ACTION ALERT: Please Oppose Adding Pesticide Industry Representatives to the Board of Pesticides Control

Testimony from Sharon Tisher, Board President of NRCM

Testimony from MOFGA Public Policy chair Alice Percy

On Monday, January 23rd, in Room 206 of the Cross Building of the State Legislature, the Committee on Agriculture Conservation and Forestry held a public hearing on LD 1791, "An Act To Increase the Number of Members on the Board of Pesticides Control," Sponsored by Senator Nancy Sullivan.

MOFGA is strongly opposed to this bill.

LD 1791 would add two members to the Board, including an expert in structural pest management and a representative of a statewide business association. Adding such members to the Board is unnecessary at best, and hazardous to human health and Maine's environment at worst.

The prime directive of the Board is to minimize Maine's reliance on pesticides. We have seen countless times that the pesticide industry does everything in its power to keep its business options open, and to create markets where they are not necessary. The Board does not need voices advocating for continued use of pesticides throughout the State. If the Legislature creates additional seats on the Board of Pesticides Control, it should offer them to representatives of statewide environmental and farming organizations.

Please voice opposition to LD 1791. If you were not able to attend the hearing, please contact the members of the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry by phone, email or U.S. mail. Here is the contact information.

Committee Members:
Senator John M. Nutting (D-Androscoggin), Chair
Senator Bruce S. Bryant (D-Oxford)
Senator Kevin L. Raye (R-Washington)
Representative John F. Piotti (D-Unity), Chair
Representative Jacqueline A. Lundeen (D-Mars Hill)
Representative Joanne T. Twomey (D-Biddeford)
Representative Rodney C. Jennings (D-Leeds)
Representative Roderick W. Carr (R-Lincoln)
Representative Arlan R. Jodrey (R-Bethel)
Representative Roger L. Sherman (R-Hodgdon)
Representative Patrick S. A. Flood (R-Winthrop)
Representative Donald G. Marean (R-Hollis)
Representative Peter Edgecomb (R-Caribou)

Hearing Room:
Room 206, State Office Building - phone (207) 287-1312

Mailing Address:
Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
100 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0100

Thanks for any support you can offer to defeat this bill.

Sincerely,

The MOFGA Public Policy Committee