Day 233 - 26 03 96 - Page 16

 
 

                                                                  DAY 233
 
                                                  HOWARD LYMAN, Examined:
 
 
 
     1        Can you just briefly state what the problems are that you
     2        referred to on the first line of that paragraph?
     3
     4   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Well, I do not mind you asking about when we
     5        get to the forest, but I specifically made a ruling that
     6        land damage in the US generally, anyway, was not a feature
     7        for the case.  Do you remember, you asked for leave?  It
     8        was one of the very many proposed amendments, and it was
     9        one of the few which I refused you leave for.  Are you on a
    10        different subject then?
    11
    12   MS. STEEL:   Really, what I am after is, basically, the same as
    13        we dealt with with Mr. Pattison, when we asked him about
    14        sewage run-off into waterways, and things like that,
    15        pesticides, the effects of -- I mean, perhaps Mr. Lyman has
    16        already dealt with the effect of pesticides.
    17
    18   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I have not stopped you reading that
    19        paragraph, but where it comes to wearing down the soil
    20        through overgrazing and everything else, I specifically
    21        said that that had nothing to do with this leaflet.  Do you
    22        remember that?
    23
    24   MS. STEEL:   I will take your word for it.  I do not remember
    25        it.
    26
    27   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  You had about five sheets with about 100
    28        amendments on, and I refused you leave in respect of about
    29        half a dozen of them, and this was one of the half dozen.
    30
    31   MS. STEEL:   Can I ask about the effects of -----
    32
    33   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Ask about the run-off, because, whether it
    34        turns out to be relevant or not, we have had some evidence
    35        on it already.
    36
    37   MS. STEEL:   (To the witness)  If you could just explain about
    38        that, then?
    39        A.  The thing that happens in the factory fit operations
    40        today is that there is so much contamination from faeces
    41        and run-off that it is almost impossible to contain it to
    42        the lot.  It does run off; and in the US today, the
    43        government will admit that the number 1 contaminant of our
    44        water today is coming from agriculture.  It is the pressure
    45        that is put on farmers.  The only control they have is,
    46        basically, to do more production.  They do not control
    47        their market; they do not control what they are paying for
    48        the product; and so the only thing they can do is to
    49        produce more units.  That is providing a tremendous problem
    50        as far as the environment and our water system. 
    51 
    52   Q.   What effect does it have when it gets into the water 
    53        system?
    54        A.  It basically makes it non-usable by humans.  It is
    55        contaminated.  The only thing that it can be used for,
    56        basically, is irrigation.  The water supply for most rural
    57        residents today is contaminated.  You either have to get
    58        other water or dig deep wells.
    59
    60   Q.   Is there an effect from these problems on the wildlife in
 
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