Director’s Decision on an Appeal of a County Agricultural Commissioner Decision (Docket Number 161)

Enclosed is Administrative Docket Number 161, which contains the Director´s Decision on an Appeal of an Agricultural Civil Penalty levied against T-Craft, Inc./Hugh Taylor by the Merced County Agricultural Commissioner for violations of Title 3, California Code of Regulations section 6614(b)(3).

The Director upheld the county agricultural commissioner´s findings. The Appellant claimed an alternative source of contamination other than his aerial application, as well as faulty lab results. The Hearing Officer discussed the testimony presented at the hearing, the credibility of the state laboratory results, and the lack of evidence to support an alternative source of contamination.

Please make this information available to your staff so they can use it as a training tool in preparing cases.

If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Louis Watson, Senior Special Investigator, at 916-445-3894, or the Enforcement Branch Liaison assigned to your county.

Sincerely,