October 19, 2018
CapitalPress.com
Groups argue over chlorpyrifos ban
By DON JENKINS
Capital Press
Environmental and farmworker orga-
nizations are asking a federal court to dis-
regard warnings by farm groups that ban-
ning a widely used pesticide will wreak
havoc on U.S. agriculture.
Lawyers for the groups filed a brief
Monday with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court
of Appeals arguing that farmers’ worries
are legally irrelevant regarding whether to
ban chlorpyrifos.
An agricultural group leader said
Tuesday that judges will lose insight if
they don’t consider what farmers have to
say. “The voice of growers needs to be
heard because growers will be hurt, and
ultimately consumers will be hurt,” said
Heather Hansen, executive director of
Washington Friends of Farms and Forests.
Hansen’s group was one of 27 agri-
cultural organizations that signed a brief
earlier this month seeking to influence the
court to reconsider the ban on chlorpyr-
ifos.
The farm groups, including the Amer-
ican Farm Bureau Federation, are seeking
to introduce into the court record more in-
formation on how chlorpyrifos is used and
the consequences of banning it.
The farm groups argue that U.S. grow-
ers have been using chlorpyrifos safely
since 1974. Taking it off the market will
let insects develop resistance to oth-
er chemicals more quickly and deprive
farmers of a weapon in responding to new
threats, they said.
“You might not use it much or at all for
a year or two and then the insect popula-
tion pressures change, and you have to use
it,” Hansen said.
A three-judge panel ruled 2-1 in Au-
gust that the Environmental Protection
Agency must cancel all uses of the pes-
ticide in 60 days. The EPA has asked the
full court to rehear the case.
Earthjustice, a nonprofit law firm
representing several farmworker groups
and unions and anti-pesticide and health
groups filed a brief Tuesday asking the
court to deny the EPA a new hearing.
That brief was filed on behalf of the
League of United Latin American Cit-
izens, Pesticide Action Network North
America, Natural Resources Defense
Council, California Rural Legal Assis-
tance Foundation, Farmworkers Asso-
ciation of Florida, Farmworkers Justice
Green Latinos, Labor Council for Latin
American Advancement, Learning Dis-
abilities Association of America, National
Hispanic Medical Association, Pineros
Y Campesinos Unidos Del Noroeste and
United Farm Workers.
Chlorpyrifos is registered for use on
more than 50 crops, and is used for non-
food uses such as controlling mosqui-
toes, cockroaches and ticks. The groups
seeking to ban the pesticide argue that
chlorpyrifos residue on produce fails to
meet health-safety standards. The EPA
says it needs more time to assess whether
chlorpyrifos meets the standard.
The Obama EPA proposed banning
chlorpyrifos in 2015. The Obama USDA
said the EPA overestimated the exposure
to chlorpyrifos and that it was a mistake
to conclude that the pesticide as used was
unsafe. The Obama EPA pushed back
deadlines to make a final decision until
after the change in White House admin-
istrations.
The farmworker unions and organiza-
tion oppose allowing farm groups’ in the
comments, arguing that farmers aren’t
raising a legal issue. The Federal Food,
Drug and Cosmetic Act is intended to pro-
tect human health and doesn’t call for the
EPA to consider economic consequences,
according to the legal brief.
The ban stems from a petition filed
in 2007 by the Pesticide Action Network
North America and Natural Resources
Defense Council.
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Real Men Wear Pink During October
in Support of American Cancer Society
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer
Men from across Oregon
raise awareness and funds
in the fight to end breast cancer
In 2018, 35 prominent Oregon men will take a stand against breast cancer
by supporting the American Cancer Society through participation in the
Real Men Wear Pink campaign. Throughout the month of October,
Real Men Wear Pink candidates will encourage people in their lives and in
the community to take action in the fight against breast cancer.
“In addition to wearing pink and raising awareness about breast cancer
issues, these men will be raising funds to help the American Cancer Society
save more lives from breast cancer,” said Whitney Welches, Community
Event Manager for the American Cancer Society. “Funds raised allow the
Society to be there for those touched by breast cancer, from research to
education, prevention to diagnosis, and treatment to recovery, the Society
provides support to everyone impacted by the disease. Every action we take
moves us one step closer to a world free from the pain and suffering caused
by breast cancer.”
Each Real Men Wear Pink candidate is charged with a fundraising
challenge and will compete to be the top fundraiser among the other
candidates by the end of the campaign.
“No one should have to face a breast cancer diagnosis alone,” said
Real Men Wear Pink participant, Jon Davidson. “That’s why I joined the
American Cancer Society in support of their lifesaving work by becoming a
candidate in the Real Men Wear Pink campaign. This is a cause I personally
believe in, and as a candidate, I’m committed to raising awareness and
funds for the Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer efforts.”
The 2018 Real Men Wear Pink candidates for the state of Oregon are:
• Portland Metro Area: Dan “Huggie” Amsden, Wally Boerger, Jon
Davidson, Gary Deroia, Danny Dwyer, Mitch Elliot, Peter Engel, Keith Fuller,
Josh Johnson, Thomas Johnson, Connor Laubenstein, CJ McCollum,
Mark Meek, Bill Tubbs, Kelvin Woods, Tom Hawk – Portland Winterhawks,
Barley Hop – Hillsboro Hops, Wally Pilot – Portland Pilots
• Lane County: Doug Black, Callan Coleman, Pat Garrett, Skeet Hise,
Nick Keith, Frank King, Rick Moore, Nick Nelson, Jonathan Sims,
Jonathan Smith, Bill and Tim – Barrett and Fox, Sluggo – Eugene Emeralds
• Central Oregon: Joe Kim, Jeff Klein
• Southern Oregon: Daryl Griggs, David Holtman, Yan Traore
Real Men candidates were either nominated by close friends, family or
colleagues, or volunteered in support of the cause. Fundraising for the
campaign began October 1, and each Real Man is tasked with raising a
minimum of $2,500, which will help the Society continue to provide life-
saving programs and services in the community. It’s not too late to support
the Real Men Wear Pink challenge – log onto
www.RealMenWearPinkACS.org to find and donate to your favorite
candidate.
According to the American Cancer Society Cancer Facts & Figures 2018, an
estimated 266,120 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast
cancer and an estimated 40,920 will die from the disease this year. In
Oregon, 3,400 women will be diagnosed this year and 530 will die from the
disease. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women,
and it is the most common cancer diagnosed in women other than skin
cancer.
“Our community can make a huge impact in the fight against breast
cancer,” said Welches. “We are grateful to our Real Men Wear Pink
participants for lending their voices to our cause and fighting for everyone
touched by breast cancer.”
For more information
about breast cancer, visit
cancer.org/breastcancer
or call 800-227-2345.
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