A pesticide company owner has surrendered his license and will pay a $70,000 fine to the state of Vermont for allegedly using unapproved sprays in homes, Attorney General William Sorrell said on Wednesday.
Cary Buck, of North Claredon, Vermont, and the owner of AAA Accredited Pest Control, had his license suspended in 2013 after the state's Agency of Agriculture and the Office of the Attorney General conducted an enforcement investigation. Buck allegedly used chlorypyrifos in pesticides, which aren't approved for indoor use when treating homes for bed bugs. Buck also allegedly used excessive amounts of approved pesticides.
“Our office investigators and attorneys worked in close cooperation with the Agency of Agriculture inspectors to thoroughly document these serious violations and seize the chlorpyrifos-containing pesticides, which had been banned for indoor use, to bring this case to a conclusion that protects the public,” Sorrell said.
The investigation into Buck began after a home in Rutland, Vermont, that he treated became contaminated with chlorpyrifos.
In addition to the fine and surrendering his license, Buck may not seek employment with another pesticide company, and he his required to lawfully dispose of all equipment and pesticides he still has in his possession.
“We take pesticide regulation very seriously in Vermont, and we moved aggressively to investigate and enforce these violations in order to protect human health and the environment,” Agriculture Agency Secretary Chuck Ross said.