OVERVIEW

THE LIGHT BROWN APPLE MOTH (LBAM)
ERADICATION PROGRAM:
A Hazard to Public Health, the Environment & Taxpayer Dollars

  • Urban populations in Santa Cruz & Monterey counties were aerially sprayed with a synthetic pheromone-pesticide without their consent in the Fall of 2007. Until our recent victory, millions of Californians, including Bay Area residents, were slated to be aerially sprayed with toxic pesticides REPEATEDLY beginning in Summer 2008 and continuing up to 9 months per year, for at least 5 years.
  • 643 reports of illness followed the spraying done in the Fall of 2007.
  • Aerial spraying over forested, rural and agricultural lands, and other methods of applying toxic pesticides on the ground in our communities are still planned despite the California Department of Agriculture’s June 19th, 2008 announcement that they have removed aerial spraying of urban populations from the table.
  • No substantiated damage has occurred to any crops in California according to CDFA officials.
  • $74 million is the minimum cost of the 2008 spraying program in California
  • CDFA and USDA violated several state and federal laws through their implementation of their 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 LBAM Eradication program.

  • OUR WORK IS NOT OVER YET!

The California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the State of California claim that synthetic pheromone-pesticide sprays and other methods of delivery and pesticides will eradicate the Light Brown Apple Moth (LBAM), an insect that entomologists say has lived in California for more than three decades.

Not Necessary:In New Zealand, where the LBAM has been present for over 100 years, control is achieved almost exclusively by non-toxic means, including naturally existing predators. California is home to many of the same predators already. Expert scientists say that eradication of the LBAM in California is not even possible.

Not Effective:Aerial spray of this synthetic pheromone-pesticide has not been used before over populated areas and has never been used to eradicate a pest. Entomologists and agriculture experts say pheromone-pesticides delivered from the air or on the ground will not be effective at eradication. The CDFA admits that it can't be sure that any moths have been affected (inhibited from mating) by the spraying done thus far.

Not Safe:CheckMate LBAM-F, the chemical compound used in the first spray has not been tested for long-term health effects, and contains ingredients with known toxicities. Furthermore, it is contained in plastic micro-capsules, some of which are small enough to lodge in the deepest recesses of human lungs. We do not yet know what formula they will choose for aerial and ground applications, and we cannot be certain they will disclose all of the ingredients.

Not Over: Although a Superior Court judge in Santa Cruz County recently ruled that the State had not sufficiently proven there was an emergency, and spraying in Santa Cruz could not continue there until after an Environmental Impact Report has been completed, the CDFA is seeking an appeal. Governor Schwarzenegger and the CDFA are still approaching this eradication program as necessary to avoid "…a devastating impact on our state's environment and economy." [Bakersfield Californian, 4/24/08]

California communities are raising their voices and calling on Governor Schwarzenegger to stop the whole program today.

Learn more about how you can get involved.