19/08/2009

Town meeting
in Massachusetts USA

August 19 t h , 2009

with news from the Cape Codder

1 of 11.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION.
NSTAR IS THE LARGEST M ASSACHUSETTS–BASED, INVESTOR–OWNED ELECTRIC AND GAS
UTILITY, WITH REVENUES OF APPROXIMATELY $3.3 BILLION AND ASSETS TOTALLING
APPROXIMATELY $8.3 BILLION. NSTAR TRANSMITS AND DELIVERS ELECTRICITY AND GAS
TO 1.1 MILLION ELECTRIC CUSTOMERS IN 81 COMMUNITIES AND NEARLY 300,000 GAS
CUSTOMERS IN 51 COMMUNITIES. NSTAR EMPLOYS MORE THAN 3,200 EMPLOYEES IN ITS
REGULATED BUSINESS.
 19/08/2009

EAST HAM — Residents from Eastham and neighbouring towns gave NStar a
verbal spanking for its plan to use chemical herbicides to control foliage along
the Lower Cape’s miles of power line easements.

Close to 100 people gathered at a public hearing with NStar, held at Nauset
Regional High School Wednesday night, to voice their concerns. State officials
arranged for the hearing after word of the planned spraying rippled through the
community, alarming residents earlier this summer.

But citizens’ concerns aired at the hearing apparently carried no weight. Min-
utes after it ended, Jared Collins, grandson of the late Selectman Ken Collins,
asked an NStar representative what would happen next.

“[The util ity’s a rborist , Chris Fal l on], sa id they wou ld start spra y-
ing Monday, eit her in Wellfleet or Orleans ,” Collins said. “Legally, 2 of 11.
they don’t have to tell us, and I find it completely appalling that
this m ost important p iece of inform ation was not even mentioned at
the meeting.”

Mike Durand, a spokesman for NStar, confirmed to The Cape Codder Thursday
that the utility plans to start spraying the herbicides Monday, “weather per-
mitting.” He said they are under a deadline to get the foliage work done by
October, and only agreed to hold off for two months so that this hearing could
be held. “We’ve been clear we have a mandate to ensure electrical
service and we need to get sta rted on this .”

Even though right–of–way easements are privately owned, the utility is respon-
sible for their maintenance. The herbicides’ possible [ « P O SSIB LE » M EA N S TH E
E N V IR O –M A N IA C S D O N ’ T HA V E A C LU E , A S U SU A L ! ] contamination of wells and
unknown dangers to human and animal health [ A N U N KN O WN A ND U ND EFIN ED
E N V IR O –M A N IA C DA N GER ! ] were among the residents’ chief concerns.
 19/08/2009

NStar representatives, along with state Sen. Robert O’Leary, state Reps. Sarah
Peake and Cleon Turner, and Scott Soares, commissioner of the state Depart-
ment of Agricultural Resources, attended the hearing. After a presentation by
NStar, citizens and local officials had their say.

Eastham Selectwoman Aimee Eckman was applauded when she said, “I think
spraying pesticides under the power lines in Eastham is taking a huge
step backward,” noting that for years the utility had been doing mechanical
cutting.

[ C OM M EN T AR Y F R OM A N I N D EP EN D EN T P E R SP E CT I VE . ▬ A LL O F A SU D D EN ,
THI S E N V IR O –M A N IA C IS AN EX PER T IN TH E M A IN TEN A N C E O F PO W ER LIN ES ! I N
FA C T , THER E IS N O O N E W I THIN THE E N V I R O NM EN TA L T ER R O R M O V EM EN T THA T
HA S ANY R EC O GN I ZED PR A C TIC A L C R ED E N TIA LS O N M A TTER S C O N C ER N IN G PE S T
C O N TR O L PR O D U C TS ! ]
3 of 11.

Eckman noted that “t he pesticide industry continues to make claims

that the products are safe or nont oxic,” but “these chemicals have
the potent ial t o create serious p roblems affecting human health and
the environment.”

