Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 17, 1990 TAG: 9006170027
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: D4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WINCHESTER LENGTH: Medium
Gordon Whitham stood in a shed at his 150-acre orchard and watched as a half-dozen men wearing white protective suits and respirators carefully loaded pesticides into fiberboard drums.
Years ago, farmers didn't think twice about spraying from open tractors the many chemicals he has stored in his shed, said Whitham, who once sold pesticides for Pittsburgh Paint and Glass's Corona Chemical Division.
"Nobody ever got sick," said Whitham, an orchardist since 1947. "We had it blowing all over."
But times have changed and environmentalists, orchardists and state officials have come to understand better the hazards of some of the chemicals that were once routinely sprayed on farms, and even those still used.
From that realization has sprung increased regulation and, ultimately, the pilot program that began on Tuesday at Whitham's orchard.
"Clean Day" was initiated by the state Pesticide Control Board.
Through it, workers from Laidlaw Environmental Services, a hazardous-waste removal company that contracted with the state to do the cleanup, will visit farms and orchards in Frederick, Clarke and Northumberland counties and remove leftover and other unwanted pesticides at no cost to the owner.
The project will cost the state $106,000, according to Marvin A. Lawson, program manager of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Service's Office of Pesticide Management.
The Pesticide Board will study the costs and farmers' response to determine whether a statewide program is warranted, he said.
As much as 14,510 pounds and 826 gallons of chemicals are expected to be removed from the three localities.
Whitham's orchard was the first stop for the workers, who should take about a week to remove pesticides from 33 farms in Frederick County and 16 in Clarke County.
Frederick County Extension Agent Gary DeOms said Whitham has one of the largest, and most carefully stored, collections of pesticides in Frederick County.
After experimenting over the years with different chemicals, Whitham eventually put some aside, and they began to accumulate.
The pesticides, including banned chemicals such as DDT, mercury compounds and lead arsenate, have been kept in plastic-lined bulk bins.
But not all farmers have been as conscientious, or as knowledgeable, as Whitham, program manager Lawson said.
The fear is that chemicals that have been kept for many years will eventually contaminate the environment, he said.
Spills can contaminate the ground and ground water or sicken domesticated animals or livestock that might accidentally ingest the chemicals.
"It's a major hazard. Metal containers of liquid pesticides can rust out and deteriorate," Lawson said. "Bags break open and labels deteriorate."
by CNB