Document grgYZyJe2gb8jjr6mM5eJ1yN

an end to use on federal lands of all products that have not gone through the full review process. At its inception two years ago, the Coalition advised EPA to ban all uses of 2,^+,5-T and other TCDD (Dioxin)-contaminated chemicals, and to initiate epidemiological studies to determine the extent of herbicide exposure among the general public. Delegates were pleased by the EPA emergency suspension last March, 1979, on some uses of 2,^,5-T and Silvex, but were unanimous in calling upon the agency to extend the suspension to all other uses, including use on fruit crops, rangelands, sugarcane and ricefields. "Since the chemi cals present an imminent health hazard in forests and along roads," said the group's spokesperson, "they also present an imminent hazard on grass and ap ples and rice." Delegates voiced a strong plea for public financial support to the Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides (FO Box 375* Eugene, Oregon 97^*0) an organization that has intervened on the public's behalf in the EPA can cellation hearings on 2,^,5-T and Silvex. The Northwest Coalition is collect ing evidence of citizen exposure to the herbicides, a study which none of the agencies responsible for the contamination has offered to finance. In addition to reiterating its request for public access to so-called "trade secrets" presented to EPA in support of product registration, the Coalition endorsed a nationwide boycott of Dow Chemical Company products. Dow is the chief manufacturer and major promoter of many of the chemicals used on public forests. The representatives from citizen groups around the country also pledged unan imously to broaden their efforts in helping Vietnam veterans join a cIabs action suit in regal'd to exposure to Agent Orange and other defoliants sprayed by the US in southeast Asia. Veterans wishing to know more about the suit should con tact Betty Davisson, 5^*0 Central Building, Seattle, Washington 9810^,(206) 622- Q C- r \ C . _ o j 4 n c cvi -*-1_ a _w \r . 1_ >nr rirtl r\ I / '>\ -\nn