12 noon Thursday, September 21, in Earlimart
Poisoning victims respond as biggest
pesticide misuse settlement in
state history is made public
On the day California’s largest settlement over misuse of pesticides is announced by state officials in Sacramento, victims of a mass poisoning incident will respond to the agreement in the Central Valley farm worker town where it occurred more than 11 months ago. With help from the United Farm Workers, a significant portion of the settlement will be placed into a trust account to fund continuing medical expenses for those who were poisoned.
The report is expected to conclude that the Kern County-based Wilber-Ellis pesticide application company did not follow proper application requirements when it applied the soil fumigant metam sodium to a field south of Earlimart on Nov. 13, 1999. A gas cloud from the field spread over portions of the town, resulting in the evacuation of several square blocks.
More than 180 people reported feeling ill and 29 were taken to the hospital. At least nine children and more than 20 adults in Earlimart still suffer from respiratory ailments and severe headaches.
The settlement with Wilber-Ellis will be announced Thursday in Sacramento by the state Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR).
"Earlimart residents want to encourage other farm worker communities to use their battle as a model," says UFW Community Organizing Director Cruz Phillips. "People in other towns should report all pesticide drift incidents and fight to make sure the laws are enforced and fines are levied.
DPR Director Paul Heliker will be available to speak with reporters from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2000 from his Sacramento office. Contact DPR’s Vida Federighi at 916-445-3974.
Who: Earlimart pesticide poisoning victims and UFW Community Organizing Director Cruz Phillips.
What: Responding to historic settlement of the largest pesticide misuse case in California history.
When: 12 noon, Sept. 21, 2000.
Where: 956 Lane St., Earlimart, home of victim Teresa De Anda, by the side field where pesticide drifted.
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