ANNAPOLIS (Nov. 24, 2009) – The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) Pesticide Regulation Section reported the following enforcement activity between Oct. 1, 2008 and Nov. 23, 2009 against organizations located in the southern Maryland region.
-- F&F Landcaping and Hydroseeding, Brandywine – On Sept. 28, MDA received payment of a $500 civil penalty for operating an unlicensed pest control company.
-- Terminix International Co. LP, Clinton – On April 6, MDA received payment of a $100 civil penalty against the company for record keeping violations.
-- The Termite Company, LLC (AMERISPEC/AMERIPEST), Waldorf – On April 1, MDA received a $250 civil penalty against the company for failure to register an employee and failure to conduct a thorough wood destroying insect inspection.
-- Angel Systems, Inc., Great Mills – On March 19, MDA received payment of a $100 civil penalty against the company for failure to provide a customer with complete pesticide information as required and failure to properly identify a service vehicle.
-- JH Lawn Service LLC, Upper Marlboro – On March 9, MDA received payment of a $200 civil penalty against the company for failure to provide a customer with complete pesticide information as required and record keeping violations.
-- China Harbor Seafood Restaurant, Solomons – On March 6, MDA received payment of a $400 civil penalty against the company and Yvonne Lee for label violations and failure to observe all precautions so pesticides do not move from the intended site of application.
-- Arrow American Pest & Termite Control, La Plata – On Feb. 24, MDA received payment of a $200 civil penalty against the company and Bonnie Morris for failure to provide a customer with complete pesticide information as required.
-- Green Expectations of Southern Maryland, Waldorf – On Feb. 20, MDA received payment of a $100 civil penalty against the company and Chris Schmidt for record keeping violations and pesticide container identification violations.
-- Action Exterminator Company, Inc., Prince Frederick – On Dec. 12, 2008, MDA received payment of a $250 civil penalty against the company for pesticide misuse, pesticide storage violations, and deficient termite pre-treat application.
In 2009, MDA’s Pesticide Regulation Inspectors conducted 1,200 inspections resulting in 372 businesses and/or individuals being cited for violations of the Pesticide Applicator’s Law and Regulations. Additionally, MDA’s Pesticide Section cited 32 pest control businesses for operating without a license, investigated 31 consumer complaints and assessed 33 civil penalties totaling $10,360.
For more information, or to file a complaint, call MDA’s Pesticide Regulation office at 410-841-5710. Or visit MDA’s new online Regulatory Information Center, which provides information about enforcement actions the department takes in response to violations of state laws or regulations. This information includes administrative, civil and criminal enforcement actions and is available at: www.mda.state.md.us/news_room/reg_center.php.
Source: Maryland Department of Agriculture