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EPA files complaint in Florence pesticide death
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 | No comments posted.
PORTLAND (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency has filed a complaint against a Eugene company after a review showed violations of federal law in the death of a Florence woman after her house was sprayed with pesticide.
The EPA complaint said that Swanson’s Pest Management Inc. illegally used pesticides by spraying at nearly three times the allowed rate and failing to properly ventilate the home before the owners returned. Other homeowners became sick.
Swanson’s settled a $2.5 million lawsuit against the company last March in the June 2005 death of 76-year-old Florence Kolbeck. She died when she went into her home approximately 2.5 hours after the pesticides were applied. Seven more people, including the responding paramedics, experienced respiratory distress or became ill when they entered the her home.
The complaint also contains allegations the company applied pesticides at another home prior to the application that led to the woman’s death. Federal officials contend the applicator used the same tank mix of pesticides, though no adverse health affects were reported.
The EPA said Tuesday that although the consequences of the violations were extremely serious, federal law limits the maximum penalty the agency can seek to $4,550.
Swanson’s has 30 days to respond to the complaint.
The EPA complaint said that Swanson’s Pest Management Inc. illegally used pesticides by spraying at nearly three times the allowed rate and failing to properly ventilate the home before the owners returned. Other homeowners became sick.
Swanson’s settled a $2.5 million lawsuit against the company last March in the June 2005 death of 76-year-old Florence Kolbeck. She died when she went into her home approximately 2.5 hours after the pesticides were applied. Seven more people, including the responding paramedics, experienced respiratory distress or became ill when they entered the her home.
The complaint also contains allegations the company applied pesticides at another home prior to the application that led to the woman’s death. Federal officials contend the applicator used the same tank mix of pesticides, though no adverse health affects were reported.
The EPA said Tuesday that although the consequences of the violations were extremely serious, federal law limits the maximum penalty the agency can seek to $4,550.
Swanson’s has 30 days to respond to the complaint.
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