SEATTLE, WA – Wood preservative companies Gardner-Fields Inc. of Tacoma, WA, and IBC Manufacturing Co. of Memphis, TN, have agreed to pay fines totaling more than $300,000 for violating federal pesticide laws, according to separate settlements announced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The settlements stem from an inspection in September 2008 in which EPA found that IBC Manufacturing and Gardner-Fields had produced, distributed, and sold four wood preservatives with outdated labels in violation of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act.

EPA said Gardner-Fields agreed to pay $35,336 to settle the violations. The company  produced, sold, and distributed four IBC Manufacturing Co. wood preservatives under its own brand names with outdated labels, including ATCO Woodlast 1420, ATCO Woodlast 2c 1423, ATCO Woodlast 2 RTU 1422, and ATCO Shakelast 1441.

IBC Manufacturing Co. will pay $265,000 to settle its violations. EPA said IBC, owner of the products, allowed the wood preservatives to be distributed and sold with outdated labels, by failing to inform Gardner-Fields of required label changes.

Ed Kowalski, director of EPA Region 10 Compliance and Enforcement, said, "Without proper labeling and safety instructions, users can unintentionally misapply pesticides and may lack important information for emergency first aid."