Hawaii: EPA Awards Over $382,000 for Pesticide Enforcement, Up to Nearly $1.3 Million Over Three Years
The Hawaii Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity (DAB) announced on October 22 that its Pesticides Branch was awarded $382,325 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for fiscal year 2027, which runs through the end of September 2027, to support pesticide compliance and enforcement activities.
If federal funding is available for the next two fiscal years, the grant could total $1,244,823. The money can be used for personnel, equipment and supplies, and the branch plans to use this year's funding to support three positions: two inspectors and one chemist.
The Pesticides Branch enforces federal and state pesticide regulations, investigates whether pesticides are being sold or used illegally, and provides educational outreach on pesticide safety to residents, organizations and businesses statewide. Branch manager Esther Riechert said the funding is pivotal to ensuring pesticides are used in a safe and responsible manner across the state.
The branch has received similar grants of differing amounts under its cooperative agreement with the EPA since 1974.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：夏威夷州议会大厦（Honolulu）。摄影：Farragutful，CC BY-SA 4.0（Wikimedia Commons）。Photo: the Hawaii State Capitol in Honolulu. Photo by Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons).
