LegAlert 18

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no. 18 - August 17, 1995

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SB 283 (Costa) - This measure allows pesticides not registered in the state of
California to be used in the state for up to two years under "emergency
registration," at the discretion of the Director of the Department of
Pesticide Regulation. These are chemicals that have not cleared hurdles to
registration such as mandatory health effects studies required by California's
Birth Defect Prevention Act (1984). Neither public comment nor independent
review are required prior to the Department's decision to issue an emergency
registration.

The use of pesticides under emergency registration has become increasingly
prevalent in recent years (102 emergency exemptions since 1992), including use
for seemingly routine pest problems. SB 283 broadens a loophole that is being
consistently used to delay compliance with California's pesticide registration
requirements. The importance of maintaining and adhering to tough state
standards is apparent when the high levels of application and exposure in
California are considered.

Status - SB 283 is scheduled for hearing on Monday, August 21 in the Assembly
Committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials. Members of
the Committee are Richter(Chair), Mazzoni(Vice-Chair), Alby, Alpert, Bowen,
Ducheny, Frusetta, Miller, Morrissey, Napolitano, Rainey and Sweeney. If
approved, the bill could be voted on by the full Assembly before the end of
August.

Action Needed - Contact your Assembly Member and urge her/him to oppose SB
283.

SB 808 (Monteith) - This measure extends the deadline for the completion of
health effects studies on eight active pesticide ingredients, including methyl
bromide and pentachlorophenol (PCP). The deadline for the studies, required
under the Birth Defect Prevention Act of 1984, was originally set at March 31,
1991. However, legislation passed in 1990 pushed the date back five years.

Now, with the March 31, 1996 deadline approaching and the study requirements
still not satisfied, the producers and users of these chemicals have returned
to the California Legislature for permission to continue their use. SB 808 was
only amended to provide this extension after two similar measures (AB 1735 and
AB 1883) failed in the Assembly. Such a pattern of deadline extensions serves
to undermine incentives for compliance as well as potential development of
safer alternatives.

Status - SB 808 is scheduled for hearing on August 23 in the Assembly
Committee on Appropriations. Members of the Committee are Poochigian(Chair),
V. Brown(Vice-Chair), Aguiar, Baca, Bates, Bordonaro, Brewer, Burton,
Bustamante, Friedman, Frusetta, Goldsmith, Lee, K. Murray, Olberg, Rogan,
Takasugi and Villaraigosa. It may be voted on by the full Assembly by August
25. Because of last-minute amendments in the Assembly, SB 808 will have to
return to the Senate if it passes the lower house.

Action Needed - Contact your Assembly Member and state Senator and tell them
of your opposition to yet another extension for studies that should have been
completed years ago!

Address your letters to: Assembly Member/Senator ________
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814

To find out who your
state legislators are, call: (916) 445-3614 (Assembly)
(916) 445-4251 (Senate)

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