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This week, the influence of those who make and use pesticides was less direct, but just as roguish. On Wednesday, Dec. 17, the Willamette River Basin Task Force--a group of environmentalists, industry representatives, civic leaders and community activists--delivered a report to Gov. John Kitzhaber recommending ways to improve water quality in the Willamette Valley. In many respects, the report is commendable. It lays out the problems plaguing the Willamette watershed and proposes viable solutions. But in one area, industry pressure clearly curbed the debate. Environmentalists wanted the report to ask the state to track all pesticides used in the Willamette River Basin. Instead, after 18 months of meetings, the task force ended up with a much weaker recommendation: to track intended pesticide use when the chemicals are sold--not when they're actually used. To be sure, asking farmers and gardeners what they plan to do with pesticides purchased in the Willamette Valley is a step forward, but it doesn't take us far enough. Such a plan would miss chemicals purchased outside the Willamette Valley, pesticides purchased before tracking begins and pesticides used for purposes other than those originally stated. Tracking the actual use of pesticides--not just the sale--isn't revolutionary; seven other states already do it. The task force should have recommended that Oregon join them. |
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