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Show Garn blasts predator control restrictions U.S. Senator Jake Garn, Utah, recently expressed "deep disappointment" with the Administration's Ad-ministration's announcement of a modification of the Executive Order on Predator Control permitting the use of sodium cyanide by the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. "It is regrettable that the President chose to ignore the plight of the woolgrowers and sheepmen of the nation. I had hoped that any change adopted at this point would recognize reality and grant the possibility for relief that is needed so badly," Senator Garn said. "Although the President's action amounts to nothing more than a technical change, it just about forecloses any possibility of developments with other toxicants such as strychnine. "Some months ago, the White House requested my views on two proposals for amendments to the Executive Order banning the use of toxicants on Federal lands and Federal programs. One was drafated by the Council on Environmental En-vironmental Quality - and reflected the view that changes to the Executive Order should be as minimal as possible. The other draft was designed by some of the Congressional staffs most familiar with the problems. Without prior notification of Congress, the President chose to "go word for word with CEQ. "This action reflects the continuing assumption that its is best to regulate pesticides by i Executive Order. Congress determined in 1972 that pesticides should be regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency. Apparently, there are those who feel the EPA would yield to a real need, and permit the limited, controlled use of 1080 or some other toxicant. So they have put the pressure on to keep a catergorical ban on such toxicants by Executive Order, permitting only the one narrow exception of sodium cyanide. "In the face of the logic of the situation, with the crying need in the field and with the evidence that other chemicals can be used safely and effectively, I am sorry the President chose this course ol action. I know what pressure is heavy, but this ruling emphasizes em-phasizes the need to get thes decisions out of the politica' arena of the White House." |