HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0489.145 2018-2020 From: Mary Marvin Porter
To: Council Testimony;Council Testimony
Subject, Support for Council Bill 101 to limit the County's use of chemical pesticides and herbicides
Date: Monday,October 14,2019 2:38:05 PM
Aloha Council Members,
I support Council Bill 101 to limit the County's use of chemical pesticides and herbicides. As well as a hazard to
human health,chemical weed killing has the potential to contaminate habitats of sensitive populations of endangered
species such as bee's and butterfly's which are essential to healthy ecosystems. Chemical weed killers sprayed in
even light breezes can result in over-spraying and damage to desirable vegetation and horticultural crops.
There are other ways to manage roadside vegetation.Marin County,California,and Jefferson and San Juan
Counties in Washington have complete bans on roadside herbicide use;Yamhili County,Oregon,manages their
roadsides using pesticides only as a last resort;Clallam County,Washington,does not use herbicides on existing
roads;and Thurston County,Washington,has an almost complete ban on pesticide use,allowing only case-by-case
exceptions.All of these counties have developed techniques for effectively managing roadside vegetation without
herbicides,and some have maintained functional roadsides without the use of herbicides for over twenty-five years.
Some cities in Australia,Canada and the USA are using a machine that sprays super-hot steam on roadside
vegetation. In parks mulches of bark could be used to suppress weeds. Clallam County uses county jail crews
when it is necessary to pull large numbers of weeds.
Please vote for Council Bill 101.
Mary Marvin Porter
Island Eyes Video
Kea'au Hawai'i
808-982-9100
Comm. Mo
Ref. To:
Ref. Date 19