Controversy has again soured relations between local growers and environmental-justice activists, this time over concerns related to a three-county study of pesticides' effects on rural air quality.
Central Valley agricultural officials have accused activist groups of planning to skew the research by sending individuals equipped with air-monitoring equipment into areas being treated with harmful chemicals.
kAm%96 8C@FAD 56?J 2?J DF49 A=2?D 2?5 4@F?E6C E92E E96J 2C6 E96 G:4E:>D @7 >:D:?7@C>2E:@? 2?5 C24:DE 2EE24<D 7C@> 72C>6CD 24E:?8 2D E9@F89 E96J 92G6 D@>6E9:?8 E@ 9:56]k^Am
kAm%96 7=2C6\FA 92D 4@:?4:565 H:E9 2 DE2=6>2E6 36EH66? z6C?VD 28C:4F=EFC2= 4@>>:DD:@?6C 2?5 >6>36CD @7 2 $927E6C 4@>>:EE66 AFD9:?8 7@C 25G2?46 ?@E:7:42E:@? @7 8C@H6CDV A=2?D E@ EC62E E96:C 7:6=5D H:E9 A6DE:4:56D] tG6? E9@F89 E96 4@?7=:4E 92D 8:G6? C@@E E@ 2 DE2E6H:56 :?:E:2E:G6 E92E H@F=5 244@>A=:D9 >2?J @7 E96 D2>6 8@2=D[ :ED =24< @7 C6D@=FE:@? 92D 4C62E65 E6?D:@?D D@>6 D2J D6E E96 DE286 7@C E96 >@C6 C646?E 4=2D9]k^Am
k9bmV&#vt}% ps'x$~#*Vk^9bm
kAm%9:?8D 42>6 E@ 2 9625 =2E6 =2DE >@?E9 H:E9 2? QFC86?E 25G:D@CJQ 3J %F=2C6 r@F?EJVD 28C:4F=EFC2= 4@>>:DD:@?6C 7@C 8C@H6CD E@ Q36 @? E96 =@@<@FEQ 7@C EC6DA2DD6CD 5FC:?8 2?5 :>>65:2E6=J 27E6C 496>:42= 2AA=:42E:@?D @? 7:6=5D 2?5 @C492C5D]k^Am
kAm%96 =6EE6C D92C65 DFDA:4:@?D E96 r6?EC2= r2=:7@C?:2 t?G:C@?>6?E2= yFDE:46 }6EH@C< H2D C64CF:E:?8 G@=F?E66CD QH9@ 2C6 A@E6?E:2==J A=2??:?8 E@ 42CCJ 324<A24<D E9C@F89 @C492C5D 2?5 7:6=5DQ E@ 82E96C F?C6AC6D6?E2E:G6 52E2] r:E:?8 C:D<D E@ E96 G@=F?E66CD 2?5 E96 AC@A6CE:6D E96J >:89E 6?E6C[ p8 r@>>:DD:@?6C %@> %F4<6CVD yF?6 aa 25G:D@CJ @776C65 9:D @77:46VD A9@?6 ?F>36C 2?5 E92E @7 E96 4@F?EJ D96C:77]k^Am
kAmp D64@?5 25G:D@CJ 5:DEC:3FE65 yF=J e 3J %F4<6CVD @77:46 2?5 E92E @7 E96 r2=:7@C?:2 t?G:C@?>6?E2= !C@E64E:@? p86?4J 4=2C:7:65 E92E C64CF:E>6?E 3J rrty} 2?5 r2=:7@C?:2?D 7@C !6DE:4:56 #67@C> H2D A2CE @7 2 A2CE?6CD9:A H:E9 E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 r2=:7@C?:2[ s2G:D t?G:C@?>6?E2= w62=E9 $4:6?46D r6?E6C[ H9@D6 2:C\>@?:E@C:?8 DEF5J H2D 7F?565 3J E96 r2=:7@C?:2 p:C #6D@FC46D q@2C5]k^Am
kAm%96 4=2C:7:42E:@? 6>A92D:K65 ?@ @?6 A2CE:4:A2E:?8 :? E96 DEF5J 92D 366? E@=5 E@ 6?E6C AC:G2E6 AC@A6CEJ[ 2?5 E92E E96C6 92G6 366? ?@ 4@?7:C>65 C6A@CED @7 2?J@?6 2EE6>AE:?8 E@ 5@ D@]k^Am
