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Apr 24, 2008 12:15 am US/Pacific
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Piedmont Votes To Oppose Apple Moth Spraying
PIEDMONT (BCN) ―
The City of Piedmont hopped on the opposition bandwagon Monday night, unanimously voting to join many cities in the Bay Area in disapproval of aerial pesticide spraying for a Light Brown Apple Moth.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture has scheduled to spray a synthetic pheromone in Marin, Alameda, Contra Costa and San Mateo counties in August to get rid the moths because they are considered a major threat to statewide agriculture and "anything green," said department spokesman Steve Wyle.
The spraying started in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties last year, but local governments along with communities opposed it with lawsuits and protests because they believed human side effects were not thoroughly studied. Oakland, Berkeley and San Francisco are among a growing number of cities opposing the upcoming sprays.
Piedmont Vice Mayor Dean Barbieri said the council specifically opposed aerial spraying and that more localized spraying or inserts of twist-ties with pheromones all over the city could be considered, but the Department of Food and Agriculture is set on aerial sprays.
"There's a lot of professional opinions on both sides," Barbieri said. "I think the vote was very representative of what the community wants."
Barbieri said about 13 people at the meeting commented about their concerns on inhaling the pheromone or being exposed to it because current studies are not sufficient.
In Santa Cruz and Monterey counties more than 600 "illnesses," sometimes by the same people, were reported in association with the aerial spraying, such as coughing, shortness of breath, itchy eyes and fatigue.
Three state departments outside of the Department of Food and Agriculture released a study stating that at least 90 percent of the reports, after eliminating duplicates, did not have enough evidence to connect them with the pheromone. The report also stated there was no distinct link of the remaining complaints to the spraying because symptoms were too common and the pheromone application rates were low, about three ounces of product for every acre.
"The studies were done by agencies charged with protecting California," Wyle said.
Barbieri said the city will continue to monitor any litigation that might be initiated elsewhere, in case the city wants to participate.
(© CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Bay City News contributed to this report.)