Most spraying halted in Calif. county

SANTA CRUZ, Calif., April 25 (UPI) -- A Santa Cruz County, Calif., judge has ordered the state to stop spraying for light brown apple moths while an environmental impact review is performed.

Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Paul Burdick ordered aerial spraying in the county to cease until the completion of a review state agriculture officials are performing on the environmental impact of the spray, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Friday.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced after the decision that planned sprayings in 12 counties are being postponed until Aug. 17 to allow time for safety tests to be performed.

Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary A.G. Kawamura said he plans to file an immediate appeal against Burdick's decision, saying the judge's order "threatens the safety of our agriculture, environment and economy."

"The light brown apple moth is a serious threat not just to Santa Cruz but to the entire state, and the method we are using is the safest, most progressive eradication program available," Kawamura.