EPA fines Utah company

Thursday, Sept. 16, 2004 | 10:59 a.m.

The Environmental Protection Agency has fined a Salt Lake City company for selling and distributing a restricted pesticide that requires a certified applicator to a Southern Nevada pest control operation.

Pesticide dealer Steve Regan Co. was fined $3,850 for distributing and selling Diazinon 4F/AG500 to Whipple Pest Control, a non-certified applicator in Mesquite.

Diazinon 4F/AG500 is a restricted-use pesticide used to control insects in agricultural crops and other plants, according to the EPA.

Nevada Department of Agriculture inspectors found the violation during an inspection of the Whipple Pest Control facility in March 2003.

Steve Westover, general manager of the Steve Regan Co., said today his operation did not attempt to circumvent EPA regulations, but that pesticide use laws in Nevada are different than those in Utah. Westover said Whipple was a licensed commercial pesticide applicator and the company believed that entitled him to purchase restricted-use pesticides.

He said it would have cost more to appeal the EPA action than to pay the fine.

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