Six Seattle Parks Go Pesticide-Free Environmental and Community Groups Applaud City's Efforts
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Subject: Six Seattle Parks Go Pesticide-Free................................
Date: Fri, 29 Jun 2001 19:37:53 -0400
From: Stephen Tvedten <steve@getipm.com>
Organization: Get Set Inc. (www.getipm.com)
To: Paul Helliker <phelliker@cdpr.ca.gov>
Director, State of
California, Department of Pesticide Regulation
cc: Christine Whitman whitman.christine@epa.gov
Dear Mr. Helliker, I thought you might like to read the following news release:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 27, 2001
Contact: Erika Schreder, Washington Toxics Coalition
206-632-1545 x19
Six Seattle Parks Go Pesticide-Free Environmental and
Community Groups Applaud City's Efforts
The City of Seattle announced today the creation of six
completely pesticide-free parks. The City also announced a 46% reduction in
overall pesticide use in the year 2000, a result of its 1999 commitment to cut
the use of pesticides to maintain parks, roadsides, and other city property.
"Seattle is leading the way in showing that we can
have beautiful parks without using poisons," said Erika Schreder of
Washington Toxics Coalition. "Pesticide-free parks mean healthy kids and
clean water."
The City began intensive efforts to reduce pesticide use in
October 1999, when it responded to public calls for reducing pesticides with a
commitment to a 2000 phase-out of the use of the most hazardous pesticides and a
30% decrease in overall pesticide use by 2002. The City has implemented an
aggressive program to use alternatives to pesticides in order to achieve its
goal.
Seattle community groups and residents applauded the City
for its success in reducing the use of harmful pesticides, and called for
additional pesticide-free parks in the future.
"The City is taking an important step in the direction
of becoming pesticide free. The parks where our children play is the best place
to start, and the benefits reach beyond kids and other park users," said
Pam Johnson of People for Puget Sound. "The fish and wildlife that live
downstream from pesticide-laden runoff need this effort and more like it to
protect their homes."
"Every year in the U.S., 70,000 birds are killed by
pesticides," said Lauren Braden of Seattle Audubon Society. "Reducing
pesticides invites more life into parks and yards."
Seattle residents Maxine Centala and Jennifer Kropack were
among a group of advocates that inspired the pesticide-free parks program. They
requested it in early 1999 after the group purchased a meeting with Mayor Schell
at a charity auction.
Community advocate Nancy Morris was part of the group. She
said, "I hope one day all parks will be pesticide free. I look forward to
the day when I can walk in a large park like Green Lake or Discovery Park and
know that no pesticides have been used."
Groups also urged Seattle residents to work toward making their local parks pesticide-free. Residents can contact the Parks Department for summary information of what pesticides are used in their local park and for what purpose, and work with Parks to reduce pesticide use.
Gregg Small
Executive Director
Washington Toxics Coalition
4649 Sunnyside Ave. N, Suite 540
Seattle, WA 98103
Phone: 206-632-1545 Extension 13
Fax: 206-632-8661
gsmall@watoxics.org; http://www.watoxics.org
Well Mr. Helliker, maybe Fairfax should simply ban the use of all your "registered" POISONS rather than
simply asking for the common courtesy of notification. How does it feel to know that every year in the U.S., 70,000
birds are killed by your "registered" pesticide POISONS?
Respectfully, Stephen L. Tvedten
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