You Can Help Keep Sprays Away

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As it turned out, however, the matter was pretty much resolved before that second hearing came about. On May 31 the EPA told the Michigan Department of Agriculture that it must follow the regulations contained on the original Dimilin label. This caused the MDA to announce that because of "apparent confusion in the Environmental Protection Agency"the pesticide would not be sprayed in 1978. Judge Hotchkiss held the June 1 meeting as planned, though, and issued a preliminary injunction against the MDA . . . which included an order that the chemical be removed from the state within thirty days. And, perhaps most important of all, the case will remain on the court docket and can be reopened whenever necessary.

Although the Citizens Against Chemical Contamination won this first battle, its members aren't ready to disband just yet. They plan to write an amendment to Michigan state law that will prohibit government use of pesticides on private land unless the property owner is allowed (if he or she chooses) to employ alternative pest control methods first.

This sort of action is expensive, though. The CACC folks have put their farms, businesses, and homesteads on the line, because they want to keep the organization going . . . both to "watchdog" government spray programs and to push for more laws that return control of the land to the people who work it.

If you agree with the CACC's goals, you can help further them by mailing a donation to Citizens Against Chemical Contamination, c/o Farwell State Savings Bank, Farwell, Michigan 48822. Or, better yet, why not join the group: Three dollars a year-addressed to CACC, 11463 Bringold Avenue, Lake, Michigan 48632—will entitle you to a regular newsletter of CACC activities and a complete rundown of the events that led up to the organization's victory in the Dimilin incident. That membership could buy you a whole lot of "health insurance" for your three-buck investment.—Bruce Woods.

Why Spray Gypsy Moths At All?

That's the question MOTHER recently asked Dr. Charles F. Wurster, associate professor of Environmental Science at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. And Dr. Wurster graciously provided her with this information:

"The gypsy moth situation is what I call an exaggerated insect problem ... blown all out of proportion. The fact of the matter is, the best thing to do about an infestation of these moths is to ignore it!

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