BLUE RIDGE ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE LEAGUE
PO Box 88 ~ Glendale Springs, North Carolina 28629 ~ Phone (336) 982-2691 ~ Fax (336) 982-2954 ~ Email: BREDL@skybest.com

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Novemeber 22, 2002

CONTACT:
Elizabeth O’Nan, PACE: 828 724 4221
Lou Zeller, BREDL: 336 982 2954

Aerial Pesticide regulators to dump safety buffer zones!

Free Pesticides Coming to Your Child Soon

Without Your Notification or Permission!

Group protests the corporately controlled NC Pesticide Board decision to remove zero tolerance buffer zones and deregulate aerial pesticide regulations. The new rules would allow aerial poison applicators to spray in any area without permission or notification. Elizabeth O’Nan, director of Protect All Children’s Environment said, “This is without doubt one of the single most outrageous acts ever taken by a regulatory agency mandated to protect the health and environment. Each day there is more evidence of the massive human injury and environmental damages caused by pesticides.”

Agriculture Dept. attorney, David McLeod likened the new regulation to the state issuing licenses for cars and trucks, saying they too pollute. “This is a disingenuous parallel as we actively seek to lower car and truck emissions, not increase them. This regulatory change would increase toxic exposures for all North Carolinians at a time when air quality and toxic exposures are taking a huge toll on our health and economy.” stated O’Nan.

Science has struggled to prove that specific pesticides cause known cancers, but studies indicate that cancer rates are growing as are birth defects, Attention Deficit, autism, learning disabilities, infertility, asthma and a host of other diseases linked to pesticide exposures. “These are not vitamins they are spraying in our air. We need to be concerned about the long term effects of these things on our kids” said parent Steve Nichols.

“In addition to the glaring inappropriateness of poisoning children and citizens in their homes, schools, hospitals, parks-this regulation is squarely in violation of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)” points out Lou Zeller research director with Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League. “Given the inevitable universal contamination resulting from deregulated aerial pesticides this proposal will not only bar access to public areas to those disabled by asthma, chemical intolerances and other chronic diseases, but will lead to further injuries or death and substantially increase the costs of Medicare and Medicaid in the process” said Ms. O’Nan.

According to Ms. O’Nan, “It is reprehensible for the victims of this corporately controlled board to be forced to appeal to their poisoners for mercy and justice. Citizens must stop corporate crime and self-regulation and demand no regulation without representation. Board representation should be limited to citizens with a proven record of interest and no money derived from the regulated industry. Pesticide victims ought to be on this board so that further health injuries can be prevented.”

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