[ C OMM EN T A RY F R OM AN I N D EP EN D ENT P E R SPE C TI VE . ▬ T HE U SE O F TH E

TER M « P O TEN TIA L HA R M » IS A N O THER M A N IA C W A Y O F SA Y IN G « I D O N ’ T KN O W
W HA T I ’ M TA LKIN G A BO U T ! ]

She added, “Since you are p rop os ing to use pesticides within the
boundaries of ou r t own, I feel we, as a town, s hou ld be able t o de-
cide if we will allow their use . And I, for one, w ould decide against
it,” she said to much applause.

[ A PP LA U SE FR O M A FEW M A N IAC FR IEN D S !]

 19/08/2009

Dave Pike of Eastham said NStar manages two power lines on his property.
“As a taxpayer, I think I shou ld be able to manage my own property.
And as for spraying pestic ides, I can’t approve it unless you drink it
and come back tomorrow and say you’re OK.”

[ C OM ME N T AR Y I N D EPE N DE N T P E R SP E CT I VE . ▬ I N TIM ID A TIN G PR O –

F R OM A N
PES TIC ID E PEO P LE TO D R IN K TH EIR PR O D U C TS IS ANOTHER E N V IR O –T ER R OR IST
P LO Y ! W E S HO U LD A SK E N V IR O –M A N IA C S TO D R IN K THE C LEA N IN G PR O D U C TS
A N D SO LV EN TS S TO R ED IN TH EIR O W N HO M E , A N D THEN C O M E BA C K TO R EPO R T
A BO U T I T LA TER ... IF TH EY A R E N O T R U SH ED TO TH E HO SPI TA L FIR S T . ]

Donna Gemborys said she takes daily walks with her children and pets on the
easement right of way. “I choose not to use pesticides on my yard be-
cause I don’t want to have a little chemical here, a little chemical
there, and all of a sudden I’ve got breast cancer or some other dis-
4 of 11.
ease.”

[ C OMM EN T AR Y F R OM AN I N DE PE N DE N T P E R SP E CT I VE . ▬ A N E N V IR O –M A N IAC
HA S TH E R I GH T « N O T TO U SE » A N Y TH IN G THEY W A N T . H O W EV ER , W E A LL KN O W
THE IR THEIR TR U E O BJ EC TIV E . THEY W IS H TO M A LIC IO U S LY IM PO SE THEIR A N TI –
M O D ER N IST LIF ES TY LE C HO IC E O N EV ER Y BO D Y ELS E ! ]

She said if NStar sprays the right of way, “I can tell you as a p ropert y
owner t hat the la nd values are g oing to be affected. Pe ople are not
going to want to buy the re.”

[ N O N SEN SE ! ]

Collins, who had raised his hand to speak to no avail, shouted out in frustra-
tion, “DDT was approved by the stat e at the time of its use.”
 19/08/2009

[ C OMM E NT A R Y FR OM AN I N D EP EN D EN T P E R SP E CT I VE . ▬ A N O THER E N V IR O –
T ER R OR PLO Y IS TO R A ISE TH E SP EC TR E O F DDT, A N IN SEC TIC ID E THA T W A S PR O -
HI BI TED BEC A U SE O F E N V IR O –M A N IA C S C O N SPIR IN G A GA IN S T I T , W I TH PO LI TI-
C IZED SC IEN C E A N D FA LS IFIED IN FO R M A TIO N !

DDT W A S NO T A C A NC ER HA ZA RD . T HE PUB LIC N EED S TO BE R EM IN D ED THA T TH E

E N V IR O NM EN TA L T ER R O R M O V EM EN T HA S BEEN PER SIS TEN TLY W R O N G A BO U T THE
ISSU E O F C A N C ER . W E LL … A LO T C O U LD BE SA ID A BO U T THIS SU BJ EC T . H O W -
EV ER , W E SHA LL KEE P THIN GS BR I EF A N D TI D Y .

M A N Y SO – C A LLED FEA R – M O N GER IN G EX P E R TS HA V E HA D THEIR SA Y A BO U T DDT.

I N TH E LA S T C EN TU R Y , M O ST W ER E W RO NG ─ J U ST LI KE M O S T IN TH E E N V IR O N -
M EN TA L T ER R O R M O V EM EN T A R E WR O NG TO D A Y A BO U T 2,4–D, A N D O THER
C HEM IC A LS . T H E E N V IR O N M EN TA L T ER R O R M O V EM EN T HA S B EEN M O S TLY W R O N G
A N D N EED LES S LY A LA R M IST FO R A LM O S T O N E – HA LF C EN TU R Y .