kAm%96 &r s2G:D C6D62C49 :D E@FE65 2D E96 7:CDE E@ >62DFC6 496>:42=D 5:C64E=J :? E96 3C62E9:?8 K@?6 @7 C6D:56?ED =:G:?8 ?62C 2C62D H96C6 A6DE:4:56D 2C6 2AA=:65] xE :D E96 =2E6DE :? 2 D6C:6D @7 DEF5:6D E92E 92G6 3C@F89E E@86E96C E96 F?:G6CD:EJVD 6?G:C@?>6?E2= 962=E9 56A2CE>6?E H:E9 r6?EC2= '2==6J 24E:G:DE 8C@FAD 4C:E:42= @7 8C@H6C AC24E:46D]k^Am
k9bm#~&%x}t pr%x'x%*k^9bm
kAmp3@FE E9C66 5@K6? G@=F?E66CD 92G6 366? 2D<65 E@ H62C 324<A24<\>@F?E65 2:C\>@?:E@C:?8 6BF:A>6?E 7@C 23@FE `a 9@FCD A6C 52J H9:=6 E96J 8@ 23@FE E96:C C68F=2C C@FE:?6 7@C E9C66 52JD]k^Am
kAm{625 C6D62C496C s63@C29 q6??6EE :?E6?5D E@ E6DE E96 G@=F?E66CDV D2>A=6D 7@C >@C6 E92? ad 496>:42=D] $96 D2:5 E96 C6DF=ED H:== 36 C6A@CE65 E@ rp#q 2?5 =:<6=J AF3=:D965 :? 2 A66C\C6G:6H65 24256>:4 ;@FC?2=] rp#q D2:5 3J 6>2:= E96 DEF5J >2J 96=A 3C:586 82AD :? E96 DE2E6VD >@?:E@C:?8 ?6EH@C< 2?5 E92E 4C65:3=6 C6DF=ED >2J 36 FD65 E@ :?7@C> A@=:4J 564:D:@?D 2?5 E96 286?4JVD 7FEFC6 24E:@?D]k^Am
kAmq6??6EE D2:5 D96 92D ?6G6C 6IA6C:6?465 DF49 :?E6C6DE :? 96C H@C< 2?5 E92E D96 G:6HD %F4<6CVD :?:E:2= 25G:D@CJ 2D 2 >:D492C24E6C:K2E:@?] $96 D2:5 D96 ECFDED E96 A2CE:4:A2?EDV 9@?6DEJ 2?5 5@6D?VE E9:?< 2?J@?6 H@F=5 AFCA@D6=J 6IA@D6 E96>D6=G6D E@ A6DE:4:56D[ 255:?8 E92E D96 2D<65 rrty} 2?5 r!# E@ 96=A H:E9 C64CF:E>6?E 3642FD6 D96 5@6D?VE <?@H 2?J@?6 =:G:?8 :? E96 E9C66 DF3;64E 4@F?E:6D]k^Am
kAmtG6? :7 2 A2CE:4:A2?E 5:5 D66< @FE 2:C D2>A=6D :? 7C6D9=J DAC2J65 28 7:6=5D[ D96 D2:5[ :E =:<6=J H@F=5 ?@E AC@5F46 :?244FC2E6 C6DF=ED 3642FD6 6IA@DFC6 H@F=5 92G6 E@ =2DE 9@FCD E@ >2<6 2 D:8?:7:42?E :>A24E @? E96 52E2]k^Am
kAm$E:==[ H:E9 A6DE:4:56D 2 D6?D:E:G6 E@A:4 :? z6C? =2E6=J[ E96 DEF5J 92D DE@<65 >:D8:G:?8D 2>@?8 E96 4@F?EJVD 28 4@>>F?:EJ]k^Am
k9bm{x}vt#x}v %t}$x~}$k^9bm
kAm{2DE J62C 2 =68:D=2E:G6=J >2?52E65 8C@FA :? $927E6C EC:65 E@ 7@C46 z6C?VD 28 4@>>:DD:@?6C[ v=6?? u2?<92FD6C[ E@ EFC? @G6C =@42= 8C@H6CDV ?@E:46D @7 E96:C :?E6?E E@ 2AA=J 46CE2:? 52?86C@FD 7F?8:4:56D] p=C625J E92E :?7@C>2E:@? :D D92C65 2>@?8 =@42= 72C>6CD 2D 2 H2J E@ =:>:E:?8 C:D<D D@>6@?6 >:89E 36 244:56?E2==J 6IA@D65]k^Am
