SAN FRANCISCO -- Emotions ran high as environmental activists and worried local residents gathered at a meeting in San Francisco to express their concerns over the state of California's plan to spray Bay Area neighborhoods with pesticides this summer in an effort to control the light brown apple moth.

The areas where agriculture officials want aerial spraying include southern Marin County, an area of the East Bay stretching from Oakland to Pinole, all of San Francisco and the northern peninsula cities of Pacifica, Colma, Daly City and South San Francisco.

State officials say agriculture is at risk and that the spraying is safe. Some residents aren't so sure.

There were some fiery speakers Monday night at what officials called an environmental impact report scoping meeting. Almost 200 people turned out for the meeting, with just about everyone in attendance opposed to the idea of aerial spraying in San Francisco.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture wants to get public comment on its plans to spray about 700 square miles of northern California in an attempt to eradicate the light brown apple moth.

Food and agriculture officials say the apple moth was discovered in Berkeley last year. The Australian native threatens to destroy millions of dollars worth of crops, flowers and trees.

State officials say they'll use small planes to release a pheromone to disrupt the mating cycle of the moth.

The spraying has already taken place against strong public criticism in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties and is scheduled to start in the Bay Area August 1st.

The concerns being expressed regarding the spraying are varied. Some are worry about the effect on pets and children, while others question what else is in the spray besides synthetic pheromones. And there are some who simply don't trust any government spraying program.

Last Friday, Assembly Democrats introduced four separate bills to deal with pesticides. Santa Cruze State Assemblyman John Laird said the state was ill prepared to handle the light brown apple moth.

His bill introduced legislation that would force the California Department of Food and Agriculture to create a list of potential invasive species and how they can be eradicated. The department would have to explain what pesticide would be used and how it would be applied.

Legislation by Assemblywoman Loni Hancock of Berkeley would prohibit the agriculture department from approving pesticide use in urban areas unless the governor has declared a state of emergency.

Another by Assemblyman Jared Huffman of San Rafael would restrict the department's emergency powers. And a measure by Assemblyman Mark Leno of San Francisco would require an environmental impact report before pesticides targeting the light brown apple moth are used in an urban area.