H ER E IS A N EX A M PLE O F F EA R –M O N GER IN G . ▬ … THE O C EA N S W ILL D I E O F DDT 5 of 11.

PO ISO N IN G BY 1979 … THE U.S. LIF E EX PEC TA N C Y W ILL D R O P TO 42 Y EA R S BY
1980 D U E TO C A N C ER EPID EM IC S . ▬ A LI GH T – HEA R TED A N D N EED LESS LY A LA R M -
IN G W A R N IN G FR O M U.S. E N V IR O –M A N IAC P A U L R. E HR LIC H . T HE PR ED IC TIO N
W A S M AD E IN 1969. W A S H E C O R R EC T !?!?

I T S HO U LD B E N O TED THA T E HR LIC H IS C LO S E LY A N D PER SO N A LLY A LLIED W I TH

D A V ID S U ZU KI ! ]

Paul Cisilli of Wellfleet, whose property abuts the right of way, said, “I think
the issue here is credib ilit y, and whom do you bel ieve. I do not
doubt the experts on the panel. This is the k nowledge that they are
going by now. But years ago we were told DDT was OK, and we were
told that Agent Orange was terrific and we know what Agent Orange
did. We’ve been t old that these herbicides are OK, s o whom d o we
believe now ? ”
 19/08/2009

[ C OMM EN T AR Y F R OM AN I N DE PE N DE N T P E R SP EC TI V E . ▬ A GEN T O R A N GE IS
A N O TH ER EX A M PLE O F THE U SE O F M IS – IN FO R M A TIO N BY E N V IRO –M A N IA C S ! I N
FA C T , I T IS A M Y TH THA T A GEN T O R A N GE C R EA TED PR O B LEM S ! F U R THER M O R E ,
THE ISSU ES C O N C ER N IN G A GEN T O R A N GE A R E IR R ELEV A N T , EX C EP T FO R THO S E
M A N IA C S THA T W IS H TO S PR EA D FEA R A N D TER R O R !

T HE M O ST IN FA M O U S HER BIC ID E C O M BIN A TIO N U SED IN THE V I E TN A M W A R W A S

H ER BIC ID E O R A N GE , O TH ER W ISE KN O W N AS A GEN T O R A N GE . T HI S PR O D U C T C O N -
TA IN ED A 50 : 50 M IX TU R E O F N – BU TY L E S TER S O F 2,4–D A N D 2,4,5–T. H ER B IC ID E
O R A N GE W A S N EV ER A R EGI S TER ED PR O D U C T IN EI THER TH E U N I TED S TA TES O R
C A N A D A . H O W EV ER , 2,4–D IS C U R R EN TLY A R EG IS TER ED H ER BIC ID E FO R TH E
C O N TR O L O F BR O A D – LEA V ED W EED S IN TU R F . 2,4–D IS O N E O F TH E M O S T HA TED
IN GR ED IEN TS BY E N V IR O NM EN TA L T ER R O R O R GA N IZA TIO N S THA T C O N SPIR E TO
PR O HIBI T PE S T C O N TR O L PR O D U C TS .

T HE C O N TR O V ER SY A SSO C IA TED W I TH TH E U SE O F H ER BIC ID E O R A N G E W A S A SSO -

C IA TED W I TH A C O N TA M IN A N T IN TH E 2,4,5–T C O M PON EN T , A N D N O T 2,4–D. A T
THE TIM E , 2,4,5–T W A S C O N TA M IN A TED W I TH A D IO X IN N A M ED TCDD. S TU D IE S
SHO W ED THA T THIS D IO X IN , A N D N O T N EC ESSA R ILY H ER B IC ID E O R A N GE , IN - 6 of 11.
C R EA SED THE R IS K O F V A R IO U S TY PES O F C A N C ER A N D BIR TH D EF EC TS . C O N SE-
Q U EN TLY , H ER BIC ID E O R A N G E W A S SU SPE N D ED FO R U SE BY TH E U N I TED S TA TES
D EPA R TM EN T O F D EFEN SE . 2,4,5–T W A S LA TER EN TIR E LY W I THD R A W N FRO M TH E
M A R KET .

