Parnell Tries to Silence Alaskans
If Alaskans’ drinking water, children or fishing streams are at risk, Alaskans should have a say. That’s the radical supposition of Rep. Les Gara (D-Anchorage).
The governor, on the other hand, proposes to eliminate public input on pesticide use that could contaminate waters where Alaskans fish and get drinking water. Did you expect anything less?
“If someone’s plans risk poisoning our drinking water or fishing streams, Alaskans should have a say,” said Rep. Gara. “Alaskans have a right to fish our streams, drink our water, and hunt without fear that our resources will be contaminated by toxic pesticides. If the Parnell administration blocks public comment, it would rob Alaskans of their fundamental right to speak on potential damage to fish and wildlife, and dangers to our children and drinking water.”
The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation is proposing multiple changes to how it regulates the use of pesticides on state land. One change would eliminate public comment on individual pesticide application permits and instead simply notify nearby residents the state will begin using pesticides in their area. You’ll sleep well tonight knowing that before they spray poison in your immediate area, they’ll let you KNOW about it.
While the public would still be allowed to comment on airborne spraying and spraying directly on water, it would be banned from commenting on spraying near a water body into which the pesticides can leach, on lands that might lead to a contaminated drinking water well, or on trails that, for example, children use. So, if you’re worried about your kids hiking through toxins, or stuff leaching into your drinking water, you’re not allowed to talk about it.
In his official comments, Rep. Gara wrote, “I believe Alaskans should have a right to comment on important state issues. Elimination of a public commenting process by a state agency is always cause for concern, and when the public process pertains to human health and safety, the action is particularly disconcerting.”
“Some of the proposed changes are for the better, and small scale private pesticide use by homeowners shouldn’t require public comment. But the public shouldn’t have to silently trust its government on large scale pesticide use that can endanger fish and wildlife, drinking water, or trails that children use,” said Rep. Gara.
“We are deeply concerned that the governor would weaken our democracy by eliminating public participation in decisions that affect our water quality, fish habitat, and public health,” said Pamela Miller, Biologist and Executive Director of Alaska Community Action on Toxics. Alaska Community Action on Toxics is a statewide non-profit environmental health research organization whose mission is to advocate for environmental and community health—the right to clean air, clean water, and toxic-free food.
The public may comment on the proposed regulation changes by submitting written comments to Rebecca Colvin, Solid Waste and Pesticide Program, Division of Environmental Health, Department of Environmental Conservation, 555 Cordova St., Anchorage, AK 99501, by facsimile at (907) 269-7600, or by e-mail at Rebecca.colvin@alaska.gov. The comments must be received no later than 5:00p.m. on August 2, 2012.
This issue is bigger than pesticides and drinking water. Article VIII of our State Constitution declares that the natural resources of the state (water) belong to the people, the residents of the state, not to the people that we have hired to manage those resources. Limiting our right to instruct state employees (Parnell is a state employee) on how we want our resources managed is unconstitutional.
According to rwnj mythology,fluoride is bad for kids but elevated doses of mercury are okay. Lead shot and lead weights are good for rivers and streams because they give fish extra ballast and probably protect them from x-rays. What the hell,if Alaska kills off all the bears they won’t need fish to eat so what’s the problem?
As a sorta retired farmer I disagree that small scale private pesticide use in residential areas doesn’t need public comment. All pesticides have the ability to drift and do damage far beyond the target area. They are alsn extremely harmful to pets,humans and even beneficial insects. They need to be handled,mixed,stored and applied in accordance with strict standards. In Iowa every chemical spill was to be reported to appropriate officals,but no one seemed to explain what or how much product constituted a spill. In Iowa you have to get certified at least every three years and pass written exams to be able to purchase and/or apply chemicals as a land-owner/tenant and had much more training for commercial applications.
But just in case the pesticide residue is going to give you cancer, you can rely on the state’s health care exchange to find health insurance. Oh, wait…
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Parnell rejects idea of state-run health exchange
BECKY BOHRER,Associated Press
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell is rejecting the idea of a state-run health insurance exchange under the federal health care law.
Parnell says federally mandated programs should be paid for with federal dollars.
An exchange is a marketplace for coverage options. Under the federal health care law, the government could step in and establish exchanges in states where none exist.
Parnell says using state funds and personnel to design and implement an exchange is the most expensive option before the state.
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Hey, what happened to that $250,000 Parnell spent to hire a private firm to tell us all about health care exchanges? After he (or was it Sarah “Bullseye” Palin?) refused the million or so the feds provided in a grant for the same thing.
Information about the regulations can be found here:
http://notes4.state.ak.us/pn/pubnotic.nsf/cc52605f7c156e7a8925672a0060a91b/7bc178be3b36d62189257a06006aae44?OpenDocument
you have to contact Rebecca Colvin at the Anchorage DEC offices to request a copy of the proposed regs. Her name and address are found in the summary at the address above.
Thanks. It is amazing that in the 21st century, they can’t post a pdf of the proposed changes on the website.
Is there a web site where we can read the proposed regulations?
This sounds frighteningly familiar. NYC’s former mayor, Rudy Giuliani, started blanketing the city with toxic malathion to combat (virtually nonexistent) West Nile virus. There are reports every summer of West Nile deaths, which invariably are in elderly people who are already ill. Pesticide Action Network http://www.panna.org tried to halt the spraying, which was done even to organic gardens where people grow food (and where children play). Bloomberg continued this flawed program. Here’s info on malathion: http://www.chem-tox.com/malathion/research/ which explains its effects on human health and that of wildlife.
Please comment, Alaskans. Go to pesticide action network if you need help crafting your response. Spraying toxins on waterways is always a bad idea.