State Battles Move to Cut Off Medfly Funds

In a move that shocked state authorities, a federal agricultural official has announced plans to cut funds for fighting Mediterranean fruit flies, and threatened to quarantine California’s huge harvest of fruit and vegetables unless the state picks up the entire tab.

But after Gov. Pete Wilson and others Tuesday angrily denounced the threatened cut of $20 million in federal funds, Sen. Dianne Feinstein was assured by U.S. Department of Agriculture officials late in the day that funding would be restored at some level.

Wilson issued his condemnation in a luncheon speech to a farm group Tuesday, declaring that the USDA’s policy, stated in a Feb. 22 letter, was “about as unfair as anything I can think of.”

The letter told the state that the USDA was cutting $20 million in federal funds for Medfly eradication. It said the state would have to come up with the replacement funds elsewhere or face quarantine of its multibillion-dollar harvest of fruit, nuts and vegetables.

“Please inform us of your ability to continue eradication activities and support of the federal quarantine after our withdrawal,” said the letter signed by G. Glen Lee, a USDA deputy administrator.

“Without your continued support,” Lee’s letter concluded, “we would be required to quarantine the entire state of California. The California industry should be notified of this impending quarantine so that they may begin to prepare their business activities accordingly.”

Lee, who could not be reached, wrote the letter 11 days after 34 members of the California congressional delegation, including both U.S. senators, urged Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy to continue funding the Medfly project.

“Without additional support, this crucial program will be shut down, leaving California’s agricultural industry vulnerable to severe damage by fruit fly infestation,” the delegation’s letter said.

The federal money is used to pay the salaries of 40 regulatory officers and 100 trappers, technicians and scientists. The money also pays for facilities in El Monte, Elysian Park and Los Alamitos where sterile fruit flies are reared, and where captured insects are identified.

Feinstein learned of Lee’s letter when she was asked for comment by a Times reporter on Tuesday. By day’s end, she had received assurances that she would be able to meet with Espy today, and an aide promised her that Espy would make an emergency request to restore funding, said Feinstein’s spokesman, Bill Chandler.

“Sen. Feinstein has been assured that the funding will be made available,” Chandler said. “That is the assurance tonight.”

Soon after, Wilson also was declaring victory, issuing a release saying he had called the Office of Management and Budget and secured “full funding” for the program.

“The decision will allow us to continue our efforts to fight the Medfly and will spare California farmers the crippling costs of a potential quarantine,” Wilson said.

In Washington, Espy spokesman Joel Berg confirmed that money will be restored to continue funding for now, but was not sure whether the full amount will be allocated.

Rep. Calvin Dooley (D-Fresno), California’s ranking Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee, said in an interview Tuesday he was “very concerned” about the funding cut, but added that there is “very real opportunity and likelihood that this decision can be reversed.”

The San Joaquin Valley congressman attributed the decision announced in Lee’s letter to the Clinton Administration’s failure to appoint deputy directors to assist Espy.

“This would not have happened if we had all the positions filled,” Dooley said.

Fruit fly infestations appear to be limited to Los Angeles and Santa Clara counties, with a smaller problem in San Diego County.

But agricultural officials fear that without an eradication program, Medflies could spread beyond Los Angeles and Santa Clara counties to richer farming areas.

A statewide infestation could cost $1 billion a year in pesticides and crop damage, said Carl DeWing, spokesman for the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

DeWing said $1.7 billion in produce exports to Pacific Rim countries also could be endangered. Countries with which California trades will not accept fruit and vegetables damaged by fruit flies or infested with maggots.

“We are very hopeful we can resolve this question before it becomes a crisis,” DeWing said.

After aerial spraying of malathion was halted in Los Angeles two years ago, state and federal authorities began fighting the blue-eyed insect by releasing sterile fruit flies.

In Los Angeles, authorities are releasing 350 million sterile fruit flies over a 260-square mile area. Another 40 million fruit flies are released monthly over Santa Clara County. The releases will continue until the summer.

“I think the funds will be found,” said said Los Angeles County Agricultural Commissioner Leon Spaugy. “I just can’t imagine that they would withhold funds and just walk away.”