S IN C E THIS TIM E , 2,4–D E N V IR O –M A N IA C S BEEN O FTEN A SSO C IA TED W I TH D IO X IN S

A N D C A NC ER BEC A U SE O F H ER BIC ID E O R A N GE . (S IN C E 1983, 2,4–D C A N B E C O N -
SID ER ED FR EE O F D IO X IN S .) T HE E N V IR ON M EN TA L T ER R O R M O V EM EN T HA S A R -
GU ED THA T THE H ER BIC ID E –O R A N GE –2,4– D A FFA IR HA S PR O V EN THA T THE G R E EN
S PA C E I N D U STR Y U SES D A N GER O U S PR O D UCTS LI KE 2,4–D.

T HE G R E EN S PA C E I N D U STR Y C A N A R GU E BA C K THA T 2,4–D IS N O T H ER BIC ID E

O R A N GE . A D D I TIO N A LLY , 2,4–D D O ES N O T C O N TA IN HA R M FU L D IO X IN S . T HIS IS A
M Y TH !

F U R TH ER M O R E , IT C A N BE S TA TED THA T 2,4–D D O ES N O T C A U SE C A N C ER , W HIC H

W A S TH E C O N C LU SIO N O F TH E C A N A D IA N FED ER A L P ES T M A N A GEM EN T R EGU LA -
TO R Y A GEN C Y O F H EA LTH C A N A D A (P.M.R.A.) IN 2005, IN D IC A TIN G THA T ... «
THE TO X IC O LO GIC A L D A TA BA SE D O ES N O T S U GG ES T A C A R C IN O GEN IC R ISK » . ]
 19/08/2009

He said he would like NStar to test his well, which is right on the power line,
before and after they spray it “if this goes through over our objections .”

David Hoerle of the Eastham Conservation Commission asked : “Is NStar

willing t o unequivocall y state that minimal risk means no cancer ? ”
He got no reply.

[ C OM M E N TA R Y F R OM AN I N D E PE N DE N T P E R SP E CT I VE . ▬ O F C O U R SE , TH E E N -
V IR O –M A N IA C S W ISH TO GIV E THE IM PR ES SIO N THA T C HI LD R EN A N D A D U LTS A R E
BEIN G EX PO SED TO C A N C ER – C A U SIN G A GEN TS W H EN EV ER A PEST C O N TR O L PR O D -
U C T IS U S ED .

T HE SA M E TA C TIC S W ER E U S ED BY R A C H E L C A R SO N A N D HER S TEPC H I LD R EN IN

TR Y IN G TO R ID THE W O R LD O F DDT. A LLE GED LY , LA R GE N U M BER S O F BIR D S W ER E
KI LLED A F TER A PP LIC A TIO N S O F DDT. U N FO R TU N A TE LY , THER E A R E N O V A LID R E- 7 of 11.
PO R TS , O R EV EN P HO TO S FO R THA T M A TTER , THA T SU P PO R T TH IS BIR D A LLEGA TIO N .
A N D , THER E A R E N O V A LID R EPO R TS THA T C O N FIR M PR O BLEM S W I TH C HI LD R EN .
O R A N Y BO D Y ELSE FO R THA T M A TTER . I T I S A LL SPEC U LA TIO N .

B A SED U PO N THE SO U N D SC IEN C E O F EX P ER TS IN TH E D O M A IN O F PES T C O N TR O L

PR O D U C TS , THE HEA LTH O F THE PU B LIC M A Y BE BE TTER SER V ED IF A LL THE R E-
SO U R C ES O F E N V IR O NM EN TA L T ER R O R G RO U PS , W HIC H IS C U R R EN TLY A N D M A LI-
C IO U SLY FO C U SED O N THE PR O HI BI TIO N O F LEGAL, S AFE, A N D TOTALLY IRRE-
PLACE ABLE PES T C O N TR O L PR O D U C TS , W ER E R ED IR EC TED TO W A R D S IM PR O V IN G
THE LI FES TY LE C HO IC ES O F THE PO PU LA TIO N , SU C H A S D IE T A N D EX ER C ISE . T HO SE
A R E W HER E TH E TR U E IS SU ES W I TH C A N C ER O C C UR ! ]

