BOSTON – Goldline Controls Inc. of North Kingstown and North Safety Products Inc. of Cranston are among six New England manufacturers that have reached settlements with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency of charges they failed to properly submit annual pesticide reports, the agency’s regional office said.
The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act – the U.S. law governing the manufacture and use of pesticides, which under the FIFRA definition include herbicides, antimicrobials and other substances and devices used to control insects weeds or microorganisms – requires that each registered manufacturer submit annual production reports to the EPA by March 1 of each year.
“According to the EPA complaints, each of the six companies has failed on at least one previous occasion to properly submit this information,” EPA’s New England office said in a statement yesterday announcing the settlements. The data is used to trace ineffective, contaminated or recalled pesticide products, among other purposes, the agency said.
“The companies have addressed all violations, and have paid fines of up to $5,400,” the EPA said.
Goldline Controls paid $4,050 to settle charges it failed to properly submit reports for 2004, 2005 and 2006, according to EPA spokesman David Deegan, while North Safety paid $5,400 to settle charges it failed to properly submit reports for 2005 and 2006.
Additional information about pesticides and their regulation is available from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency atepa.gov/pesticides/. Information about the enforcement of pesticide laws in New England is available from the EPA’s District 1 (New England) office in Boston at epa.gov/region1.
