Pesticide settlement agreements announced

The N.C. Structural Pest Control Committee recently approved settlement agreements for cases in Brunswick, Burke, Randolph and Surry counties.

Following are the agreements:

William J. Manning, owner of Manning’s Pest Control in Southport, agreed to pay $800 for failure to supervise structural pest control work done under his license and for failure to provide adequate spill-control materials. Two technicians registered under Manning’s license performed structural pest control work that resulted in a chemical spill at a residence.

William Hogan, an employee of Strand Chemical in Ocean Isle Beach, agreed to pay $1,600 for using a pesticide in a manner inconsistent with its labeling, failure to properly label pesticides and not performing structural pest control work at the rate and concentration recommended on the label. Hogan did not properly trench the outside foundation of a newly constructed property in preparation for treatment. He also used only 20 gallons on the outside foundation walls instead of the 62 gallons needed. The solution was also applied in the rain and on water-saturated ground, which were against label recommendations.

In a related settlement, John W. Dowless, owner of Strand Chemical, agreed to pay $800 for failure to supervise structural pest control work done under his license.

William Randall Baker, operating as “Bill the Bug Man” in Morganton, agreed to pay $2,000 for performing structural pest control work without a license. Baker performed at least five unlicensed treatments and sprayed a homeowner’s cats with pesticides. Baker also received a cease and desist order and was instructed to immediately stop providing services as a structural pest control company until such time he was properly licensed.

Earl W. Smith, a structural pest control license holder with Otho’s Pest Management in Asheboro, agreed to pay $1,200 for failing to supervise structural pest control work done under his license.

In a related settlement, Jeremy Ross agreed to pay $800 for applying a pesticide in a manner inconsistent with its labeling. The total release fogger applied instructed that furniture, waxed wood floors, etc. be covered prior to use. Ross, a registered technician under Smith’s pest management license failed to follow the label direction which resulted in damage to customer’s property.

Rogelio “Roger” Diaz, operating under the company name Absolute Extermination, Inc. located in Mt. Airy, agreed to pay a settlement of $3,500 for performing structural pest control work without having a license. Diaz performed structural pest control services for several homeowners and businesses while not having a valid structural pest control license.