kAmqFE u2?<92FD6C[ DFAA@CE65 3J =@42= 8C@H6CD[ 92D C67FD65 E@ D92C6 E96 ?@E:46D @FE @7 4@?46C? E96 :?7@C>2E:@? >:89E =2E6C 36 FD65 E@ @AA@D6 72C>6CDV 2AA=:42E:@?D E@ FD6 DF49 496>:42=D] x?DE625[ 96 AC@A@D65 A@DE:?8 ?@E:46D @? E96 5@@CD @7 A6@A=6 =:G:?8 ?62C 2C62D H96C6 E96 496>:42=D 2C6 FD65 — 3FE ?@E EFC?:?8 @G6C 2 =:DE E92E 42? 36 A@DE65 @?=:?6[ 2D E96 8C@FA :?D:DED :D >@C6 2AAC@AC:2E6]k^Am
kAmp?8CJ H:E9 9:D C67FD2=[ >6>36CD @7 E96 $927E6C 4@>>:EE66 92G6 42==65 @? DE2E6 @77:4:2=D E@ 92G6 9:> 7:C65] (9:=6 E92E 677@CE 92D AC@G65 F?DF446DD7F=[ E96 DE2E6 s6A2CE>6?E @7 !6DE:4:56 #68F=2E:@? :D >@G:?8 7@CH2C5 H:E9 2 D:>:=2C AC@;64E E92E :D 6IA64E65 E@ =625 E@ 2 DE2E6H:56 ?@E:7:42E:@? AC@8C2>]k^Am
kAm~? yF=J f[ u2?<92FD6C AFE @FE 9:D @H? 25G:D@CJ E6==:?8 E96 =@42= 28 4@>>F?:EJ E96C6 92G6 366? ?@ C6A@CED @7 EC6DA2DD:?8 C6=2E65 E@ E96 &r s2G:D DEF5J 2?5 E92E q6??6EE D2:5 A2CE:4:A2?ED 92G6 366? H2C?65 E@ DE2J @77 AC:G2E6 7:6=5D 2?5 @C492C5D]k^Am
kAmqFE ?@E:?8 E92E G@=F?E66CD H6C6 23@FE E@ 368:? E96:C H@C< :? pCG:? 2?5 {2>@?E[ 96 D2:5 8C@H6CD D9@F=5 4@?E:?F6 E@ 36 2H2C6 @7 2?J 3JDE2?56CD @C EC277:4 2C@F?5 28 2C62D[ 6DA64:2==J 5FC:?8 E:>6D H96? 496>:42=D 2C6 36:?8 2AA=:65[ 3642FD6 Q5C:7E @C 6IA@DFC6 :D ?6G6C 2 8@@5 E9:?8 2?JH96C6 7@C 2?J@?6]Qk^Am
k9bmV%p}vt}%xp{{* #t{p%tsVk^9bm
kAmw6 25565 :? 2 A9@?6 :?E6CG:6H E9:D H66< E92E 96 D66D E96 FAC@2C @G6C E96 DEF5J 2D QE2?86?E:2==J C6=2E65Q E@ E96 ?@E:7:42E:@?D 4@?EC@G6CDJ 3642FD6 D@>6 @7 E96 D2>6 8C@FAD 2C6 :?G@=G65] w6 C2:D65 BF6DE:@?D 23@FE E96 DEF5JVD :?E68C:EJ 2?5 D2:5 7=J6CD FD65 E@ C64CF:E :ED G@=F?E66CD D66>65 DFDA:4:@FD]k^Am
kAmQ%96 H2J E92E E96 42== 7@C A2CE:4:A2?ED H6?E @FE[ x E9:?<[ :7 x H2D 2 8C@H6C[ :E H@F=5 H@CCJ >6 2 =:EE=6 3:E[ E@@[Q 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm$:?46 H@C5 @7 E96 DEF5J 92D DAC625[Â }2J2>:? |2CE:?6K[ rrty}VD 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C[ D2:5 D96 92D C646:G65 E9C62ED 7C@> 8C@H6CD 2?5 366? D=2?56C65 3J 28 AF3=:42E:@?D E92E 92G6 C6A@CE65 @? 8C@H6CDV 4@?46C?D] $96 D2:5 D96 ?6G6C 2D<65 G@=F?E66CD E@ EC6DA2DD[ 2?5 25565 E92E 96C @C82?:K2E:@? :D 6?828:?8 H:E9 &r s2G:D @? E96 DEF5J 3642FD6 E96 677@CE >2J 6?5 FA 96=A:?8 4@>>F?:E:6D E92E 92G6 =@?8 366? :8?@C65]k^Am
kAm|2CE:?6K D2:5 D96 5@6D?VE E9:?< :EVD :?2AAC@AC:2E6 7@C 24E:G:DE 8C@FAD E@ 92?5=6 C64CF:E:?8 7@C E96 DEF5J[ 255:?8 Q(9J 2C6 W8C@H6CDX D@ 27C2:5nQk^Am
