State Investigation Finds FPL Contractor Misused Herbicides in East Milton Aerial Spray

Santa Rosa County, FL (NewsRadio 92.3) -- A state investigation has found that a Florida Power and Light contractor misused herbicides during an aerial spraying operation in East Milton that killed dozens of farm animals. The Florida Department of Agriculture says contractor Cole Ward committed thirteen violations and will be fined twenty-thousand dollars — the maximum allowed. The investigation was triggered by reports in May from Chunn Farms and others of chickens and bees dying after a helicopter spraying operation. State testing found the chemicals present in the dead chickens did not match what was supposed to be sprayed. F-P-L says it has paused herbicide spraying and is reviewing the findings. Senator Don Gaetz, who requested the investigation, says the findings have been forwarded to the F-A-A for potential additional violations.