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Pelosi Statement on Governor Schwarzenegger’s Announcement on Moth Spraying
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Contact:Brendan Daly/Nadeam Elshami, 202-226-7616
Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi released this statement following an announcement by Governor Schwarzenegger that aerial spraying for the light brown apple moth will not occur in populated areas, including the City of San Francisco:
“Last month, I wrote to Governor Schwarzenegger stating that ‘the health and safety of our constituents and our environment must be our top priority as the eradication plan for the light brown apple moth moves forward.’
“I am pleased that the Governor and the California Department of Food and Agriculture have come up with an alternative strategy for eradication that at this time does not include aerial spraying of pheromones in San Francisco and other urban areas. I will continue to work with Governor Schwarzenegger to ensure that the health and safety of Californians is not threatened.”
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A copy of Speaker Pelosi’s letter to Governor Schwarzenegger is below:
May 7, 2008
Honorable Arnold Schwarzenegger
California State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
Dear Governor Schwarzenegger:
Thank you for your announcement on April 24, 2008 that aerial spraying of pheromones, conducted as part of the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s eradication plan for the light brown apple moth will be postponed until a “six-pack” toxicology test, which includes oral, skin, eye, inhalation, and respiratory irritants, is completed.
The health and safety of our constituents and our environment must be our top priority as the eradication plan for the light brown apple moth moves forward.
With that in mind, I pose the following questions about the light brown apple moth eradication plan:
1. What are the short-and long-term health effects of the CheckMate® aerial spray, including the inert ingredients?
2. What is the economic risk of employing ground-based alternatives such as twist ties until a thorough environmental and health assessment of aerial spraying is conducted?
3. What is the likelihood that the aerial spraying will succeed in eradicating the light brown apple moth?
4. Can other interventions be equally effective as aerial spray, including introduction of a natural predator or ground-based alternatives?
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
best regards,
NANCY PELOSI
Speaker of the House
