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<font size=3>Dear Medicinal Plant Working Group members - I know it's
more in vogue to make harvesters look like the bad guys, but here is an
opportunity to do something to support them. You may or may not
agree with efforts to control alder and salmon berry but at the least
alternatives to spraying pesticides (herbacides?) should be explored and
the cultural and broader ecological ramifications clearly
understood. For those interested write to the addresses below, they
have additional details they can provide. ej<br><br>
----------------------------------<br><br>
At 10/27/2005, you wrote:<br><br>
</font><blockquote type=cite class=cite cite=""><h1>
<font face="arial" size=4><b>It’s Back: Helicopter Pesticide Spraying in
</b>Southeast Alaska</font></h1><font size=3><br><br>
</font><font face="arial" size=2><b>Who, What, Why, and When?<br>
</b></font><font size=3><br>
<br>
</font><font face="arial" size=2><b>Who: </b>Long Island Trust / Klukwan,
Inc.<br>
</font><font size=3><br>
<br>
</font><font face="arial" size=2><b>What: </b>Klukwan, Inc. has
re-applied to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)
for a permit to spray a mixture of pesticides and other chemicals by
helicopter over 2,000 acres on Long Island, near Prince of Wales Island.
The target area includes fish habitat and subsistence and recreation
areas.<br>
</font><font size=3><br>
</font><font face="arial" size=2><b>Why: </b>To kill salmonberry and red
alder. <br>
</font><font size=3><br>
</font><font face="arial" size=2><b>When:</b> Spraying would occur during
the busy subsistence and commercial fishing month of August, 2006.
<br>
</font><font size=3><br>
</font><font face="arial" size=2>Last June, DEC conducted a public
comment period for Klukwan, Inc.’s first aerial spraying permit
application. After SEACC and 28 other groups—tribal councils, fishermen,
health care providers, and conservation organizations—appealed DEC’s
decision to issue the permit, Klukwan, Inc. relinquished its
permit. However, Klukwan, Inc. has since re-applied and added yet
another untested chemical to the toxic brew it proposes to spray from
helicopters. <br>
</font><font size=3><br>
</font><font face="arial" size=2>This is the first aerial spraying
application under new pesticide regulations. Permit conditions applied to
this project will set the standard for future projects.<b> Over half a
million acres of clearcut private, state, and federal land around Alaskan
communities</b>—supplying drinking water, wild food, basket-making
materials, traditional medicines, salmon, and other fisheries—<b>could be
subjected to similar aerial pesticide spraying proposals. <br>
</b></font><font size=3><br>
</font><font face="arial" size=2>So…concerned citizens have another
opportunity to ask DEC tough questions. Please take advantage of
this opportunity!<br>
</font><font size=3><br>
</font><font face="arial" size=2><b>DEC must receive your comments on or
before 5:00 pm, Monday, Oct. 31. <br>
</b></font><font size=3><br>
</font><font face="arial" size=2>To learn more on how this might affect
human health and our salmon fisheries and what you can do to help, visit
our website at <a href="http://www.seacc.org/">www.seacc.org</a> or see
attached PDF document.<br>
</font><font size=3><br>
</font><font face="arial" size=2><b>Send the message to DEC that it
should reject Klukwan, Inc.’s permit application because the risks to
Alaskans’ health and natural resources are too great.<br>
</b></font><font size=3><br>
</font><font face="arial" size=2>Send comments to DEC by 5:00 pm, Monday,
October 31:<br>
</font><font size=3><br>
</font><font face="symbol" size=2>·</font><font size=1>
</font><font face="arial" size=2><b>E-mail</b>:
<a href="swoods@dec.state.ak.htm">swoods@dec.state.ak.us</a> <br>
</font><font size=3><br>
</font><font face="arial" size=2>(Subject: Klukwan Aerial Permit<b>)<br>
</b></font><font size=3><br>
<br><br>
</font><font face="symbol" size=2>·</font><font size=1>
</font><font face="arial" size=2><b>Fax: </b>(907) 269-7600<br>
</font><font size=3><br>
<br><br>
</font><font face="symbol" size=2>·</font><font size=1>
</font><font face="arial" size=2><b>Mail:</b> ADEC Pesticide Program
<br>
</font><font size=3><br>
</font><font face="arial" size=2>Attn: Sandra Woods <br>
</font><font size=3><br>
</font><font face="arial" size=2>555 Cordova St.<br>
</font><font size=3><br>
</font><font face="arial" size=2>Anchorage, AK 99501<br>
</font><font size=3><br>
<br><br>
</font><font face="arial" size=2>Please send a copy of your signed letter
to SEACC. <b>Fax: </b>(907) 463-3312<br>
</font><font size=3><br>
<br><br>
</font><font face="arial" size=2>For more information, please contact Jai
(<a href="jai@seacc.htm">jai@seacc.org</a>) or Sue
(<a href="sue@seacc.htm">sue@seacc.org</a>) at SEACC. Email
or call 907-586-6942.<br>
</font><font size=3><br>
<br><br>
</font><font face="Times New Roman, Times" size=2><i>SEACC is dedicated
to safeguarding the unique environment of </font>Southeast Alaska. The
values found in old-growth forests -- wildlife, clear waters, fisheries,
recreation opportunities, and solitude -- are essential to continuing the
Southeast Alaskan way of life.<br>
</i><font size=3><br>
<br><br>
</font><font face="Times New Roman, Times" size=2><i>Please join as a
member, volunteer, or consider an additional financial contribution to
support our work. Thank you.<br>
</i></font><font size=3><br>
</font><font face="arial" size=2>________________________________<br>
</font><font size=3><br>
</font><font face="arial" size=1>Southeast Alaska Conservation Council
(SEACC)<br>
</font><font size=3><br>
</font><font face="arial" size=1>419 6th Street #200<br>
</font><font size=3><br>
</font><font face="arial" size=1>Juneau, AK 99801<br>
</font><font size=3><br>
</font><font face="arial" size=1>(907) 586-6942<br>
</font><font size=3><br>
</font><font face="arial" size=1><a href="http://www.seacc.org">
www.seacc.org</a><br>
</font><font size=3><br>
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