In Thursday, October 23rd Bulletin I was surprised to read "Suterra likely to relocate to Juniper Ridge". Suterra is a pesticide/biochemical company who plans to build a new factory in Bend. Their most well known product, Checkmate, is a genetically modified product they refer to as a pheromone. This is the chemical that was aerially sprayed over Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties in 2007. The ingredients include "tricaprylyl, methyl ammonium chloride and polymethylene polyphenyl isocyanate.
In Monterey and Santa Cruz counties more than 600 families filled out illness reports. Respiratory, reactive airway disease, asthma type illness, and eczema were most commonly noted. Their watershed fouled, many birds died, many songbirds disappeared. Pets, including dogs, cats, rabbits and fish in landscaping ponds died. Beekeepers reported massive die offs.
In short, our inhabitants, wildlife, domestic animals and our environment are at risk. Aren't Lava Ridge and Skyline schools just south of this site? Usually sites such as this are targeted for communities in the lower socio economic level. Just imagine what impact this will have on housing prices. They will never recover.
The City Council should stop Suterra from turning our beautiful town into a private pesticide laboratory, not facilitate its move here behind closed doors. As troubling as this may seem it is also important to note the secrecy surrounding the transaction. The purchase and sale agreement were not available to the public before, during, or after the agreement. There was no public hearing held before the agreement. According to Juniper Ridge Info, Juniper Partners will receive a $146,000 fee for this deal. Our city councilors have failed us.
Louise Henderson
