Parents For A Safer Environment

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Advisory Board
Background to PfSE
Background: Parents for a Safer Environment (PfSE), a grass-roots organization, was formed after parents witnessed children being exposed to serious environmental hazards in Childcare Facilities in the Fall of 2002. A steering committee of parent volunteers from Moraga, Orinda, and Martinez and an Advisory Board of health and technical experts work to bring awareness of environmental hazards and solutions to the community. We invite others to join us.
Mission:
Our Mission in 2006-2007 is to encourage the use of safer alternatives to pesticides, which fosters the healthy development of children and helps protect wildlife and the environment.
Our Work:
Research, Community Education & Advocacy
Current Projects:

Work with Contra Costa County Mosquito & Vector Control District to prioritize prevention of mosquitoes, education of the public, and larviciding. Read our Action Alert for more information. Also, read about our planned March 12th meeting with the Mosquito District.
Work with the Contra Costa County Department of General Services, its Division of Building Maintenance, and existing contractors in 2006 (Orkin and Terminix) to assure no more pesticide applications indoors or around buildings for ants, roaches, fleas, and rats. The County has agreed to cease this practice as of July 1, 2006. Exclusion, Bait stations and crack/crevice treatments with boric acid are encouraged for insects and exclusion/traps encouraged for rodents. In the case of necessary indoor applications outside of bait stations, the County General Services Dept has agreed to post information of pesticide that is planned for application, the target pest, and location to be treated. Please contact Director if you observe any pesticide application inside or around buildings at any of the 130 county buildings. Provide date & location.
Work with County Dept of General Services to cease all bad actor pesticide usage and transition away from all pesticide and synthetic fertilizier treatment on landscaping and turf. We have facilitated some site assessments with a an IPM landscaping expert, and will provide safer recommendations. The report will soon be available on the web for other communities to share.
Research to find safer alternatives to Contra Costa County Dept of Public Works and Dept of Agriculture. Dept of Public Works uses pesticides (includes herbicides) for weed control only. They sprayed over 20,000 lbs of pesticides alongside County road in 2004, about 20% being bad actors. Dept of Agriculture targets pesticides for invasive weeds in private large open space as well as public areas and uses many bad actors. In addition, their other target pest is the ground squirrel (yes, please don't feed wild squirrels!). How do we compare with others?
TAKE ACTION:
Please contact your Board of Supervisor member and ask that they prioritize the full implementation of the County's integrated pest management policy. Ask them if they will commit to making sure the County Depts do not use any more bad actor pesticides and risk the health of the community. Ask them what they will do to stop Public Works' 20,000 lbs of pesticides applied alongside roads and into flood control channels leading into the Delta and why we can't prioritize prevention like Marin and S.F. Counties. Ask them why our Dept of Ag endangers non-target species and applies anti-coagulants for ground squirrel control above ground when other public agencies use other methods? i.e. setting up predator perches. Make it short or long as you want it... every e-mail is noted as community concern. Forward us a copy for our files and to use for advocacy work with each Dept and when we meet with the Board of Supervisors. We suggest you copy and paste the addresses of all of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisor members into the blank e-mail link provided below.
E-mail addresses of Supervisors, Districts I through V:
dist1@bos.co.contra-costa.ca.us; gayle@bos.co.contra-costa.ca.us; dist3@bos.cccounty.us; dist4@bos.cccounty.us; dist5@bos.cccounty.us
Copy and paste to here.
Districts:
District I: BayView/Montalvin Manor, East Richmond Heights, El Cerrito, El Sobrante, Kensington, North Richmond, Richmond, Rollingwood, San Pablo.
District II: Alhambra Valley, Canyon, Crockett, Hercules, Lafayette, Moraga, Mt. View, Orinda, Pacheco (part), Pinole, Port Costa, Rodeo, Saranap, Tara Hills, Tormey, Vine HIll, Walnut Creek (part).
District III: Alamo, Blackhawk, Brentwood, Byron, Danville, Diablo, Discovery Bay, Dougherty Valley, Knightsen, San Ramon, Tassajara, Walnut Creek (part).
