An environmental group's attempt to force the Environmental Protection Agency to further evaluate how pesticides affect endangered species could have major implications for Kings County agriculture.

The Arizona-based Center for Biological Diversity sent a letter last week announcing that it will sue EPA unless the agency corrects the alleged violations within 60 days. The center claims that nearly 400 pesticides may be harming as many as 887 species, including the California condor and the coho salmon.

The center also claims that the pesticides get into water, drift over long distances and may harm human health -- although the threatened lawsuit doesn't cover human health issues.

"Basically, the EPA needs to study ... how the pesticide applications may affect those [endangered] species," said Justin Augustine, a staff attorney at the center.

Pesticide use is an important part of agricultural production in the San Joaquin Valley. A recent report from the California Department of Pesticide Regulation reported that Kings County farmers applied 6.2 million pounds to their fields in 2008.

That ranks Kings County as the ninth-highest user of pesticides in the state. The biggest was Fresno County at 27.5 million pounds. Kern County was second at 25.4 million pounds, with Tulare County third at 14. 3 million pounds.

Sulfur was the most highly used pesticide in both pounds applied and acres treated. It is favored because it is a naturally occurring substance that kills mildew on wine grapes and tomatoes grown for processing.

Processed tomatoes grossed more than $100 million for Kings County growers in 2008.

Agricultural interests ridiculed the environmental group's threat.

There is no way the EPA can review the impact of 400 pesticides on 887 species in 60 days, said Kings County farmer Tony Azevedo.

"The Endangered Species Act is one of those laws that was passed for probably a legitimate reason, and it is being misused," Azevedo said.

Azevedo said that pesticides are used in "95 percent" of farming and are a necessary part of the food production process.

"It's a heck of a lot cheaper for us to spray than not to spray," he said.

At the same time, he said that pesticide use today is different from 15 years ago.

Azevedo said that pesticides are much more targeted now to specific insects and situations. For example, some are designed to kill pest insects but leave beneficial insects unharmed. Others mess with the bad bugs' digestive process.

Azevedo said that he follows the University of California's recommendations for integrated pest management, meaning that pesticides are only applied at certain times.

Statewide, pesticide use dropped in 2008 by 6 percent, according to the Department of Pesticide Regulation.

But some crops saw increased applications. Among those were carrots, processing tomatoes and fresh market tomatoes. Public health applications such as mosquito control also increased.

The department said that even though pesticide use declined, growers treated more acres. This "reflects more growers shifting from broad-based insecticides to newer products more specific to the pest and less toxic to people and the environment," a department press release stated.

Augustine said he "applauds" less toxic and more targeted pesticides but said it "doesn't change the fundamental question of what pesticides are we using, what are the impacts and how can we avoid the impacts?" A more intensive EPA analysis is needed to better understand the possible health effects of pesticide use, he said.

The reporter can be reached at 583-2432. The Associated Press contributed to this story. To comment on this story, go to www.HanfordSentinel.com.

(Feb. 3, 2010)