Activists Petition EPA for One Mile Aerial Pesticide Buffer

By Oregonians For Food and Shelter,
Public comments due to EPA by 6/28/2010 8:59 A.M.  PDT

The “Pitchfork Rebellion” and “Pesticide Poisoning Victims United,” activist groups from rural Lane County lead by Day Owen (A.K.A. Abba Nazariah) under the umbrella of the Oregon Toxics Alliance in Eugene, have successfully petitioned Administrator Lisa Jackson of the U.S. EPA to hold a public comment period on the spraying pesticides on forestlands by helicopter. [Public Notice was printed in the Federal Register Volume 75, Number 81 — Wednesday, April 28, 2010 — Pages 22401-22402]

Their 20-page** submission asks EPA to undertake three proposed actions:

ONE:  The EPA should conduct an unbiased study to determine what would be an appropriate aerial spray buffer zone for the specific conditions found along the Highway 36 Corridor in Lane County, Oregon.

TWO:   Until the study described in Action One is completed and an appropriate pesticide aerial spray buffer zone for the Highway 36 Corridor has been determined and lawfully established, the EPA will mandate an aerial spray buffer zone around properties with homes or schools of one mile, first Along the Highway 36 Corridor and subsequently in other regions that are found to have similar risks according to a risk model that will be created by the EPA.

THREE:  A call to investigate the significance of the influence of big business on the US EPA over the history of the US EPA prior to the beginning of the Obama Administration with a special look at how that influence has impacted the laws and policies that have resulted in current aerial spray practices along the Highway 36 Corridor in Lane County, Oregon.

NOTE:  As of June 21, activists have submitted nearly 90 comments in support of this petition.  We need to match or exceed that this week.

To submit comments electronically:
– Go to:  http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home.html#home
– Click on Orange arrow  Submit a comment  in the line of tasks near top of page.
– Enter OPP-2010-0265 in  Key word or ID  box
– Click on orange square  SEARCH
– Under  Petition from Pesticide Poisoning Victims United  click on blue  Submit a Comment
– You now can directly type and submit up to 2,000 characters or attach a document file.

Public comments are due to EPA by Monday, June 28 at 8:59 A.M.  PDT

Written Comments via US Mail can be sent to: Office of Pesticide Programs,  U.S. EPA
Regulatory Public Docket (7502P)
1200 Pennsylvanian Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20460-0001

Indentify all comments with Docket I.D. Number:  OPP-2010-0265

** The full text of Pitchfork Rebellion’s submission with all of their ‘facts’ and allegations can be seen at:’ http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home.html#docketDetail?R=EPA-HQ-OPP-2010-0265


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