Transcript
GARY HOOSER: We have been trying for like four to five years now to pass increased regulations to regulate pesticides. And this bill, SB3095, is poised to pass its final hurdle. So its gone further than it has in any other year. It's a strong measure. It is really a potentially huge accomplishment if we can take it the whole way over the next couple of weeks.
SARA VUI-TALITU: And I understand there is a march maybe or something else is happening this month on April 9th?
GH: Yes there'll be a rally and gathering outside the state capitol from people all over the state. There will be from people all over the state flying in and of course people that live there are coming down from all over this state. We are going to be there gathering and talking to state senators specifically and encouraging them to support the bill and allow it to pass into law. There will be speeches, entertainment and there will be a whole bunch of people there.
SV: So do you feel at this stage that you have enough support for it to go all the way or is it still a work in progress?
GH: I feel very optimistic and it’s a good solid clean measure the bill. It doesn't go too far and I wish it was stronger in some ways, but I don’t think it’s so strong the opposition would fight back against it but it is strong enough to be meaningful and I am optimistic that this will pass into law. I've been doing this, working in public policy sector for about 16 years and I know anything can happen and so I am conscious and don't want to get too optimistic. But I feel really good about this measure and I am hopeful. If at the end of the day it passes it means a safer community and a cleaner environment for all people in Hawaii.
SV: There were some amendments I saw in the passage of this particular bill.
GH: Well right now we have nothing like in terms of buffer zones for example. This bill would establish modest buffer zones around every school in this state of around 100 feet which may seems like not a lot but it’s more than what we have now. It requires the largest users of restricted use pesticides to disclose their use which is something we don’t have right now, we don't have that requirement. And probably the most significant component is that it bans the use of chlorpyrifos which is a neurotoxin and which no other state has done that yet. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was going to do it and then President Trump appointed a new director who reversed that decision. So this is a chance for the state of Hawaii to really make a huge difference by banning chlorpyrifos which is a known neurotoxin and really, really bad stuff.
SV: So the argument that these types of pesticides are safe does not hold weight with you?
GH: Yes. And the opponents of this bill are the same opponents who historically would argue that asbestos is okay or that tobacco is ok or DVT is ok. They are deniers of the science. There's been several major studies that have proven beyond any doubt whatsoever that chlorpyrifos is very dangerous to pregnant women and the data is clear that there is no safe amount of exposure to a foetus of this particular chemical. It has been proven over and over again.
