides are used in their vicinity.

Funding Projects to Promote EJ

In addition to incorporating EJ into its everyd ay planning and operations, DPR has allocated the following funds for EJ programs:

• 2012-2013 Pest Management Alliance grant for $400,000. Projects focus on adoption and implementation of agricultural or urban integrat ed pest management practices that reduce
risks to human health and th e environment. DPR has awarded approximately $6 million in Alliance Grants to more than 60 projects since 1998.

### Department of Pesticide Regulation Public Participation, E ducation, and Outreach

5 • 2005-2006 California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA) contract $250,000 to fund EJ grants.

• 2005-2008 Parlier Pilot Project, $1.9 million. Focu sed on monitoring air concentrations of 21-27 pesticides to evaluate ambient air exposur e to pesticides and identify opportunities to reduce environmental health risks, particularly with children. Included local advisory group input.

• Spray Safe (Kern County, $50,000), a grower-sp onsored effort aimed at reducing drift incidents by strengthening farmer-to-farmer communication when pesticides are scheduled for application.

• DPR funded a pilot effort in Kern Count y designed to improve communication and protection to workers and othe rs from pesticide drift. Se t up in 2007 in southeast Kern County, the system sends an e-mail to ev ery neighboring grower regarding proposed applications of restricted materials. The e-ma il includes the name of the grower, the location,
the name of the restricted mate rial to be applied, and the da te of the proposed application. The e-mail also contains a map of the proposed application site along with grower contact information in case a neighboring grower needs to confer with the grower of the proposed application.

Participation in Major Projects

Nonfumigant Production Strawb erry Production Work Group: In April of 2012, DPR announced the formation of a diverse work group including scientists, in dustry representatives and environmental advocates, and other experts to develop a five-year act ion plan to accelerate the development of management tools and practices to control soil-borne pests in strawberry field without fumigants. DPR r ecognizes that fumigants pose a hi gher risk to the public than other pesticides and that, partic ularly in light of the increasi ng urban-rural in terface, tougher restrictions are becoming increasingly necessary. This project is meant to instigate new methods of production that mitigate the risks in other ways.

Border 2012 Project: Both California and Baja California, Mexico are major agricultural states. There are an estimated 30,000 farm workers in Imperial County a nd 20,000 in Baja California. In both sides, millions of pounds of pesticides ar e used every year to support agricultural productions, placing farmworkers at high risk of exposure. Pesticid e illness surveillance provides essential information for appropriate public he alth, investigative, a nd regulatory actions following pesticide exposure, to promote protective measures for the community at risk, and to help identify problem pesticides, among other us es. In both California and Baja California, pesticides illnesses among farmworkers are severely underreported. For pesticide illness surveillance to be effective, it is essential that farmworkers recognize pesticide exposures and illness, access health care, and report the exposur es to their employers and health care providers. The California Department of Public Health, through DPR, the Office of Binational Border

### Department of Pesticide Regulation Public Participation, E ducation, and Outreach

6 Health, and the Instituto de Sa lud del Estado de Baja California, with funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, implemented the Pesticide Illness Surveillance and Exposure Prevention Project with the goal of enhancing pesticide illness reporting in the Imperial County/Mexicali border region. Key federa l, state, and local agencies and academic institutions also participated in this project as members of the border pesticide working group.
The Pesticide Outreach and Educa tion Project, where Ms. Martha Sanchez, Dr. Nino Yanga, and Mr. George Farnsworth were i nvolved, was funded by the Pan Ameri can Health Organizations to complement and enhance the ongoing California-Ba ja California Integrated Pesticide Illness Surveillance and Exposur e Prevention Project.

The overall goals of the Pesticide Outreach and Education Project were: (1) to provide farmworkers in Imperial County and Mexicali with information on preventing and recognizing pesticide related exposures and illness, how to report such events, and access to health care options; and (2) to facilitate health care referral and case reporting to a ppropriate agencies. Both goals were met with the development of a fl yer and poster, pocket card, and public service announcement notifying farmworkers on improving working conditions by reporting pesticide illness and who to contact just in case of pesticide exposure.

Kettleman City Project: In 2010, Cal/EPA and the State Depa rtment of Public Health (DPH) conducted environmental monitoring as part of an investigation of an a pparent increase in the
number of infants born with bi rth defects after 2006 in Kettleman City, a San Joaquin Valley community. Scientists from each of Cal/EPA’s board and departments (including DPR) participated in the project, asse ssing potential contaminants and testing for chemicals that could
cause birth defects and other adve rse health effects. Experts from various scientific disciplines worked collaboratively to examine a wide range of medical, environmen tal, and other factors that might reasonably be associated with the re ported birth defects. DPR compiled information for 19 pesticides used within five miles of Kettleman City between late 2006 and 2009. DPR then estimated airborne pesticide levels in th e community during that pe riod. In the summer of 2010, DPR also tested air for 27 pesticides, includ ing four that could cau se birth defects. The results showed that it is very unlikely pesticides caused the birth defects. Tests of agricultural soil found no evidence of pesticide levels th at pose a health risk concern. Cal/EPA’s investigation found levels of envi ronmental pollutants in the air, water, and soil of Kettleman City comparable to those found in other Sa n Joaquin Valley communities. The agency’s comprehensive investigation did not find a spec ific cause or environmental exposure among the mothers that would explain the in crease in the number of childr en born with birth defects in Kettleman City.

