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| News:
09/01/2009
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Eradication plans for moth not well received
“This program will not enter Sonoma County. You will have to eradicate me.” Strong words from Yannick Phillips, but indicative of the passions being stirred up by state plans to eradicate the Light Brown Apple Moth, universally referred to as LBAM. Phillips organized Mothers Advocating for Children’s Health in Sonoma to oppose the state program. Attendance was sparse but vocal at an Aug. 26 regional hearing in Sonoma to hear concerns about the state’s LBAM eradication plan. The moth is a New Zealand/Australian import that has generated huge controversy since the state first sprayed pesticides and pheromones over parts of Santa Clara and Monterey Counties two years ago. The state halted the aerial spraying program after over 600 people complained of health issues. A draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) has been developed that proposes a variety of means to eradicate this particular moth. Differences of opinion start at the very basic question: is the moth a threat to anyone? The State of California’s Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Gov. Schwarzenegger, and the Sonoma County Farm Bureau all think the moth is a pest and should be eradicated using all the means proposed in the DEIR. Those means include organic pesticides, mating disruptors (including sterile males and misleading pheromones), sticky traps that use pheromone bait, using a native wasp that lays its eggs in the moth’s larvae, and aerial spraying of pheromones and pesticides where the other methods aren’t practical. The eradication program immediately targets 13 counties in North and Central California where the moth has been found, including Sonoma County, an area covering 3,200 square miles, but could expand to the Canadian and Mexican borders if the moths continue to spread. The DEIR says the moth can be eradicated by 2015. Opponents say the program is a boondoggle designed to spend taxpayer money on pesticide spraying that isn’t needed or wanted. Many state lawmakers, scientists and citizen groups have rallied to stop the program. Serge Lebesque, a Glen Ellen beekeeper, is concerned about his honeybees. “Honeybees have been suffering for quite a few years and any amount of pesticides can damage their recovery. Permethrin does not know a beneficial insect from a bad one.” Permethrin is a neurotoxin that has been linked to effects on both insects and mammals. It has been classified as “mildly hazardous” by the World Health Organization, with a variety of symptoms if inhaled. Edward Segal, representing the Marin Board of Realtors and his own interests as a Sebastopol apple farmer, said his organization supports the ground-based programs, but does not support aerial spraying in any circumstances. “It’s harmful to the quality of life in Marin.” Oak Hill Farm is one of nearly a thousand growers, wineries, haulers and green waste receivers that have been placed on the county’s quarantine list (www.sonoma-county.org/agcomm/businesses.htm). David Cooper, speaking for Oak Hill, questioned the DEIR’s conclusions that the sterile male program will have any effectiveness and categorically rejected aerial spraying. He also questioned findings of extensive damage to raspberry crops attributable to the LBAM. “There was no positive identification of that moth.” Several speakers said the quarantine and bureaucracy were causing more damage to local businesses than the moth. On the other hand, Tito Sasake said the Sonoma County Farm Bureau “supports the various programs. If this pest isn’t eradicated, we will have to use more local pesticides.” The meeting drew less than 30 people to Sonoma Veteran’s Building and the audience was told that they could ask questions and submit comments about the DEIR, but that there would be no responses at this time. Participants can provide oral testimony as well as submit written comments. The 1,500-page document can be found in local libraries, but is most easily accessed online at the CDFA website (www.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/PDEP/lbam/envimpactrpt.html). Comments must be sent no later than close of business on Monday, Sept. 28. Send comments to Jim Rains, Staff Environmental Scientist, CDFA, 1220 N St., Sacramento, CA 95814, or by e-mail to LBAM_EIR@cdfa.ca.gov. There will be links posted on the Kenwood Press website, www.kenwoodpress.com. Email: jay@kenwoodpress.com |
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