Riverhead, NY — Jeff Schneiderman, a county legislator for Suffolk County, NY (which encompasses Long Island) has proposed a new law to ban the use of "cosmetic" pesticides by home owners and lawn care companies.

Resolution 2102 was introduced in the county legislature on November 16. It had a public hearing on December 7, at which it was promptly tabled. According to a spokesperson at Schneiderman's office, the resolution is scheduled for another public hearing in late January or early February.

Elizabeth Seme, executive director of the New York State Turfgrass Association (NYSTA) says the organization is tracking developments on this and other bills around the state.

"We get about 120 bills a year and we don't take any of them lightly," Seme said. "When you get down to the county level, there's a lot more chance these issues can erupt. At the state level there's more balance. But on Long Island, they have a mind of their own down there."

The bill faces a challenge since pesticide regulation is the province of the New York Department of Environmental Conservation and the state legislature. State Assemblyman Fred Thiele, who has introduced proposed pesticide bans at the state level only to see them killed in committee, predicted Schneiderman might be successful at forcing the state government to fall into line with the proposed local regulations. This happened with a law to regulate hand cell phone use by drivers which was introduced by Schneiderman at the county level, only to be challenged by the state. Eventually, the regulations on cell phone use while driving were passed into state law.

For more information:

"Proposed Pesticide Ban: The Buck Starts Here," The Independent, November 17, 2004.