HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0392.065 2014-2016Murashige, Laura
From: Janice Palma-Glennie <palmtree7@earthlink.net>
Sent: Sunday, August 02, 2015 1:01 PM
To: Council Testimony; Kanuha, Dru; Wille, Margaret; Eoff, Karen; David, Maile; Ilagan,
Greggor; Poindexter; Valerie; Chung, Aaron; Paleka, Daniel; Onishi, Dennis
Subject: Please support Bill 71 - stop toxic herbicide spraying
AUG. 4th, 2015 - 2:30pm HILO/ Environmental Management Committee
Aloha, council members,
I strongly support Council Member Margaret Wille's BILL 71 which directs the county to stop spraying herbicides on
county property.
I've been in the landscape/horticulture industry in Kona for over 25 years. I have never had to use Round Up in that
time to control weeds in my nursery or on my 1.5 acres. There are many viable alternatives to controlling weeds
including cutting and spraying with less toxic chemicals (i.e., Scythe, an herbicide whose main ingredient is
pelargonic acid). Acetic acid (aka vinegar) is an effective herbicide being used on the mainland in many
municipalities (Carbondale Colorado) in a solution which is approximately twice the strength of salad vinegar.
Though alternative, less toxic methods of weed control can cost more in labor, the cost of chemicals like
glyphoshate are huge. And, of course, the reason for this bill and discussion are the human costs of spraying toxic
chemicals. Those costs are much -harder to quantify with devastation including. medical care bills, loss of work,
family disruption, and who knows what else?
Hawaii Island Landscape Association member, Micah Barker, who writes for their publication "Hawaii Landscape".
He uses only organic, nontoxic approaches to his landscape maintenance. Where my expertise is in the plant
nursery and landscape design, his is on -the -ground maintenance which is the information this body needs to have
most (besides the details of harm being caused and /or suspected by chemicals like glyphosphate).
Mahalo for considering my views on this critical topic that it of importance to all who live in and visit hawai'i.
Sincerely,
Janice Palma-glennie
Kailua-kona
Comm: No.
Ref. To: F 914G.
Ref. Date a AUG 0 4:, 2015
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Comm: No.
Ref. To: F 914G.
Ref. Date a AUG 0 4:, 2015