Each year, an estimated one billion pounds of pesticides are applied to U.S. farms, forests, lawns and golf courses. More than 17,000 pesticide products are currently on the market — with many of them approved through “conditional registration,” a regulatory loophole that allows products on the market quickly without thorough review.

Pesticide applicators, farmers and farmworkers, and communities near farms are often most at risk, but studies by the Centers for Disease Control show that all of us carry pesticides in our bodies. Golf courses use pesticides heavily, as do some schools and parks. Consumers also face pesticide exposure through food and water residues. For instance, the herbicide atrazine is found in 94% of U.S. drinking water tested by the USDA.

This widespread, long term use of pesticides has had tremendous ecological impacts over the years, from pest and weed resistance to environmental contamination and honey bee declines.

In terms of human health, pesticides are now linked to a range of health impacts, including increased risk of cancer, Parkinson’s disease and neurodevelopmental effects like autism and ADHD. Dolphins, whales and animals are getting cancer from pesticides as well.

Right now the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has jurisdiction on all matters pertaining to pesticides. This is pursuant to Environmental Conservation Law § 33-0303

We need to change this law so that villages, towns and municipalities in our state may have the power to ban the use of these harmful pesticides in our communities. If we do not, the use of these pesticides will continue.

Of note is Chapter 17 of the county code (in Rockland County), which states "the State Legislature...amended the New York Environmental Conservation Law to allow counties to adopt certain advance notification requirements for commercial and residential lawn pesticide applications. This Legislature declares that the people of Rockland County deserve the greatest protection allowable by law. Therefore, this Legislature intends to hereby adopt the special requirements for commercial and residential lawn applications as set forth in § 33-1004 of the New York Environmental Conservation Law as well as provide a mechanism for local enforcement of these requirements."

The Neighbor Notification Law is only effective in a County or city that has adopted a local law requiring notification. The following Counties and City have adopted local laws:

Albany County;
Erie County;
Monroe County;
Nassau County;
Rockland County;
Suffolk County;
Tompkins County;
Ulster County;
Westchester County; and
New York City (One local law covers all five counties that comprise New York City.)