Groups Protest Cuomo’s Pesticide Tracking Plans
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Environmental, health and consumer advocacy groups are pushing back against plans by the Cuomo administration to restructure how pesticides are tracked.
In a letter to legislative leaders, 38 groups protested a proposal in Gov. Andrew Cuomo's budget that rolls back a requirement that commercial applicators report where pesticides are used. It would replace that with a new reporting requirement that collects pesticide data at the point of sale.
Environmental Advocates and other groups say the changes impede the public's right-to-know about toxic chemicals being used where they live, work and play.
Environmental Commissioner Joe Martens said at a budget hearing last month that the intent is to make the data more usable and accessible.