US Oregon seeks to double pesticide fines

Oregon farm regulators want to double pesticide violation fines, but environmental groups are likely to call for even higher increases during the 2015 legislative session.

 

The Oregon Department of Agriculture plans to ask state lawmakers to double the maximum fines for pesticide violations during the 2015 legislative session.
 

The most the agency can fine a pesticide applicator is $1,000 for a first time offense and $2,000 for a repeat offense.
 

The ODA wants to raise those penalty levels to $2,000 for a first time offense and $4,000 for a repeat violation, said Katy Coba, the agency’s director, during the Dec. 4 meeting of the Oregon Board of Agriculture.
 

If the increases are approved, the agency will revise its “matrix” system of determining how much to fine applicators for various violations, she said.
 

The agency hasn’t raised the cap on pesticide fines since the 1970s and believes the increase is necessary to appropriately enforce pesticide rules, according to ODA.
 

Doug Krahmer, a blueberry farmer and board member, said he reluctantly supports the penalty increase even though he’s unsure the fines need to double.
 

The doubling of the fines is a fair compromise because some groups will be pressing for much larger hikes in pesticide penalties during the legislative session, said Tracey Liskey, a farmer and board member.
 

“We’re expecting a lot of legislation related to pesticides,” said Coba.
 

During the Dec. 4 meeting, the board adopted a resolution related to non-farm uses on agricultural land in anticipation of possible legislative land use proposals.
 

The resolution seeks to discourage non-farm uses — such as wetland banks, aggregate mines and rails-to-trails projects — on high value farmland.
 

Such uses are currently allowed outright, but the resolution says it should be determined whether they should be subject to land use review.
 

The resolution will carry weight with legislators if the ODA is asked to testify about possible legislation next year, said Jim Johnson, land use specialist for the agency.
 

Genetically modified organisms are a possible subject of legislative proposals next year, though it’s unclear what form they might take, Coba said.
 

Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber has a GMO “placeholder” bill ready for the 2015 session, but its contents may depend on recommendations from a task force he appointed earlier this year. The task force is in the final stage of drafting a report.
 

The governor’s office is still reviewing legislative concepts, which are set to become public on Dec. 12, Coba said.