Laird Statement on California Dept of Food & Agriculture’s 2008 LBAM Plans

SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) today released the following statement in response to the California Department of Food & Agriculture’s 2008 Light Brown Apple Moth (LBAM) plans:

"For much of last year, I worked with Central Coast residents to compile their concerns about the CDFA's aerial spraying program and get state agencies to respond.  That process is far from completed, as the list of issues remaining includes unaddressed health complaints, an incomplete environmental review, and a required report to the legislature that is now two weeks late.  There are also two pending lawsuits against last year's process. 

Yesterday, my office was briefed by the CDFA about its existing aerial program, as well as new ground-based proposals to combat LBAM that the department may seek to implement within the new few weeks.

While I am pleased the department will not immediately resume spraying and that alternatives are being considered, these new proposals present a whole new range of issues that must be vetted with the public and appropriate agencies.  I look forward to fully exploring those issues as soon as possible."

CDFA 2008 LBAM program press release: http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a27/pdf/LBAMpressrelease1-22.pdf

CDFA 2008 LBAM program fact sheet:

http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a27/pdf/LBAM_FactSheet12108.pdf

CDFA 2008 LBAM program Q&A:

http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a27/pdf/LBAM_QA12108.pdf

For more on the LBAM issue: http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a27/moth.htm