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People working together for social, economic and environmental justice in Tennessee
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For release February 28, 2005
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Contact:
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SOCM office
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(865) 426-9455
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SOCM is Back Again With Aerial Spraying Bill
For the last several years, SOCM, Save Our Cumberland Mountains, has been working to pass legislation in Tennessee that would create protections for rural residents from the drift of the aerial spray of pesticides.
SOCM, pronounced SOCK’em, is a 33 year old grassroots organization based in rural Tennessee.
Rural citizens have been lobbing for legislative safeguards to protect their families and communities from the impacts of aerial drift for the last couple of years.
This year, SOCM is taking a different approach by beginning the legislative session with educational advertising campaign.
"I would like to see a law passed that will help safeguard our families," commented Edna Melton from Lawrence County.
Melton was outside in her yard with her grandson last year when a helicopter was spraying a pine plantation across the street from her home.
"Since it happened, I have had pneumonia twice and all kinds of stomach problems.
My grandson has had headaches almost everyday and I have had 2 cattle to die on me from it. If there were buffer zones around people’s homes, rural Tennesseeans would be a lot safer."
SOCM's bill, the Tennessee Aerial Spraying Protection Act, would create buffer zones around homes and public buildings, such as churches, schools and hospitals.
SOCM members feel that this bill would create minimal protections for rural residents.
"My whole family lives in this area and every summer when they begin spraying the cotton all 3 of my grandaughters allergy and sinus problems start up," said Pauline Blalock of Tipton County. "You can look out in the field and see the drift from the planes coming this way."
The bill, SB168/HB170, sponsored by Senator Doug Jackson (D) of Dickson and Representative Mike Turner of Old Hickory (D) would require aerial applicators to leave a 100 ft. buffer zone around residences where only the ground application of pesticides can be applied.
It would also require applicators to leave a 300’ buffer zone around public buildings. In addition to the buffer zones, the bill would require aerial applicators to send a public service announcement to local radio stations no later than the day of the application telling where, when and what the aerial applicator plans to spray.
It will also require aerial applicators to increase the decal number on the side of the aircraft to be at least 24” in height. The bill will also require the Department of Agriculture to keep a registry of pesticide-sensitive people and vulnerable businesses, such as beekeepers.
For a $25 fee, people can register with the state to be added to the registry which will be sent to applicators. Applicators will then be required by the Department of Agriculture to notify people on the list prior to spraying.
"North Carolina, Alabama and Louisiana all have buffer zones to protect their citizens, why doesn’t the Tennessee legislature want to protect us," asked Karen Becks of Tipton County. Beck’s daughter has been diagnosed twice with chemical pnemonia and her doctor’s only recommendations were for her to move away from the area.
"Exposure to the chemicals that are used on pine plantations, cotton and row crops can lead to respiratory problems like asthma, sinus problems and even chemical pneumonia," said Dr. Dan Sumrok, family practicioner from McKenzie, Tennessee. "When the spraying season begins around here, I see a significant increase in the number of patients coming to see me with respiratory problems."
SOCM has created a hotline for people to call who are concerned about problems with aerial spraying. They say from just July through September of 2004 they received hundreds of calls from rural Tennesseans.
SOCM's toll free hotline number is: 1-877-431-7626.
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