PLAINVIEW — Stronger protection from pesticides for schools, labor camps and residential areas are the first step to protecting the health of rural families.

That was the message shared today by residents of several local communities, who joined advocates from the Center on Race, Poverty and the Environment and Californians for Pesticide Reform to celebrate a recent achievement in pesticide regulation.

The beginning of 2008 brought with it new regulations for aerial applications of certain restricted-use pesticides in Tulare County.

Aerial applications of restricted-use pesticides are now prohibited within 1/4 mile of any occupied farm labor camp, residential area (as defined by the county agricultural commissioner) and school due to be in session within 24 hours of spraying.

Gustavo Aguirre, an organizer with the Center on Race, Poverty and the Environment, addressed the crowd of about 100 people at a rally and news conference at BrotherÂ’s Market on Road 196 in Plainview.

The stricter rules for pesticide applications are conditions of all permits for restricted-use pesticides granted by the Office of the County Agricultural Commission as of Jan. 1.

“Behind us, on the other side of town, is an alfalfa field,” Aguirre said, through translator and CRPE attorney Silas Shawver. “It is up to the people of the Plainview area to benefit and see that this law is enforced.”

Organizers encouraged residents to report illegal pesticide use and called for greater protection from drifting airborne pesticides and all toxic chemicals commonly used near homes and schools.

“Is Plainview going to report when they see the planes?” Agiurre asked the audience, which responded with a resounding yes.

Irma Arroyo, director of El Quinto Sol, said other communities need to follow PlainviewÂ’s lead and be proactive in protecting themselves from exposure to poisonous chemicals.

“The work done here needs to be done in other communities,” Arroyo said. “All of the residents in Plainview have been affected but not all of us have equality. Not all of us have access to health care.”

While participants celebrated the new buffer zones with song and a 1/4-mile march, many emphasized there is still a long road ahead.

“It’s a big victory for us, but we still have to deal with the ground applications,” Aguirre said, referring to the most common form of pesticide application. “We have to include other pesticides that are dangerous like chlorpyrifos.”

“It’s a great start,” Tracey Brieger, of Californians for Pesticide Reform, said. “This puts Tulare County in the forefront but all Valley communities need to do more.”

-- Contact Sarah Elizabeth Villicana at 784-5000, Ext. 1045,or svillicana@portervillerecorder.com.