Irreversible damage

Last Wednesday, I joined around 250 other people who attended a public hearing with the Plant Board. At least 70 people, including myself, chose to make public statements as the board considered changing the cutoff date for use of dicamba on crops. The current cutoff date is April 15 and the hearing was to discuss moving the date to May 20 but requiring a one-mile buffer around the spray area.

The issue with extending the date into a warmer month is that the product volatizes even days after application in warmer temperatures, and the volatility drift can impact areas far away from the spray area. The EPA recognizes this problem and so do the scientists who have studied it.

The majority of the speakers spoke against the extension. Several against the change were organic farmers or restaurant owners who fear that their business will be ruined by dicamba contamination. Several were concerned citizens who fear the loss of habitat for migrating birds and pollinating insects. There, of course, were people speaking in favor of the change: farmers who want the extension, and a chemical industry representative.

Although the speakers began at 9 a.m. and continued into midafternoon, I rejoiced in being a part of what I thought was the democratic process. However, the outcome proved to be anything but democratic. Somehow—through a confusing chain of events—the board decided to extend the use of dicamba until May 25 with a buffer of a half-mile. This outcome wasn’t even on the table.

Apparently, the entire day was a sham, a travesty. Clearly the board members only pretended to listen to the public and had their own agenda planned in advance. They neither listened to the science nor the common-sense pleas to protect our environment and our future. I asked them to consider their legacy. Unfortunately, they chose a legacy of creating irreversible damage.

NANCY DECKARD

Little Rock