FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 27, 2005

Contact:

J. David Colfax
Supervisor - Fifth District
Mendocino County
(707) 895-3241

Sara O'Donnell, Executive Director
Cancer Resource Center of Mendocino County
(707) 467-3828

Britt Bailey, Director
Environmental Commons
(707) 884-5002

Carol Mordhorst, Director of Public Health
Mendocino County Public Health Department
(707) 472-2777

At their Tuesday, September 27th Board meeting, the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors approved a request by the Mendocino County Public Health Advisory Board to "conduct a ninety-day study of the Precautionary Principle." Supervisors Wagenet, Colfax, and Smith voted in favor of studying the Precautionary Principle in committee. Proponents say the Precautionary Principle would provide a guiding framework for policy planning and decision-making at the departmental level.

Mendocino County Board of Supervisors discuss placement of Precautionary Principle into Governance Committee.
From L-R: Supervisors Wagenet, Smith, Delbar, Colfax, and Wattenburger.

According to Sara O'Donnell, a member of the newly-formed "Mendocino Partnership for the Precautionary Principle" and Director of the Cancer Resource Center, "The Board's action is an important first step in the development of a way we as a county make decisions. The Precautionary Principle provides a guiding framework that will allow us to take into account more fully the ways in which local government impacts our resources, health, and well-being of future generations."

Supervisor Hal Wagenet placed the item on the agenda after reconsideration of his vote against the Precautionary Principle last week. Wagenet stated, "You all may be wondering why I am bringing this back? We have tough times ahead and we will need all of the tools in our toolbox to guide us in the right direction. I realized that I am not as interested in winning the race as I am in surviving the race."

Fifth District Supervisor David Colfax says that over the next three months the standing General Government Committee of the Board of Supervisors will be reviewing the ways in which the Precautionary Principle can be integrated into County government planning and policy processes. According to Colfax, "One of the key elements of the Precautionary Principle is that decision-making be transparent and community-friendly, and to that end I expect that the monthly meetings of our committee will be well-attended, informative, and productive." Colfax says that he hopes that a "guiding and formalizing" county ordinance could be put forward early in 2006.

The Mendocino Partnership for the Precautionary Principle has scheduled two public forums where residents can learn more about the Principle and its implications. The first will be held on October 13th in Fort Bragg, and the second on October 14th in Willits. For more information about the forums and the Precautionary Principle in general, see mendoprecaution.org or contact the Environmental Commons at (707) 884-5002.

See FAQ for further details on the Precautionary Principle.