Agenda item for January 2010 meeting re: protecting SJC's bald eagles from AMCD aerial spraying

Dear Chair Bequette:

Thank you for all of your courtesies during your year as Chair -- I hope you seek re-election at next month's meeting -- you have done an excellent job of providing effective and courteous leadership.

Will you please place on the AMCD's January 2010 meeting agenda a proposal to ban any and all future organophosphate (OP) or other toxic chemical aerial spraying anywhere near any of the bald eagle nests in St. Johns County, or any other endangered or threatened species? Here is a map:ftp://ftp.bocc.co.st-johns.fl.us/gis/media/MapMart/Bald_Eagle_Map.pdf

As you can see, it appears that there are bald eagle nests in harm's way near where some 101,000 acres of St. Johns County were sprayed with OPs earlier this year.

The bald eagle is our national symbol and was first proposed as such by Ben Franklin.

This proposal will avoid any future violations of federal criminal statutes (Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act and Endangered Species Act), while protecting our environmental heritage.

On October 8, 2001, Thompson Brothers Realty molested a bald eagle nest tree on Anastasia Island, resulting in a federal criminal prosecution and guilty plea. AMCD must take steps now to avoid criminal liability and protect bald eagles and other threatened/endangered wildlife.

I have sent a copy of this proposal to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, which you or one of the Commissioners may wish to invite to speak next month. Please invite: Andrew Aloise , Resident Agent-In-Charge, 352-429-1037.

With kindest regards, I am,
Sincerely yours,
Ed Slavin
Clean Up City of St. Augustine, Florida
www.cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com
P.O. Box 3084
St. Augustine, Florida 32085-3084
904-829-3877 (o)