Statement on Aerial Spraying for Apple Moth
(March 21, 2008)
MAYOR GAVIN NEWSOM URGES GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER TO STUDY HEALTH CONSEQUENCES BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH MOTH SPRAYING
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Today, Mayor Gavin Newsom urged Governor Schwarzenegger to study health consequences before proceeding with aerial spraying to eradicate the light brown apple moth in California. In a letter to the Governor, Newsom asked for further review of the planned spraying before the State moves forward and urged the Governor to support proposed state legislation that will help determine the health risks and a safe control plan for eradication of the light brown apple moth. Newsom will introduce legislation at the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday about this matter.
The text of the letter:
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March 20, 2008
Honorable Arnold Schwarzenegger
California State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: Concerns with Action Plan for Eradication of Light Brown Apple Moth in San Francisco
Dear Governor Schwarzenegger:
I write today to convey my concerns regarding the actions undertaken by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to eradicate the light brown apple moth (LBAM) in California. San Francisco recognizes the social, environmental and economic value of early intervention to limit the spread of this pest. However, further review of the planned spraying must be taken before the State moves forward.
While the CDFA has been mindful of human health effects in the majority of the proposed control plan for the LBAM, the inclusion of aerial application of pheromones has raised both public health and environmental concerns by experts and residents alike. The City and County of San Francisco submitted extensive comments on the scope of the Environmental Impact Review for CDFA 2008-09 action plan for the control of the LBAM. Our comments included requests for full evaluation of human risk assessments.
To help determine the health risks and a safe control plan for eradication of the LBAM, I support the following proposed legislation and urge you to declare these bills urgency matters:
AB 2760(Leno) environmental impact report before eradication in an urban area
AB 2763 (Laird) advance planning and assessment of invasive pests
AB 2764 (Hancock) use of pesticides and declaration of a state of emergency
AB 2765 (Huffman) notice and public hearing before aerial use of pesticides
SCR 87 (Migden) moratorium on aerial spraying for LBAM
These bills should be acted upon and signed into law immediately to take effect before the plan for aerial spraying is implemented. San Francisco urges you to continue your record of caution regarding chemical exposures and their potential and known effects on health by instructing the CFDA to implement alternatives to aerial spraying until the short-term and long-term impact of the chemicals (including the inert chemicals) is thoroughly studied.
Sincerely,
Gavin Newsom
Mayor
cc: Assemblymembers Mark Leno, John Laird, Loni Hancock, Jared Huffman
Senator Carole Migden
A.G. Kawamura, Secretary, California Department of Food and Agriculture