HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0392.076 2014-2016Murashiqe, Laura
From:
nancy r-ecifeather <nredfeather@kohalacenter.org>
Sent:
Saturday, August 01, 2015 12:35 PM
To:
Council Testimony
Cc:
Eoff, Karen; Kanuha, Dru; Nancy Redfeather; Wille, Margaret
Subject:
Testimony for Bill 71 - Hilo Council Meeting Tuesday August 4
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From: Nancy Redfeather
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P.O. Box 906
Kealakekua, Hawaii 96750
Testimony for Bill 71
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August 2, 2015..
Com..
Aloha Chair Kahuha, Vice -Chair Eoff,
and Members of the Council,
I realize that this is not a simple matter. All though the 1990s I worked with the Kona Outdoor Circle on this issue of
roadside spraying. At one point they even brought a truck from New Zealand that used the Waipuna Hot Foam system
and conducted a demonstration for the County. Because of the start-up cost, and the cost for the foam solution that is
sprayed (coconut and corn product) which is comparable to the cost as spraying herbicides, it was decided to just keep
spraying herbicides.
However the County has all the equipment (truck compressor„ etc.) and really only needs to buy the solution. Here is
the link to this system, and their could be other systems out there that could also work, some research into this area
could yield interesting results. This is what New Zealand uses.
http://www.invasive.org/gist/tools/hotfoam.html
Since the 1990s much research has happened on herbicides especially atrazine, paraquat, and Round-up/glyphosate.
The new report by the UN FAO Center on Cancer Research a month ago, stating that glyphosate was now moved into
the "probable carcinogen" class has really big a very big thing. Last week, the EPA moved to announce that they would
begin a long term study on 1500 endangered plants and the effects of glyphosate. One would think that humans would
also be important enough to study at some point. Currently the USDA has removed glyphosate from residues in
produce that they test. So obviously there are some politics going on here.
Hopefully at some point soon, we can begin having a conversation with DOE/Facilities that uses it regularly even on the
soil and plants of school yards and school gardens. Hawai'i is one of the states that has no regulations regarding
herbicides and pesticides on school campuses.
Maybe instead of banning this without a workable and economic solution in hand, it would be better to assign someone
in the County to do a brief research study on alternative systems and report to the Council by X time. In the meantime
the Council could take a few steps that would show the community that they are serious about tackling this issue, like
get a report from your grounds people as to how much herbicides are sprayed per year, (quantity) and where, and ask
the people doing the work to suggest alternatives for each "type"'of terrain they spray.
The Council could also decide to stop spraying at the two main County buildings and "experiment" with your
maintenance staff on "alternatives." These suggestions would give the public confidence that the Council also has
concerns and wants to do the pono thing.
Ref. To: l eme,
1 Ref. Dote AUG 04..Z015.
Removing toxic herbicides and pesticides from the environment will go a long way toward improving overall
environmental and community health.
Mahalo,
Nancy Redfeather
Kawanui Farm
Honalo, Hawai'i
808-322-2801