Wheat leader says ESA consultation process fixable
Washington Ag Today October 7, 2010 Neither agriculture or environmentalists like how the consultation process between the Environmental Protection Agency and National Marine Fisheries is proceeding regarding the potential impact of pesticides on endangered salmon. Washington Association of Wheat Growers President Brett Blankenship says the problem lies with National Marine Fisheries and its use of models. He says farmers have nothing to fear from real data. Blankenship: “We are quite confident that when we are allowed to use real samples in real water in a real stream next to a real farmer the fish are safe, because farmers apply products safely and according to the label and the label protects the fish. As long as science is used the fish are protected which is manifested by a record salmon run.” Blankenship says the consultation process is fixable without legislation. He says it is a process problem so just fix the process. Blankenship: “So we are asking our congressional delegation to intervene and use the mechanisms in place, like the Office and Management and Budget to more or less be the adult in the room and get the kids to play together because the process is there to work and we just need oversight to make this consultation come together.” I’m Bob Hoff and that’s Washington Ag Today on Northwest Aginfo Net. ? ? ?