kAm$96 92D C646:G65 DFAA@CE 7C@> r2=:7@C?:2?D H:E9 !6DE:4:56 #67@C>[ H9@D6 4@\5:C64E@CD HC@E6 2 =6EE6C E@ DE2E6 @77:4:2=D yF?6 ad 4@>A=2:?:?8 %F4<6CVD 2?5 u2?<92FD6CVD 24E:@?D 4@?DE:EFE65 5:D4C:>:?2E:@? 282:?DE w:DA2?:4D QC2?8:?8 7C@> 42==@FD 5:DC682C5 E@ 24E:G6=J 7F6=:?8 C24:DE 2EE24<D]Q %96 =6EE6C 42==65 %F4<6CVD 42== E@ =@@< @FE 7@C EC6DA2DD:?8 G@=F?E66CD QC6AC696?D:3=6Q 2?5 2Â Q5@8 H9:DE=6]Qk^Am
k9bmv#~(t#$V (~##*k^9bm
kAm%F4<6C 5:5 ?@E >2<6 9:>D6=7 2G2:=23=6 7@C 2? :?E6CG:6H 3FE 2 C6AC6D6?E2E:G6 @7 9:D @77:46[ %F=2C6 r@F?EJ pDD:DE2?E p8 r@>>:DD:@?6C r9C:DE@A96C vC66C[ D2:5 4@?46C?D 23@FE E96 DEF5J @C:8:?2E65 H:E9 C64CF:E>6?E 7=J6CD 762EFC:?8 2 A9@E@ @7 2 4C@A 5FDE6C :? 7=:89E 2?5 2 C676C6?46 E@ H62C:?8 2? 2:C >@?:E@C 5FC:?8 E96 A6DE:4:56 DAC2J D62D@? 7C@> |2J E@ pF8FDE]k^Am
kAm%96 3:8 H@CCJ[ 96 D2:5[ H2D E92E DEF5J A2CE:4:A2?ED >:89E 36 >:D8F:565 2?5 AFE E96>D6=G6D :? 92C>VD H2J 3J 6?E6C:?8 2 AC:G2E6 AC@A6CEJ 23@FE E@ 36 EC62E65 H:E9 496>:42=D]k^Am
kAmyF=:6 w6?56CD@?[ 2 56AFEJ D64C6E2CJ @7 r2=t!p 2?5 24E:?8 5:C64E@C @7 E96 DE2E6 s6A2CE>6?E @7 !6DE:4:56 #68F=2E:@?[ D2:5 E96 &r s2G:D DEF5J :D 2 4C65:3=6 DEF5J 36:?8 4@?5F4E65 3J 2 C6AFE23=6 C6D62C496C[ 2?5 E92E DE2E6 @77:4:2=D 6IA64E E@ D66 FD67F= :?7@C>2E:@? 4@>6 @FE @7 :E]k^Am
kAmQx E9:?< A2CE @7 H92E H6 2== 2C6 D66<:?8 :D E96 AC@E64E:@? @7 E96 962=E9 2?5 D276EJ @7 6G6CJ@?6 :? E96 4@>>F?:EJ[Q w6?56CD@? D2:5] Q$@[ x 5@?VE E9:?< 92G:?8 2 DEF5J E92E :D 56D:8?65 E@ >@?:E@C E92E :D E2<:?8 2 A@D:E:@? @?6 H2J @C E96 @E96C]Qk^Am
kAm%96 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C @7 E96 z6C? r@F?EJ u2C> qFC62F[ #@>6@ p832=@8[ D2:5 3J 6>2:= %F6D52J 72C>6CDV 4@?46C?D 23@FE A@E6?E:2= EC6DA2DD:?8 2C6 F?56CDE2?523=6 :? =:89E @7 2 C646?E &]$] $FAC6>6 r@FCE CF=:?8 277:C>:?8 28 AC@5F46CDV AC@A6CEJ C:89ED] w6 D2:5 96 2AAC64:2E65 u2?<92FD6CVD C646?E 25G:D@CJ 2?5 BF6DE:@?65 H96C6 E96 &r s2G:D DEF5J :D =625:?8]k^Am
kAmQu2C>6CD … H@C< E@ AC@5F46 E96 H@C=5VD 7@@5 DFAA=J F?56C @?6 @7 E96 >@DE 9:89=J C68F=2E65 6?G:C@?>6?ED :? E96 4@F?ECJ[ 2?5 2D DF49 :EVD C62D@?23=6 7@C FD WE@X H@?56C E96 :?E6?E @7 E96 DEF5J 2?5 :7 >@C6 C68F=2E:@?D H:== C6DF=E E96C6@7[Q p832=@8 HC@E6]k^Am
