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Written by Chris J. Magyar
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Wednesday, 18 June 2008 |
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Congressman Farr posed several questions about the Light Brown Apple Moth's classification as a "blacklisted" invasive pest to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). On June 11, he posted the replies on his website . In addition to providing access to the documents that led to LBAM's classification, the USDA responded to some tough questions, such as whether the USDA based its decision mainly on a "mini risk assessment" conducted by the University of Minnesota in 2003. (The agency responds that LBAM became "class A" -- the most threatening invasive category -- in 1984.) The USDA also admits there's a precedent for class A invasive species being pulled off the list -- sugarcane rust was once on the level of LBAM, but became declassified after officials realized containment was better than eradication, and the pest limited itself to a single crop. Opponents of LBAM spraying have rallied for declassification of the moth, which would undercut the California Department of Farm and Agriculture's aggressive eradication campaign. That campaign -- slated to include aerial spraying over populated regions -- is currently held up in the courts.
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