Talks Planned on Use of Methyl Bromide

State pesticide regulators decided Thursday to hold a public review next week for residents concerned about the use of the pesticide methyl bromide on strawberry fields in Ventura and Camarillo.

There will be separate meetings on Tuesday for each city’s residents, but both will be held in the cafeteria of Buena High School, 5670 Telegraph Road, Ventura.

The meeting for those who reside near the Montalvo Ranch strawberry field in Ventura will begin at 6 p.m. And residents who live near the Charles Nakama Ranch strawberry field in Camarillo will meet at 8 p.m.

Ventura County Agricultural Commissioner Earl McPhail denied the requests of both groups to revoke the county-issued permit that allows methyl-bromide fumigation. They subsequently filed an appeal with the state Department of Pesticide Regulation.

“The public review is an opportunity for people to present us with evidence and supporting documents regarding these appeals,” said Paul Gosselin, assistant director of the pesticide department.

The department’s director will announce his decision about how to proceed a few days after the public review.

The east Ventura residents say they experienced headaches, nausea and dizziness last year after fumigation. To avoid these health problems, residents of Camarillo’s Lamplighter Mobile Home Estates do not want the pesticide used in the field next to their park.

“This is a very serious thing,” said Vicky Corey, president of the Lamplighter Home Owners Assn. “There are four types of people more susceptible to adverse health effects from this and those are the aged, very young, people with chemical allergies and those with respiratory problems.”

After surveying the park’s 400 residents, Corey said, she found that 93 people are 65 or older, 56 are in preschool, 94 have allergies, four use oxygen tanks and 54 have respiratory problems.