Bernie Kaplan of Eastham said residents have been told there will be no migra-
tion of the pesticide to wells, yet there is a requirement that spraying be kept
50 feet away from them.
 19/08/2009

“That means that we are not sure there would be no migration. It

seems to me we’re gambling. Even if this process meets all current
regulations, federal and state, what happens if those regulations ,
over time, turn out to have been inadequate, [or were] developed
without a l ong –term test of t he effect of t oxic ity and the p oss ibil ity
of [damage]?” Kaplan asked.

The one thing that isn’t suggested, he said, but probably implied, is that it is
cheaper to spray than to mow. Fallon told him the costs of mowing and spray-
ing are about the same.

Eastham and the other affected towns could file home rule petitions to deny
the utility the right to spray, state Sen. O’Leary suggested.

Scott Soares, commissioner of the state Department of Agricultural Resources, 8 of 11.

said if people wanted to stop the spraying, they could.

“If you want t o be cautious, you don’t do anything,” he said to ap-

plause.

[ C OMM E NT A RY F R OM A N I N D EP E ND E NT P E R SP E CT I VE . ▬ N O O N E IN TH E E N -
V IR O N M EN TA L T ER R O R M O V EM EN T IS A R E C O GN IZED EX P ER T IN TH E F IE LD O F PE S T
C O N TR O L PR O D U C TS !!!

T HE FEA R – M O N GER ER S FR OM W ITHIN THE E N V IRO N M EN TA L T ER R O R M O V EM EN T ,

LIK E C ER TA IN BIO LO G IS TS , BIO C H EM IS TS , D O C TO R S , EC O LO G IS TS , N U R SES , PO LI TI -
C IA N S , SC IEN TI S TS , E TC ... HA V E TR A D I TIO N A LLY S PR EA D PA R A N O IA A N D TER R O R
A BO U T PES T C O N TR O L PR O D U C TS W I TH W A R N IN GS THA T C O N TA IN Q U A IN T A N D
V A GU E EX PR ESSIO N S LI KE TH E FO LLO W IN G . I T ’ S LI KE TH EY A LL U SE TH E SA M E
SC R IPT . ...
 19/08/2009

H ER E A R E SO M E EX A M PLES O F E N V IR O –M A N IA C PHR A SES THA T A R E D ESI GN ED TO

SPR EA D N EED LESS F EA R A N D TER R O R THR O U GHO U T A N U N SU SPEC TIN G PU B LIC ...

• B E TTER TO B E C A U TIO U S .
• E V ID EN C E IS GR O W IN G .
• E V ID EN C E IS SU G GES TIV E .
• M A Y BE SU G GES TIV E .
• M A Y C A U SE C A NC ER .
• M A Y C A U SE O THER PR O B LEM S .
• M A Y HA R M U S .
• M A Y N EED TO PR O TEC T .
• M A Y PO SE A THR EA T .
• N EED LE SS R IS K .
• N EW EV ID EN C E C O M ES FO R WA R D .
• P ER HA PS A R ISK . 9 of 11.
• P O ISO N IN G IS D IF FIC U LT TO D IA GN O SE .
• P O SES R ISKS .
• P O SSIB LE THR EA T .
• P O TEN TIA L D A N GER .
• P O TEN TIA LLY D EV A S TA TIN G .
• R ESEA R C H HA S S HO W N .
• T HE R IS K IS TO O GR EA T .
• T HE W O R D SA FE C A N N O T BE U SED .
• T HER E IS SO M E R ISK O F HA R M .
• T HEY M A Y BE C A N C ER – CA U SIN G SU BS TA N C ES .
• W E A R E C O N C ER N ED .

A N Y BO D Y FR O M THE E N V IR O N M EN TA L T ER R O R M O V EM EN T H EA R D U SIN G TH E
A BO V E PHR A SES DOES NOT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT ! ]
19/08/2009

10 of 11.
 19/08/2009

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