Take Action Now: Contact Your Lawmakers and Demand Prior Notification Before Pesticide Spraying
I’m frustrated with the current policies where I live and I know many of you feel the same in your own communities. This petition was inspired by my experience on May 31st, when I was sprayed without warning by a crop-duster while walking my dogs. But this issue goes far beyond Virginia. I live with a cancer survivor and have seen too many neighbors battling serious health issues. Our area has a higher-than-average cancer rate that’s rarely discussed.
Last year, my 6-year-old cat Jamie was nearly killed by pesticide exposure. He required emergency care, developed permanent breathing problems and hearing loss, and still struggles every spraying season.
We deserve better. Our simple request: Require advance electronic notification before any aerial or ground pesticide application (crop-dusting, mosquito trucks, etc.). This can be done easily through Nextdoor, local emergency alert systems, or county apps... the same systems we already use for weather and emergency alerts.
Many of these chemicals require people, pets, and livestock to stay away for 12–78 hours. Yet we’re given zero warning and often aren’t even told what’s being sprayed. Other states like Colorado already have stronger protections. Why can’t we have basic transparency and the chance to protect our families here? Please take action today: Sign and share this petition if you haven’t already.
Contact your elected officials and urge them to support this common-sense reform.
Suggested Message Template (copy, personalize, and send):
Subject: Support Prior Notification for All Pesticide Applications – Reintroduce SB-911 or Similar Legislation
Dear [Lawmaker’s Name],
I urge you to protect public health by requiring advance notification before aerial and ground pesticide spraying. Residents, children, pets, and pollinators deserve the basic right to know when spraying will occur so we can take simple safety precautions. This is a low-cost, easily implemented policy using systems we already have in place. Please reintroduce and champion legislation similar to last year’s SB-911 to make prior electronic notification mandatory in Virginia. If you serve another state, please support similar protections locally. Thank you for prioritizing the health and wellbeing of your constituents.
Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
[Your City/County, ZIP Code]
Find your elected officials by ZIP code: https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials This is a reasonable, humane request. A simple warning can prevent unnecessary exposure and suffering.
Whether you’re in Virginia or facing the same issue in your state, your voice is powerful. Please contact your lawmakers this week and share this update widely. Thank you for standing up for healthier communities.
—Clelia
P.S. Most places that truly cared about public health would let residents know ahead of time. A Restricted-Entry Interval (REI) is the mandatory wait time after a chemical application before unprotected persons can safely re-enter an area. These intervals range from 12 to 78+ hours depending on the chemical’s toxicity, the specific product label, and its volatility.
But we are not even aware of what's being sprayed in the first place. If someone has an emergency situation like mine, we are told to call poison control or seek medical treatment. At best, they can only guess what was sprayed and are often unable to provide proper care unless the symptoms are immediately life-threatening. They also fail to address the long-term impacts of chronic exposure or offer more advanced toxicology testing and treatment approaches specific to pesticide poisoning.
If you FOIA the OPS or VDACS, you will get a response from someone or maybe a compliance officer stating tenets of the Pesticide Control Act which basically says they don’t have to tell you when they are spraying or what unless you file a misuse complaint which triggers an investigation. Results (aka a modicum of transparency) not guaranteed. Seems fair, right?
For a real example of the dangers, see the article below on Garlon (Triclopyr). This is especially relevant after I found a discarded bottle of “Crossover Pro” a Restricted Use Pesticide casually lying on the side of the road last Saturday, improperly disposed of.
See the picture and details here: Garlon – The Dangers of Triclopyr
Toxicological Profile for Triclopyr: https://www.alt2tox.org/tox_profile-triclopyr.htm