Malathion Spraying May Start Tonight : Medfly: Court to decide if aerial application of pesticide will occur in Riverside County.

A lawsuit filed by the city of Corona in an attempt to halt aerial spraying to fight an infestation of the crop-ravaging Mediterranean fruit fly is scheduled to be heard this morning by a Riverside Superior Court judge.

Unless halted by the court, the controversial malathion spraying will start tonight.

Corona city officials contend that widespread application of the insecticide would jeopardize public health. They also argue that the state failed to abide by its own regulations by not conducting an environmental impact report on the spraying and its effects.

State officials have long maintained that, with the exception of short-term rashes in isolated cases, the aerial spraying of malathion does not cause health problems. They say quick action is needed to prevent the pest from spreading to other agriculture-rich regions in the state.

Further, since Gov. Pete Wilson signed an emergency declaration because of the presence of the Medfly in Corona, state officials say no environmental impact report is needed.

Meanwhile, a delegation of local officials testified in Sacramento on Tuesday before the Senate Agriculture Committee on the spraying controversy.

They said malathion could be harmful not only to people but to pets and livestock.

“You can take your cat or dog indoors,” said Corona Councilman Dick Dreininger. “But horses and sheep don’t fit in your living room very well.”

Corona City Manager Bill Garrett said he has no confidence that “we are being told the truth. And there is a lack of consistency in the information that we do receive.”

Riverside County Supervisor Melba Dunlap urged the state to divert sterile Medflies being used in Los Angeles County, or at least combine aerial spraying with ground spraying to minimize the impact on residential areas and livestock.

But Henry Voss, director of the Department of Food and Agriculture, said there are not enough sterile Medflies to go around.

“We don’t have enough sterile Medflies,” Voss said. “You can’t get to the top of the trees (with ground spraying). You don’t get good coverage. Some people aren’t home, their yards are locked up, and there are dogs.”

Dr. Rick Kreutzer of the Department of Health Services and Dr. Jim Stratton of the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment said malathion spraying does not pose a substantial health risk.

“What is the health risk of malathion?” asked Sen. Robert Presley (D-Riverside) during Tuesday’s hearing.

“It is exceedingly low,” Kreutzer replied.

“What would you do if your kids were sprayed?” the senator asked.

“I wouldn’t do anything” Kreutzer said.

Stratton told the committee more was known about malathion than almost any other pesticide. “It is one of the safest and least toxic pesticides,” he said.

But Sen. Ruben Ayala (D-Chino) shot back: “It sends the wrong signal to say to get the kids and pets indoors when you are going to spray. If there is no risk, why do you do that?”

Gorman reported from Riverside and Gillam from Sacramento.