District IV: Clayton, Clyde, Concord, Pacheco (part), Pleasant Hill, Pleasant Hill BART, Walnut Creek (part)
District V: Antioch, Bay Point, Bethel Island, Oakley, Pittsburg

Local Projects:
Assuring the integrity of the Integrated Pest Management programs for the Town of Moraga and the Moraga School District after having facilitated the adoption of written policies.
Watch dogging the Contra Costa County Departments that use pesticides and helping them implement their IPM policy.
Watch dogging the Contra Costa County Mosquito & Vector Control District in their ill-advised use of pesticides in attempt to abate adult mosquitoes.
Improving the Nutrition Policy in the Moraga School District
Improving the simple Hygiene in the Moraga School District that's encouraged by public health experts and encouraging the use of safer cleaning products and eliminating unncessary use of disinfectants, anti-bactierial soaps and other chemicals that can be more harmful than protective.
Decreasing the use of automobiles for transporting kids to and from schools and activities.
Education and outreach to primarily the Lamorinda community regarding safer alternatives for pesticides and toxicity of commonly pesticides (powerpoint given at service clubs), and informational/consulting booths at fairs/events. Upon request, we have travelled outside our immediate community.
Contact: Director, Susan JunFish, MPH
junfishpfse@hotmail dot com
(925) 283-4609
How do we compare with others?
Our County Dept of Ag is the only agency we have found to use above ground dispersal of anticoagulants. Our concern is that Contra Costa County Department of Agriculture uses one ground squirrel as threshold for action and that non-target species can be harmed by the anticoagulants dispersed above ground. We are in the process of working on a report showing safer alternatives practiced by other public agencies. In brief, Marin County uses no herbicides for roadside weed abatement, relying on mowing. S.F. County uses minimal spot spraying of non-bad actor pesticides in areas where mowing can't be done. Marin Water District uses predatory perches that has eliminated all burrowing animals near their levees, the concern of our County as well. Alameda County appears to do better regarding bad actor use for roadsides as compared to Contra Costa County Department of Public Works. They are in the process of phasing out their last bad actor pesticide that is currently only applied in "unlikely to be accessed by public areas." Contra Costa County Public Works Department sprays pesticides on sidewalks and through bustops where people gather.

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Background
Home Background Pesticides Current Projects & Committees Environmental Hazards in Schools Press and News Releases Recipes for Safer Cleaning Recommended Businesses Environmental Topics Related Websites Donations Jobs Available Advisory Board	Background to PfSE Background: Parents for a Safer Environment (PfSE), a grass-roots organization, was formed after parents witnessed children being exposed to serious environmental hazards in Childcare Facilities in the Fall of 2002. A steering committee of parent volunteers from Moraga, Orinda, and Martinez and an Advisory Board of health and technical experts work to bring awareness of environmental hazards and solutions to the community. We invite others to join us. Mission: Our Mission in 2006-2007 is to encourage the use of safer alternatives to pesticides, which fosters the healthy development of children and helps protect wildlife and the environment. Our Work: Research, Community Education & Advocacy Current Projects: Work with Contra Costa County Mosquito & Vector Control District to prioritize prevention of mosquitoes, education of the public, and larviciding. Read our Action Alert for more information. Also, read about our planned March 12th meeting with the Mosquito District. Work with the Contra Costa County Department of General Services, its Division of Building Maintenance, and existing contractors in 2006 (Orkin and Terminix) to assure no more pesticide applications indoors or around buildings for ants, roaches, fleas, and rats. The County has agreed to cease this practice as of July 1, 2006. Exclusion, Bait stations and crack/crevice treatments with boric acid are encouraged for insects and exclusion/traps encouraged for rodents. In the case of necessary indoor applications outside of bait stations, the County General Services Dept has agreed to post information of pesticide that is planned for application, the target pest, and location to be treated. Please contact Director if you observe any pesticide application inside or around buildings at any of the 130 county buildings. Provide date & location. Work with County Dept of General Services to cease all bad actor pesticide usage and transition away from all pesticide and synthetic fertilizier treatment on landscaping and turf. We have facilitated some site assessments with a an IPM landscaping expert, and will provide safer recommendations. The report will soon be available