To the Editor:
In Augusta, the assault on Maine’s environment continues. Take a moment to focus attention on the Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee.
While this committee is diligent and hard working, their recent decisions are well off the mark – inconsistent with Maine’s stewardship of our environment, and do not reflect current science.
For example, one legislator on this committee believes that the dangers of DDT were exaggerated and that concerns about current pesticides and their impact on human health are misplaced.
In a recent decision, the committee determined that cosmetic use of pesticides in schoolyards and daycare centers should be permissible (LD 837).
While use of pesticides around children’s play areas may be justified in the rare instances when children’s health is jeopardized, pesticides use solely for cosmetic purposes is foolish.
Only Rep. Andy O’Brien (District 44, Lincolnville) and Peter Kent (District 65, Woolwich) maintained their commitment to protect school children from unnecessary use of pesticides.
In another example (LD 321), the committee weighed in on the composition of the Board of Pesticide Control (BPC). By law, the BPC must assure public benefits from pesticide use and must protect Maine’s natural resources.
The BPC is important because it determines what pesticides can be used in Maine and how they can be used. Existing law says the composition of this board must include three people knowledgeable about pesticides, one person with a medical background, one person in agronomy or entomology, and two public members representing expertise in environmental issues.
This is a well-balanced group considering the board’s statutory responsibility. However, the committee has voted to eliminate the two members representing environmental issues.
Before these bills get to the full legislature, please write your representative and let them know what you think. Any of us concerned about the health of Maine’s people and the health of Maine’s environment should get our message to our local legislators.
Jo Ann Myers, Waldoboro
