Spitzer faults HUD on pesticide policy

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Subject:     Spitzer faults HUD on pesticide policy
     Date:     Thu, 09 Oct 2003
    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 

Spitzer faults HUD on pesticide policy

 THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

(October 9, 2003) — ALBANY — Attorneys general in 10 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands called on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on Wednesday to follow a federal law governing pesticide use in public housing projects across the country.

New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer contended that the 1.3 million families living in public housing are at risk because HUD is not making housing authorities follow integrated pest management techniques, as Spitzer said the agency is required to do by the federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act.

“Integrated pest management will lead to more effective pest control while decreasing residents’ exposure to toxic pesticides,” Spitzer said. “HUD should comply with this commonsense policy quickly and effectively.”

The attorneys general’s petition called on HUD to enforce the requirement at public housing projects that get HUD funding.

There was no immediate comment from HUD on Wednesday.

Integrated pest management uses non-chemical means to combat pests whenever practical, such as screens to keep out pests, regular inspections and better sanitation facilities. Chemicals are used when other options fail, and in smaller amounts to minimize human exposure.

Spitzer said the petition grew out of a survey his office did in 2002 of pest management policies at public housing authorities in Albany, Buffalo, New York City, Syracuse and Yonkers.

The study found that the authorities relied almost exclusively on chemicals, some of them suspected carcinogens, when pests were discovered.

None used integrated pest management techniques, Spitzer said.

“Some very dangerous pesticides are used by governmental agencies in places where people live, work and play,” the report said.

Other attorneys general signing onto the petition were California’s Bill Lockyer, Connecticut’s Richard Blumenthal, Illinois’ Lisa Madigan, Massachusetts’ Tom Reilly, Minnesota’s Mike Hatch, Mississippi’s Mike Moore, New Mexico’s Patricia Madrid, Oklahoma’s W.A. Drew Edmondson, Rhode Island’s Patrick Lynch and the Virgin Islands’ Iver Stridiron.

Lockyer said HUD’s current practices “needlessly” expose residents to dangerous chemicals.

Lynch noted that between 3,000 and 4,000 children live in public housing projects in Providence and he said it is “disgraceful that HUD — for no apparent reason — has chosen not to follow the law.”

 Original Article:  http://www.rochesterdandc.com/news/10099I219OT_spitzer09_news.shtml

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