HomeMy WebLinkAboutSB 1246 (Oppose)Nancy A. Lyons
Mayor
Jimmy Lin
Mayor Pro Tem
Carol Herrera
Council Member
Ruth M. Low
Council Member
Steve Tye
Council Member
March 28, 2016
City of Diamond Bar
21810 Copley Drive • Diamond Bar, CA 91765-4178
The Honorable Bob Wieckowski
(909) 839-7000 • Fax (909) 861-3117
www.DiamondBarCA.gov
Chair, Senate Committee on Environmental Quality
State Capitol, Room 2205
Sacramento, CA 95814
Re: Opposition to SB 1246 (Nguyen)
Dear Senator Wieckowski,
The City of Diamond Bar respectfully opposes SB 1246 (Nguyen), which
constrains vector control agencies from protecting public health from life-
threatening mosquito -borne diseases by adding unrealistic and potentially
dangerous notice requirements for aerial spraying. As proposed, the bill would
require a mandatory waiting period to notify elected officials and governmental
agencies before administering pesticides by aircraft or unmanned aerial vehicle
over a residential area.
With the ongoing threat of severe diseases such as West Nile virus, yellow fever,
dengue fever and Zika virus, California vector control agencies have always been
allowed to combat the threat of disease through spraying without formal notice (3
CCR 6620), even though many have outreach and communications plans in
place. Vector control agencies must react quickly to address potential threats to
public health by using aerial spraying and control, and delaying action to meet an
untenable seven-day notice requirement would increase the risk of disease
transmission to residents.
Because SB 1246 would undermine longstanding preventive public health
applications, create unnecessary fear throughout communities, and undermine
local control, the City of Diamond Bar is opposed to SB 1246.
Sincerely,
/141� C:�1194`)—
Nancy Lyons
Mayor, City of Diamond Bar
CC: Senator Janet Nguyen, Fax: (916) 651-4934
Senator Bob Huff, Fax (916) 651-4929
Assembly Member Ling -Ling Chang, Fax (916) 319-2155
Truc Dever, General Manager, GLACVCD
Jennifer Quan, League of California Cities
City Council & City Manager