A. Marine scientists are concerned about balloons as a threat to marine life, especially sea turtles and endangered species. It has been documented that turtles eat balloons because they look like jellyfish on the surface of the water. The rubber blocks their intestines and kills them.

B. Rubber balloons and the attached string have caused obstructions in animals’ bodies, and mylar balloons cause toxins to build up in animals’ bodies, both actions resulting in the animals’ deaths.

C. Neither latex nor mylar balloons are biodegradable.

D. Air currents can blow balloons hundreds and thousands of miles from their release points.

E. The states of New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts have bills pending to prohibit balloon launches, and the cities of Alameda, Redondo Beach, Torrance, Westminster, Burbank and Signal Hill have similarly adopted such prohibitions.

F. The Endangered Species Act requires a Federal permit if a planned action could result in the death of an endangered species.

G. Pacific Gas and Electric officials warn that semi-metallic (silver coated mylar) balloons cause short circuits which can black out entire communities at a cost of $40,000 to $100,000 per incident.