Three area men pay settlements for pesticide violations
NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — The North Carolina Pesticide Board recently approved 35 settlement agreements for violations including cases in New Hanover, Bladen, and Columbus counties.
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Structural Pest Control and Pesticides Division reports that Matthew T. Smith, a licensed public pesticide operator, agreed to pay $800 for applying a pesticide in a manner inconsistent with its labeling by allowing golfers to enter the greens at Wilmington Municipal Golf Course before there was enough time for the products to dry.
One case in Bladen and Columbus counties involved pesticide drift damage to non-target vegetation at nearby properties. William Brisson, a private pesticide applicator near Dublin, settled with the state for $500 fine. Channing Foley, a private pesticide applicator near Fair Bluff, paid $1,000 in agreement with the state.
Each of those cases violated provisions of state law, including the provision that states no person shall apply pesticides under such conditions that drift from pesticide particles or vapors results in adverse effects.
