EnvironmentalCommittee
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SF Asthma Task Force Environmental Committee
MINUTES
Wednesday, February 4, 2009, 1:30-3:30 pm
Children's Environmental Health Promotion, Fox Plaza, 1390 Market St. #410
Attendees: Cynthia Knowles, Raymond Manion, Tracey Brieger, Krista Ward
1) Introductions
2) Announcements:
Karen met with Arturo (SF pesticide enforcement officer) & Miguel (ag commissioner). Highlights from the meeting: Arturo enforces CA Dept. of Pesticide Regulation requirements for approximately 215 pest control operators who do business in the city, including Pestec. The companies report their monthly pesticide use (lbs or oz of specific pesticides) and whether they apply pesticides in structures (code 10) or other applications (e.g. yards, golf courses, agriculture). While no residential addresses are reported, we may be able to ask Arturo for the addresses of the pest control operator companies and write them to solicit their help in identifying buildings who may want to pilot IPM practices). Also note: Pestec using freezing, Hepa vacuum, and Heat control for bed bugs.
Follow-up: Draft questions for Arturo & Miguel for March 4th meeting - ALL
· Please explain your complaint protocol for pesticides. How many complaints do you typically receive in a year?
· What tracking do you do for home pesticide use? Private resident use? Professional use?
· What definition of IPM do you use?
· Does the city in any manner audit the accuracy of the pest control operator reports?
· Given the state’s preemption on pesticides which prohibits local governments from passing ordinances more restrictive than the state, what are reasonable actions SFATF can take to decrease pesticide use and exposure for local residents?
· What pest control operators do you know who are interested in IPM? What opportunities do you see to encourage the expansion of the growth of the IPM pest management industry?
New Dept of Env Strategic Plan. Residential toxic use reduction: Targets retail outlets & consumers. Commercial: Checklist for cleaning services. Question – how to inform people at point of purchase? Trading out products, seal. Need information on criteria distributers use for “green” products. Whole foods, Dollar Stores, etc. Recent visit to SM Dollar Store highlighted need to contact corporate headquarters for franchises.
Follow-up: Research contact information for dollar store headquarters - KW
3) Strategies for collaboration including moving forward store inventories (questions for managers, time-line, target stores, etc).
Follow- up – Draft Household Cleaning Product Questions - ALL
· Are any of your products eco or health friendly?
· If so, what are the criteria you use to label them eco or health friendly?
· Why did you choose to sell these products?
· What incentives would you need to sell eco/health friendly products? (Price per bottle, case, bulk option, available through particular distributer, etc.)
· What are the opportunities and barriers to consumer education in your stores? (i.e. displaying fact sheets about making your own cleaning products and directing people towards baking soda & vinegar)
4) Review letter drafts for Green Seal (table to next meeting). Committee agreed to hold letter to Clorox until more clarity around GS-37.
5) Updates
· Pesticide/cleaning surveys – In progress. Community partners are intimidated by length (30 minutes to complete per client). May need shortened version that people can self-complete
· Meeting with Breast Cancer Fund – Current Green Chemistry advocacy work is being done on the national level
6) Closing
