LBAM Statement by Asm. Laird on Court Ruling

SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) today released the following statement on today’s ruling in Santa Cruz County Superior court on the case filed by the City and County of Santa Cruz against the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), in which Judge Paul Burdick ruled the CDFA cannot continue aerial spraying against the Light Brown Apple Moth (LBAM) until is completes the environmental review process:

“Since last summer, I have called for independent third-party review of CDFA’s LBAM eradication plans,” said Assemblymember Laird, author of two bills related to LBAM.  “Based on an emergency declaration, the CDFA has moved forward without adequately answering questions about the health affects, efficacy and environmental impact of its eradication plans.  Today Judge Burdick appropriately focused on the CDFA-confirmed fact that there is no evidence of LBAM-caused crop damage in the State of California.  Hopefully, the ruling will make way for additional science-based, independent third-party review of CDFA’s plans.”

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

About Assemblymember Laird’s legislation

ACR 117, an Assembly Concurrent Resolution that calls on the CDFA, 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 Light Brown Apple Moth (LBAM )eradication plans.  The resolution passed the Assembly Agriculture Committee and next heads to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

AB 2763, the Invasive Pest Planning Act of 2008 – 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.  The resolution passed the Assembly Agriculture Committee and next heads to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.