U.S. EPA fines Kamaaina Termite and Pest Control $17,000 for misuse of pesticide products (HI)
(08/09/11) HONOLULU – The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency today announced a $17,000 fine
against Kama’aina Termite & Pest Control, Inc. for
misusing Vikane, a fumigant pesticide, at three houses and one
luxury condominium, a violation of federal law.
The company uses the EPA registered
fumigant Vikane to treat structures for termite infestation and
allegedly failed to follow required label instructions and safety
precautions before and during fumigation at all four locations.
Vikane is a brand name for the chemical sulfuryl fluoride, a
colorless, odorless gas that can decompose under high heat
conditions into hydrofluoric acid, a highly reactive and corrosive
chemical that can damage the surrounding environment. In addition,
Vikane represents a highly hazardous poison to humans that is fatal
if inhaled and potentially fatal if swallowed.
Specifically, Kama’aina Termite
failed to turn off the gas stove/water heater pilot lights in one
home, and required warning signs were not posted at two other
homes. Prior to treating the 44-story Keola La’i Condominium
in Honolulu, the largest fumigation project ever attempted in the
State of Hawaii, the company failed to remove non-airtight-sealed
food from at least 28 residential units and failed to open internal
doors in at least 342 units. The violations were discovered through
inspections conducted by the Hawaii Department of
Agriculture’s Pesticides Branch in 2007, 2008 and 2010.
Today’s action settles the complaint filed by EPA on February
28, 2011.
“Today’s action emphasizes
how critical it is for companies to follow label directions as
fumigants such as Vikane are potentially dangerous when misused or
misapplied,” said Dean Higuchi, Hawaii Press Officer for the
EPA’s Southwest Regional Office. “Our goal is to ensure
families are protected when their homes are being treated with
these registered termite control products.”
The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and
Rodenticide Act regulates the sale, distribution, and use of
pesticides. Before selling or distributing any pesticide, companies
are required to register the pesticide with the EPA and ensure that
the registered pesticide is properly labeled. The label of all EPA
registered products must bear the EPA registration number, along
with directions for use and safety precautions that need to be
followed to avoid misapplication and misuse of the
pesticide.
For more information please visit:
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/regulating/labels/product-labels.htm
and http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/index.htm
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