LBAM spray .com Fact Sheet

LIGHT BROWN APPLE MOTH - (LBAM) FACTS

* State and Federal Officials overreact to LBAM and have initiated a massive multi-county pesticide spray operation over populated urban areas with low flying planes. http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2007/September/26/local/stories/01local.htm (backup)

* LBAM has caused virtually no crop damage in California. The damage incurred to growers is from restrictions and quarantines put in by State and Federal agencies. http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2007/September/26/local/stories/01local.htm (backup) http://www.lbamspray.com/00_Documents/2007/CDFA%20spray%20schedule.htm

* The LBAM has a fly radius of no more than 400 feet, and yet the aerial spraying is over residential areas and not agricultural areas. http://www.cfbf.com/agalert/AgAlertStory.cfm?ID=819&ck=3B5DCA501EE1E6D8CD7B905F4E1BF723 (backup)

* CheckMate OLR-F and LBAM-F product labels state that they are a "biochemical". http://www.suterra.com/.docs/pg/.download/filename/images/olrf_7shpr.pdf (backup)
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/lba_moth/downloads/CheckMate%20LBAM.pdf (backup)

* CheckMate OLR-F and LBAM-F are pesticides by the EPA's own definition. http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/about/ (backup)

* CheckMate OLR-F and LBAM-F are biochemical pesticides that will linger around for 30 days. http://www.suterra.com/.docs/_sid/e944004713e90db51607c4d0f7747658/pg/10046 (backup)

* Let's make it clear - the CDFA's aerial biochemical spray is not just a one-time application. You will be sprayed every 30 days, at least 9 months per year of every year until two life cycles after the very last moth is found. http://www.lbamspray.com/00_Documents/2007/CDFA%20spray%20schedule.htm

* Both CheckMate OLR-F and LBAM-F warning labels state, "Hazard to Humans and Domestic Animals. Harmful if absorbed through the skin. Causes moderate eye irritation. Avoid contact with skin eyes or clothing. Harmful if inhaled. Avoid breathing vapor or spray mist." Their warning labels also state, "Environmental Hazard - Do not apply to water or areas where surface water is present". Spray drifts and CheckMate OLR-F and LBAM-F will contaminate our water supply, the open ocean and the Monterey Bay Sanctuary. http://www.suterra.com/.docs/pg/.download/filename/images/olrf_7shpr.pdf (backup)
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/lba_moth/downloads/CheckMate%20LBAM.pdf (backup)

* Acute toxicity to fish and moderate toxicity to aquatic invertebrates (Page 9 in Document or Page 12 in PDF file). http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/ea/downloads/lbam-ea-07-18-07.pdf (backup)

* Steve Hartmeier, president of Suterra, makers of CheckMate OLR-F and LBAM-F, refuses to disclose all of the agents in the pesticide they will be on spraying you. http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2007/September/28/local/stories/02local.htm (backup)

* Tricaprylyl Methyl Ammonium Chloride is yet another component to be very concerned with. (Listed in the 09/28/07 Sentinel hard-copy print edition). http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/search/ProductDetail/FLUKA/91042 (backup)

* CheckMate OLR-F and LBAM-F have only undergone short-term tests on rats and rabbits and results prove positive for adverse reactions. Suterra states, "Long-term studies on the active ingredients have not been done, however, no adverse effects expected." We are to be the human guinea pigs. http://www.suterra.com/.docs/pg/10094 (backup)

*EPA waved routine Safety tests and Eco reviews. http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/local/region9/lbam_quarantine.htm (backup)

* During a 3-day LBAM aerial spray over Monterey, an 11-month old baby got sick and was admitted to Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula for severe respiratory problems. http://www.montereyherald.com/news/ci_6934924 (backup)

* The Light Brown Apple Moth has been in Hawaii for more than 100 years. Their Agricultural Agency does NOT consider it to be a "significant pest". "In fact, LBAM may actually be considered a biocontrol agent for serious invasive weeds, such as gorse and blackberry in Hawaii." http://www.hawaii.gov/hdoa/meetings_reports/news-releases/2007-news-releases/news-release-nr07-09-may-2-2007/ (backup)

* "LBAM populations in citrus orchards are normally kept at low levels by a combination of biological and environmental factors. Chemical intervention is often not needed." -State of New South Wales Australia. http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/76206/Light-brown-apple-moth-in-citrus-Primefact-216-final.pdf (backup)