Laird Reaction to State Report on Health Affects from LBAM Spraying

SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) today released the following statement in response to the LBAM health affects report issued by the state Office of Environment Health Hazard Assessment, the Department of Pesticide Regulation and the Department of Public Health:

“I’m disappointed that what should have been a very serious scientific effort started long ago, became an exercise where just 10% of the reported cases were analyzed and the findings have been used effectively as spin for the CDFA. To say that there is no information to indicate a link between the spraying and health affects is not the same as saying there is no link between spraying and health affects.  The state did not reach out to a single doctor for the report.  At a minimum, the reports associated with doctors should have been retrieved and given full analysis, including speaking with the reporting physicians. With no sense of irony, the report suggests putting in place a more effective reporting system—when having such a system is exactly what has been requested for months by me and many others, and such a system would have enabled them to analyze more than just 10% of the cases.”

More on LBAM and Assemblymember Laird

Assemblymember Laird has authored ACR 117, an Assembly Concurrent Resolution that calls on the California Department of Food and Agriculture, the Department of Pesticide Regulation, the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment and other relevant state departments to address unresolved health, scientific and efficacy issues surrounding the CDFA’s LBAM eradication plans.

Mr. Laird is also the author of AB 2763, the Invasive Pest Planning Act of 2008.  The bill would require the CDFA to create a list of invasive animals, plants, and insects that have a reasonable likelihood of entering California for which an eradication program might be appropriate.  For each invasive on the list, the department would prepare a written assessment on the most appropriate method of eradication.  If pesticides were to be used, the assessment would have to discuss application methods, the chemistry of the pesticide and its inert ingredients, impacts on public health and the environment.  If a pest was found, the department would have to notify various local agencies, hold public hearings, and comply with other requirements.  AB 2763 passed the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee and will next be heard 4/16 in the Assembly Agriculture Committee.

For more information on the Light Brown Apple Moth issue—including key documents, correspondence, news and other information, visit Assemblymember Laird’s LBAM resource page: http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a27/moth.htm