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THE PESTICIDE PICTURE 


































With all the foot dragging and inconsistencies, the pesticide picture remains confusing. For example, at the same time that 
Secretary of Interior Hickel was banning 16 pesticides, including 2 
the public’’ because research indicated this chemical can possibly ca 
subcommittee, the Departments of Agriculture and Health, Educati 
the words, “imminent hazard’. The Department of Agricultur 
powdered forms of the product. 
There was a big stir in the press last November when the USDA announced it was cancelli 
(That word “essential’’ can cause a lot of argument.) However, under the Federal Insecticide 
if a product is cancelled, its manufacturers can protest, and the product ma 
There of course was such a protest - by six major pesticide manufacturers. Conservationists then rose up and complained in 
the U.S. Court of Appeals. If a product is suspended under the above act, instead of cancelled, it cannot remain on the 
market. The decision was that USDA should suspend DDT or show cause why it should not. USDA then went to court to 
defend its lack of action in suspension. It may get to the Supreme Court. National Audubon is one of the protesting 
conservation groups. 
ng DDT for all but essential uses. 
, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, 
y continue to be marketed during the protest. 
Lindane vaporizers were banned fourteen months ago, but are still being marketed because their makers are using the legal 
protest route set up in the above act. Incidentally, USDA has said that conservationists don’t have ‘standing’ to complain 
about the agency’s failures! 
Dieldrin, which is considerably more toxic than DDT, and is also found all over the world in the environment, continues to 
be registered for about 80 crops, though it cannot be used in dairy barns, poultry houses, on sheep or for fire ant control. 
Aldrin, another chlorinated hydrocarbon like DDT and dieldrin, is extremely toxic and is registered for use on about 60 
crops. (Aldrin in a quantity only as large as an aspirin tablet, can kill 400 quail. At one ounce per acre, One square foot is 
toxic enough to kill one adult quail or 16 juveniles. Add to that its ability, like that of other chlorinated hydrocarbons, to 
persist for years!) 
USDA is in the interesting position of promoting the use of pesticides and banning harmful one. It is far past time that 
there is some other voice in these matters or that these responsibilities be separated, says Sen. Philip Hart of Michigan, who 
believes that HEW shiouid have the job of banning dangerous chemicals. 
In the meantime, conservationists are warning citizens to avoid all persistent chlorinated hydrocarbons: DDT, Dieldrin, 
Aldrin, Endrin, Heptachlor, Chlordane, Lindane, Benzene Hexachloride (BHC) and Toxaphene. 
Mrs. Arthur M. Jens, Jr. 
SOT SRO oR aoh Va. BOSE Pesticides Chairman, |AS 
NATIONAL NEWS 
One of the more interesting aspects of preparing this column has been following the evolution of the various conservation 
issues. Commonly, the general press will report the beginning or end of an issue but rarely does it report the progress. Below 
is a progress report on three issues | reported earlier. 
DDT is slowly approaching extinction as a commercial product. It has been banned for household use, it is no longer used 
on federal lands managed by the Department of Interior, and now the Department of Agriculture has banned its use on many 
commercial crops. The most important step left is up to the State Dept. They must negotiate an international ban on the use 
of DDT. 
In the February issue of the Newsletter | reported on a bill in Congress that could open our National Parks to hunting and 
state-controlled game regulations. It now appears that the Dept. of Interior has reached agreement with the states, and 
activities of this type will not take place. 
On the negative side, conservation lost a round with the Timber Supply Act. Although this bill, which would have given 
| priority to timber cutting on federal lands, was defeated in the House, the defeat was meaningless since the White House later 
_ Issued a statement directing the Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior to make plans to permit the increased cutting. 
The general impression | have concerning national issues is that Congress is more serious about conservation but the United 
States is still a long way from a national ethic towards natural resources. 
Jon Duerr 
1629 S. Fifth Pl. 
St. Charles, Ill. 60174 


FPC AUTHORIZES STORM KING POWER PLANT — The Federal Power Commission has again authorized 
Consolidated Edison to construct a pumped storage power plant atop the Hudson River's majestic Storm King 
Mountain. Conservationists plan to challenge this ruling. 


