Declaration of an Agricultural Emergency

Attached is a copy of the “DECLARATION OF CIRCUMSTANCES THAT COULD CAUSE AN AGRICULTURAL EMERGENCY” (Declaration), issued on May 17, 2001, by the Director of the Department of Pesticide Regulation. The Declaration is limited to agricultural establishments applying sulfur in the production of table grapes in Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, and Tulare Counties. The Declaration was made pursuant to Title 3, California Code of Regulations, section 6770, and to Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 170.112(d). Also attached for your information is a copy of the petition submitted by the California Grape and Tree Fruit League.

Sulfur applications in table gapes in the above-listed counties require a three-day restricted-entry interval (REI) starting May 15, 2001. The Declaration reduces the REI to 24 hours and prohibits hand labor when temperatures exceed 90oF. The Declaration expires on May 30, 2001. Growers who plan to use this exemption must notify their county agricultural commissioner (CAC) that the conditions of the Declaration have been met on their establishment and that they intend to use this exemption. This notice must be submitted before implementing the reduced REI. In order to assess the impact of the exemption on worker safety, CACs should keep the copies they receive of Notices of Determination that the agricultural establishment is subject to the circumstances listed in the Declaration.

Sincerely,