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Spraying bill evolves
by Rachel Gehrlein - THE GARDEN ISLAND
When Senate Bill 3170 was introduced by Sen. Gary Hooser, D-Kaua‘i/Ni‘ihau, at the end of January, it addressed community concerns of pesticide use by Syngenta Seed Inc. near Waimea Canyon Middle School. The bill originally proposed a pesticide-free buffer zone around schools statewide.
But now the bill is aimed toward establishing a task force to make recommendations on implementing the pesticide-free buffer zones near schools.
According to Hooser, the bill changed course when Syngenta agreed to stop spraying in Field 809 near the school through the end of the year.
“When Syngenta put it in writing to stop spraying, it took the pressure off to pass something immediately,” Hooser said. “This was seen as a compromise; they agreed to not spray and I agreed to pull back on the bill.”
On Feb. 14, in a hand-delivered letter from Syngenta to Hooser, the GMO company said it would stop spraying near the school until Dec. 31.
The letter came a week after the Hawai‘i State Teachers Association filed a motion for a temporary restraining order against Syngenta to prevent them from spraying near the school.
The restraining order was dissolved after both sides came to an agreement in which Syngenta would construct a 12-foot-high dust-fence along the vegetated buffer zone separating the field from the school.
As a result of the letter, the bill was adopted by Senate committees with amendments that did not include the buffer zones, but will require a “working group on pesticide use in proximity to schools.”
“While I am somewhat disappointed we did not achieve our goal of establishing pesticide-free buffer zones around all schools statewide, I am very pleased that Syngenta Seeds has come to the table, recognized the seriousness of our communities’ concerns, and agreed to cease spraying,” Hooser said in a press release at the time the bill was amended.
Tom Perry, Kaua‘i UniServ Director for HSTA, said he trusts that Hooser is doing the best he can for the bill but still wants to move forward with future legislation on pesticide use.
“We are still moving forward and want the committee to look at the unique problem that affects the children of Hawai‘i,” Perry said. “The teachers would have liked to see a bill (on the buffer zone), and we are not giving up on that goal.”
Department of Education Complex Area Superintendent Bill Arakaki feels the establishment of a task force will help the situation because everyone involved is concerned about the health and safety of the children and teachers.
“It’s good to have people in different areas help find a solution,” Arakaki said. “Everyone is working together and working with the company (Syngenta) to bring out the issues and resolve them.”
Perry added that construction on the dust-fence Syngenta agreed to build has not started yet.
“If they ever want to spray again, they have to build a fence,” Perry said. “That was agreed upon in Judge Watanabe’s courtroom and I am under the assumption that it is going to take place.”
Although the bill passed with amendments, Hooser feels something still needs to be done statewide to address the issue of pesticide use near schools.
“We still have the next legislative session if things don’t work,” Hooser said.
But now the bill is aimed toward establishing a task force to make recommendations on implementing the pesticide-free buffer zones near schools.
According to Hooser, the bill changed course when Syngenta agreed to stop spraying in Field 809 near the school through the end of the year.
“When Syngenta put it in writing to stop spraying, it took the pressure off to pass something immediately,” Hooser said. “This was seen as a compromise; they agreed to not spray and I agreed to pull back on the bill.”
On Feb. 14, in a hand-delivered letter from Syngenta to Hooser, the GMO company said it would stop spraying near the school until Dec. 31.
The letter came a week after the Hawai‘i State Teachers Association filed a motion for a temporary restraining order against Syngenta to prevent them from spraying near the school.
The restraining order was dissolved after both sides came to an agreement in which Syngenta would construct a 12-foot-high dust-fence along the vegetated buffer zone separating the field from the school.
As a result of the letter, the bill was adopted by Senate committees with amendments that did not include the buffer zones, but will require a “working group on pesticide use in proximity to schools.”
“While I am somewhat disappointed we did not achieve our goal of establishing pesticide-free buffer zones around all schools statewide, I am very pleased that Syngenta Seeds has come to the table, recognized the seriousness of our communities’ concerns, and agreed to cease spraying,” Hooser said in a press release at the time the bill was amended.
Tom Perry, Kaua‘i UniServ Director for HSTA, said he trusts that Hooser is doing the best he can for the bill but still wants to move forward with future legislation on pesticide use.
“We are still moving forward and want the committee to look at the unique problem that affects the children of Hawai‘i,” Perry said. “The teachers would have liked to see a bill (on the buffer zone), and we are not giving up on that goal.”
Department of Education Complex Area Superintendent Bill Arakaki feels the establishment of a task force will help the situation because everyone involved is concerned about the health and safety of the children and teachers.
“It’s good to have people in different areas help find a solution,” Arakaki said. “Everyone is working together and working with the company (Syngenta) to bring out the issues and resolve them.”
Perry added that construction on the dust-fence Syngenta agreed to build has not started yet.
“If they ever want to spray again, they have to build a fence,” Perry said. “That was agreed upon in Judge Watanabe’s courtroom and I am under the assumption that it is going to take place.”
Although the bill passed with amendments, Hooser feels something still needs to be done statewide to address the issue of pesticide use near schools.
“We still have the next legislative session if things don’t work,” Hooser said.
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candyrosh wrote on Jun 10, 2009 10:21 PM:
" “The burial treatment plan is very flawed,” Huff said. “It is a clear violation of our rights as indigenous people.”
“We will be staying until further notice and until the state of Hawai�i acknowledges the property was fraudulently sold to Brescia,” Huff said.
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candyrosh
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“We will be staying until further notice and until the state of Hawai�i acknowledges the property was fraudulently sold to Brescia,” Huff said.
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candyrosh
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