Rural communities within Kern County are often at risk for the worst air and water quality and are not informed when pesticides are going to be sprayed, affecting many in their own backyard.
The Central California Environmental Justice Network hosted a community reporting event on March 19th to bring awareness and information to local residents, predominantly in Arvin, Lamont, and Shafter.
Around 40 community members attended and were able to learn how to become a community reporter with the help of IVAN, The Identifying Violations Affecting Neighborhoods, a self-reporting resource for people to report environmental concerns and violations to the local authorities.
“A lot of community members feel uncomfortable or intimidated in making reports,” said Cesar Aguirre, associate director of the air and climate team of CCEJ. “We connect the community complaints with agencies… we make sure everyone does their part so it’s covered in a more holistic way.”
Because of this, they are able to ensure that everyone is doing their part and that the community member is not brushed under the rug and unaware of what is happening within their report. This effort ensures that not only the community is benefiting, but the agency does too as it creates better relationships and understanding.
Some of the main reports that IVAN has received are regarding illegal dumping, oil and gas issues and air quality. From those reports they are able to then involve public agencies as well as local community initiatives such as Committee for Better Arvin.
Community members who wish to make an environmental report anonymously submit one through Kernreports.org or by calling (555)907-2418. The online report has the option to upload photos and leave information for a follow-up. IVAN wanted the community to know that if you receive an error code, the report was still received, and they will start working on it.
One of the biggest concerns for community members was the fear of pesticides within their community and even backyards. A handful of audience members raised their hand expressing that they were concerned about not knowing when pesticides would be sprayed.
Due to initiatives by the Department of Pesticide Regulation, residents will now be able to be alerted of pesticides if they sign up for SprayDays alerts, a system that will alert you “48 hours prior to the intended use of soil fumigants and 24 hours prior to the intended use of other restricted material pesticides,” wrote the California Department of Pesticide Regulation. Shafter will be the first community to get the notifications of pesticide spraying.
This initiative will launch on March 24 at the SprayDays Launch Event located at 309 California Avenue, Shafter, CA, in the Shafter Veterans Hall from 5-7 p.m.
“It’s an effort from especially the folks in Shafter… that started this fight…I’m happy that it is finally coming into fruition,” said Aguirre. “It’s a consequence of them not taking no for an answer and keep on asking for what they feel like they deserve, which is protections.”
In the past, Ivan has been a vital resource to the community as some members are trained inspectors and have training in how to utilize thermal graphic monitors– something that the community utilized in Arvin in 2014 when a pipeline leak affected 8 homes, causing them to evacuate for 9 months.
Other organizations, such as the Central California Environmental Justice Network, which helps fight against environmental injustices, specifically with air quality, and the Central California Asthma Collaborative, a collaborative that aims to improve health equity and environmental justice within the San Joaquin Valley, attended to provide resources and services as well.
