District 3 Senator Carole Migden.
Photo by Luke Thomas
By Maya Strausberg
April 29, 2008
A resolution that calls for a moratorium on aerial spraying in 12 California counties for the Light Brown Apple Moth unanimously passed the Senate Environmental Quality Committee on Monday.
Senate Concurrant Resolution 87, authored by Sen. Carol Migden, D-San Francisco, passed with a 7-0 vote. The resolution refers to spraying in Alameda, Contra Costa, Los Angeles, Marin, Monterey, Napa, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and Solano counties.
The moth was first detected in the state in March of last year. Following the discovery, spraying was conducted in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties.
According to the resolution, more than 600 health complaints were reported in those counties after the spraying.
On Thursday, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced spraying would be halted until further tests were done on the spray.
“While I am gratified that the governor listened to my concerns about the safety of aerial spraying and agreed to postpone the spray, it is important the Legislature go on record in calling for a moratorium since the spray cannot be proved completely safe or effective,” said Migden in a prepared statement Monday.
Numerous city councils throughout the Bay Area, including in Oakland, San Francisco, Alameda, Richmond and Piedmont, all approved resolutions to ban the spraying in their cities.
The spraying was scheduled to begin Aug. 1 but those who oppose it say the spray is a health hazard and may not be effective against the moths.
The Senate resolution proposes the moratorium remain in effect until the Department of Food and Agriculture can demonstrate the pheromone that makes up the spray is safe and effective.
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