THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, October 17, 1995 TAG: 9510170312
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DAVID M. POOLE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Short : 32 lines
An environmental group on Monday called on Gov. George F. Allen to revoke a recent ``citizen member'' appointee to the Virginia Pesticide Control Board.
Citizen Action said the appointment of Ralph B. Smith of Appomattox County was illegal because Smith is a licensed pesticide applicator. State law bars citizen members on state boards from having ties to industries they oversee.
An Allen spokeswoman said Monday that the administration was unaware of Smith's pesticide license when he was appointed in July.
``If indeed it was made in error, we will definitely take (Smith) off the board and put someone on who is fully qualified for the spot,'' said Betsy Beamer, Allen's secretary of administration. She said a final decision should be made soon after consultation with Allen and the attorney general's office.
``I applaud their effort to recognize a mistake,'' said Julie Holt, associate director of Citizen Action. ``I just hope they're more careful in the future.''
Smith is one of three citizen members on the 12-member board, which was established in the late 1980s after The Roanoke Times disclosed how lack of regulation had led to injuries and some deaths related to pesticide application. by CNB