ELR Citation: ELR 20479
No(s). 89 S 1726 (D. Colo. Oct 22, 1990)

The court holds that the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) does not preempt a Colorado tort law claim against a chemical company for damages based on the company's alleged negligent failure to warn property owners of the potential environmental risks of using a wood treatment solution. The court first rules that neither FIFRA §24(a) nor (b) expressly preempts state law. Section 24(a) affirmatively grants regulatory authority to the states, and §24(b) contains no mention of preemption. The court next rules that neither section impliedly preempts state law. Evidence that Congress intended the federal government to exclusively occupy the field of pesticide regulation is unclear. Furthermore, there is no actual conflict between FIFRA and Colorado's pesticide warning requirements. FIFRA merely provides a framework for regulating standards within the pesticide industry.

Counsel for Plaintiff
Richard R. Young, Susan B. Prose
Holme, Roberts & Owen
102 N. Cascade Ave., Ste. 400, Colorado Springs CO 80903
(719) 473-3800

Counsel for Defendants
Paul F. Hultin, Dean R. Massey
Parcel, Mauro, Hultin & Spaanstra
1801 California St., Ste. 3600, Denver CO 80202
(303) 292-6400

C. Michael Montgomery, Peter S. Dusbabek
Montgomery, Green, Jarvis, Kolodny & Markusson
1050 17th St., Ste. 1700, Denver CO 80265
(303) 534-4800