on the web for other communities to share. Research to find safer alternatives to Contra Costa County Dept of Public Works and Dept of Agriculture. Dept of Public Works uses pesticides (includes herbicides) for weed control only. They sprayed over 20,000 lbs of pesticides alongside County road in 2004, about 20% being bad actors. Dept of Agriculture targets pesticides for invasive weeds in private large open space as well as public areas and uses many bad actors. In addition, their other target pest is the ground squirrel (yes, please don't feed wild squirrels!). How do we compare with others? TAKE ACTION: Please contact your Board of Supervisor member and ask that they prioritize the full implementation of the County's integrated pest management policy. Ask them if they will commit to making sure the County Depts do not use any more bad actor pesticides and risk the health of the community. Ask them what they will do to stop Public Works' 20,000 lbs of pesticides applied alongside roads and into flood control channels leading into the Delta and why we can't prioritize prevention like Marin and S.F. Counties. Ask them why our Dept of Ag endangers non-target species and applies anti-coagulants for ground squirrel control above ground when other public agencies use other methods? i.e. setting up predator perches. Make it short or long as you want it... every e-mail is noted as community concern. Forward us a copy for our files and to use for advocacy work with each Dept and when we meet with the Board of Supervisors. We suggest you copy and paste the addresses of all of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisor members into the blank e-mail link provided below. E-mail addresses of Supervisors, Districts I through V: dist1@bos.co.contra-costa.ca.us; gayle@bos.co.contra-costa.ca.us; dist3@bos.cccounty.us; dist4@bos.cccounty.us; dist5@bos.cccounty.us Copy and paste to here. Districts: District I: BayView/Montalvin Manor, East Richmond Heights, El Cerrito, El Sobrante, Kensington, North Richmond, Richmond, Rollingwood, San Pablo. District II: Alhambra Valley, Canyon, Crockett, Hercules, Lafayette, Moraga, Mt. View, Orinda, Pacheco (part), Pinole, Port Costa, Rodeo, Saranap, Tara Hills, Tormey, Vine HIll, Walnut Creek (part). District III: Alamo, Blackhawk, Brentwood, Byron, Danville, Diablo, Discovery Bay, Dougherty Valley, Knightsen, San Ramon, Tassajara, Walnut Creek (part). District IV: Clayton, Clyde, Concord, Pacheco (part), Pleasant Hill, Pleasant Hill BART, Walnut Creek (part) District V: Antioch, Bay Point, Bethel Island, Oakley, Pittsburg Local Projects: Assuring the integrity of the Integrated Pest Management programs for the Town of Moraga and the Moraga School District after having facilitated the adoption of written policies. Watch dogging the Contra Costa County Departments that use pesticides and helping them implement their IPM policy. Watch dogging the Contra Costa County Mosquito & Vector Control District in their ill-advised use of pesticides in attempt to abate adult mosquitoes. Improving the Nutrition Policy in the Moraga School District Improving the simple Hygiene in the Moraga School District that's encouraged by public health experts and encouraging the use of safer cleaning products and eliminating unncessary use of disinfectants, anti-bactierial soaps and other chemicals that can be more harmful than protective. Decreasing the use of automobiles for transporting kids to and from schools and activities. Education and outreach to primarily the Lamorinda community regarding safer alternatives for pesticides and toxicity of commonly pesticides (powerpoint given at service clubs), and informational/consulting booths at fairs/events. Upon request, we have travelled outside our immediate community. Contact: Director, Susan JunFish, MPH junfishpfse@hotmail dot com (925) 283-4609 How do we compare with others? Our County Dept of Ag is the only agency we have found to use above ground dispersal of anticoagulants. Our concern is that Contra Costa County Department of Agriculture uses one ground squirrel as threshold for action and that non-target species can be harmed by the anticoagulants dispersed above ground. We are in the process of working on a report showing safer alternatives practiced by other public agencies. In brief, Marin County uses no herbicides for roadside weed abatement, relying on mowing. S.F. County uses minimal spot spraying of non-bad actor pesticides in areas where mowing can't be done. Marin Water District uses predatory perches that has eliminated all burrowing animals near their levees, the concern of our County as well. Alameda County appears to do better regarding bad actor use for roadsides as compared to Contra Costa County Department of Public Works. They are in the process of phasing out their last bad actor pesticide that is currently only applied in "unlikely to be accessed by public areas." Contra Costa County Public Works Department sprays pesticides on sidewalks and through bustops where people gather.
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