N.C. Pesticide Board announces case settlements

Dec. 5—The N.C. Pesticide Board has approved settlement agreements in Beaufort, Durham, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Lenoir, New Hanover, Wake and Wayne counties.

The settlements involved instances of improper handling or application of pesticides and applying pesticides without the proper license or certification, said Patrick Jones, director of the Structural Pest Control and Pesticides Division of the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

In Caldwell County, James S. Anderson, a private pesticide applicator for Anderson Farms in Granite Falls, agreed to pay $500 for applying restricted-use pesticides after his certification had expired.

In Beaufort County, David A. Dixon of Chocowinity agreed to pay $600 for applying a restricted-use pesticide without a license/certification.

In Cabarrus County, Ralph Carr of R.C. Landscaping in Concord agreed to pay $800 for engaging in pesticide applicator business with an expired license.

In Durham County, Brendon C. Cordell, owner of Mosquito Tek in Durham, agreed to pay $2,200 because an illegally disposed of pesticide container leaked onto asphalt at the business, which violates regulations meant to protect human, animal, plant and environmental health.

In Lenoir County, Robert W. Creech, the owner of All Terrain Landscaping in Kinston, agreed to pay $1,500 because employees under his supervision applied pesticides after his commercial pesticide license had expired.

In New Hanover County, Louis P. Gonzales, the owner of Tidal Landscapes in Wilmington, agreed to pay $1,200 for applying pesticides after his commercial pesticide license had expired.

in New Hanover County, Wilson B. Stratas, owner of Stratas Scapes in Wilmington, agreed to pay $1,200 because employees applied pesticides for the business although no one with the business had a commercial pesticide license. Stratas had previously been issued a notice of non-compliance for the same violation.

In Wake County, Kevin Frazier of Raleigh agreed to pay $800 for applying pesticides commercially with an expired license. He has since renewed his license.

In Wayne County, Timothy R. Fulcher, the owner of Fulcher's Lawn and Garden Service in LaGrange, agreed to pay $1,200 because employees under his supervision illegally disposed of a pesticide container and applied a pesticide to a residential site outside Goldsboro although the pesticide was not labeled for residential use.