"U.S.: Ozone-Zapping Pesticide OK"
Full article posted at Wired News.
Associated Press 10:45 AM Nov 04, 2006
The Bush administration on Friday won international approval for U.S. farmers to use thousands of tons of a potent ozone-destroying pesticide without having to dip substantially into large stockpiles that were recently revealed.
The pesticide, methyl bromide, was banned under an international treaty nearly two years ago except for uses deemed critical. U.S. officials have secured exemptions to the ban so that growers can use it to kill soil pests for tomatoes, strawberries and other crops in agricultural states like California and Florida.
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"It's extremely disappointing that now that the U.S. has finally confirmed its enormous stockpile [nearly 11,000 tons], it continues to fight tooth and nail to get special treatment in the world to use a gas that will cause increased skin cancer and a host of other environmental effects," said Sascha Von Bismarck of the Environmental Investigation Agency.
The article says that their reserve stockpile of almost 11,000 tons is down from over 18,000 tons two years ago. That's more than 7,000 tons, or 14,000,000 (14 million) pounds, or 6,350,293 kg in two years which is 7 million pounds per year! And they say they're "cutting back"? The "methyl bromide phase-out" was ordered 14 years ago.
"Many farmers have switched to other pesticides for a 75 percent reduction in methyl bromide levels since 1991." Why does the government still need more?