Physician Training : In cooperation with Cal/EPA’s Offi ce of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), DPR worked with commun ity clinics and medical organizations to conduct physician training on recognition of pesticide-related illn esses. In 2008, DPR

### Department of Pesticide Regulation Public Participation, E ducation, and Outreach

7 collaborated with OEHHA to conduct training for all regional poison control centers in California on reporting of pesticide illness and in jury when they receive those reports from physicians or medical staff. In 2011, DPR funded a project to train Latino community members
who serve as liaisons between th eir community and health and so cial service organizations on how to recognize symptoms of pesticide expos ure, the importance of reporting suspected exposure, and where to refer exposed persons to obtain advice, and or medical care.

Breaking Barriers: DPR’s Worker Health and Safety Br anch, in conjunction with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9, provides one-day training sessions in various locations throughout California to assist non Sp anish-speaking inspectors who interview non English-speaking field workers an d applicators. Ms. Martha Sánc hez has facilitated the Breaking Barriers trainings since it star ted back in 2009. The course is targeted towards CAC inspectors currently conducting fieldworker safety inspections and agricultural pesticide monitoring inspections (such as pesticide use, fiel d fumigation, and commodity fumigation).

Public Participation in Risk Assessment: DPR has taken steps to ensure public participation in regulatory processes, in partic ular, potentially affected par ties that might otherwise be overlooked or excluded. In 2006, DPR opened the pr ocess of selecting pesticides for risk assessment to public comment and posted more than two dozen completed risk assessments online. DPR is also making risk management more transparent and open to public comment. (Risk management is how DPR decides whether an assessed risk presents a public health concern and, if so, what can be done to reduce the risk.) For example, in 2007, DPR held two public workshops in Tulare to obtain feedback on prop osed controls for MITC-generating pesticides. These workshops were held in English and Spanish.

Parlier Project: In 2002, Cal/EPA developed its Envir onmental Justice Action Plan which tasked the boards, departments, and offices to conduct pilot proj ects that “focus on environmental risk factors (incl uding emissions/discharge, exposure, and health risk) that impact children’s health.” Because rural, agricultural communities may have higher concentrations of pesticides in ambient air compared with th eir urban counterparts, Cal/EPA asked DPR to postpone its planned air monitori ng network and instead conduct focused air monitoring for one year in a Central Valley farming community. DPR’s goal was to find out what amounts of pesticides, if any, were in the air of a rural community. DPR also wanted to evaluate people’s exposure to these pesticides and identify opportun ities to reduce health risk, particularly to children. DPR sought extensive public comment on project priorities and in selecting a community for monitoring. A key element was inclusion of local advisory groups (LAGs) to provide recommendations and input on how each pr oject should be carried out. Although not a decisionmaking group, the 18-member Parlier LAG formed by DPR had a significant impact on how DPR conducted the project. Th e LAG helped select pesticides to monitor, sampling sites, and monitoring frequency. The LAG approved de laying the start of monitoring until January

### Department of Pesticide Regulation Public Participation, E ducation, and Outreach

8 2006 so DPR could spread the costs of the projec t over two fiscal years, allowing monitoring to
be done more often and at more sites. Cal/EPA also encouraged use of the Internet to widen opportunities for public participation. DPR posted LAG meeting agendas and minutes, preliminary project results, and the final project report on its Web site.

Lompoc Air Contaminant Project: In 1993, DPR began looking into health concerns of residents in the Santa Barbara County commun ity of Lompoc and the surrounding valley (population roughly 42,000). Residents were concerned that pesticide applications in the vegetable- and flower-growing region were cau sing health problems. Working with the CAC, DPR staff held several community meetings to discuss health symptoms, pesticide exposure, exposure to dust and pollen, effectiveness of regu latory controls in protecting citizens from pesticide exposure, quantities of pesticides used in the area, and available alternatives to pesticides. To allay community concerns, the CAC placed several restrictions on pesticide applications in the area, including buffer zones around schools and homes. In 1995, DPR staff completed a report on pest management practices in the Lompoc Valley with an emphasis on crops grown, their associated pests, and pest control practices; including use of pesticides and alternative pest control methods. In 1997, DPR formed the Lompoc Interagency Work Group (LIWG) to better coordi nate efforts to find out if Lompoc residents suffered a disproportionate rate of illness and if so, to discover the cau se. The LIWG included community representatives and scientific staff from federa l, state, and county agencies. The LIWG formed several committees to develop recommendations addressing health concerns, to conduct a pesticide air monitoring strategy, and to consider potential expos ures from other environmental factors found in the area, such as crystalline silica, radon, pollen, and mold. At DPR’s request, OEHHA evaluated illnesses in the Lompoc ar ea. OEHHA examined 1991 through 1994 hospital discharges, birth defect rates, and cancer incidence. OEHHA reported in 1998 that respiratory illnesses, in particular asthma and bronchitis, app eared to be elevated in Lompoc with respect to comparison areas. However, a later analysis that included data through 1997 found few significant differences in illness rates between the Lompoc area and similar communities.