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GUEST: Glen Chase, advocate with California Alliance to Stop the Spray and other community groups, has taught environmental economics, statistics, and management at University of Southern California and Cal State Monterey Bay

Earlier this year, the California Department of Food and Agriculture announced controversial plans for an aerial pesticide spray aimed at eradicating the light brown apple moth. Supported by the federal U.S. Department of Agriculture, the $74.5 million dollar project would start as early as this summer. Most Bay Area communities from Monterey to Solano County are set to be sprayed with a pesticide called “Checkmate,” in an attempt to eliminate what the CDFA calls a threat to the state’s crops. However, the characterization of the light brown apple moth as a ‘threat’ has been challenged by some insect and plant scientists. Entomologists assert that the moth isn’t a new arrival to California, which makes eradication impossible and that it is only considered a minor pest in New Zealand. The costly proposal has also angered many Bay Area residents after a Checkmate spray last year in Santa Cruz and Monterey resulted in hundreds of reports of respiratory and other health related problems.

For more information, visit www.lbamspray.com.