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Article: New report: Spraying coca in Colombia doesn't harm the environment.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)
- Article from:
- Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service
- Article date:
- September 5, 2002
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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WASHINGTON _ The Bush administration told Congress on Thursday that its program of aerially spraying herbicide on coca crops in Colombia may cause eye irritation to farmers on the ground but poses no other significant health or environmental risks.
The 180-page report, which watchdog groups criticized as flawed, came as U.S. officials hope to intensify aerial spraying in Colombia to battle the illegal narcotics industry.
"We believe that this is an extremely important program and that we will achieve positive results by the end of the year," said Paul Simons, acting assistant secretary of state for international narcotics matters.
The State ...