HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0489.820 2018-2020 i
urashige, Laura
From: Lynn Ryan <lynnr8@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday,January 07, 2020 7:23 PM
To: Council Testimony
Cc: lynn ryan; Riitta Ojala-Lipman
Subject: Bill 101 comments
January 7, 2020
Aloha Hawaii County Council,
I am a currently licensed Hawaii Registered Nurse in support of Bill 101.
Herbicide use in Hawaii,especially Hawaii County, is of great concern to me.
Roundupjglyphosate is the most egregious of the sprays being used.
It is time to begin phaseout. From newspaper reading, i understand specific roadways and specific parks will be the first
to stop using Roundup/glyphosate and other toxic chemicals.
I understand that creation of JOBSH is a reason to NOT to phase out herbicides??
I think making JOBS for people, healthy, non-toxic sustainable jobs, is a good reason to support Bill 101. It is time to stop
supporting chemical companies and the County of Hawaii equipment being now used for applying herbicides.
County cost factors must include the extended responsibility from chemical manufacturing through to disposal of
packaging. I recognize we have little control over chemical manufacturing costs, but we do bear responsibility as we the
County shop with taxpayer dollars for County services. If we don't buy the poisons,they will not be manufactured. Our
purchasing power may be a drop in the bucket to herbicide manufacturers, but it is a statement of purpose and position
for the people of Hawaii to just say NO.
Cost responsibility must include damage to wildlife and waterways. Rainwater brings everything downstream into the
sea, those chemicals pass thru shoreline ecosystems and into the water where fish, turtle and all marine wildlife live.
The cost factor to the health of people enjoying County and Federal parks is another hidden cost of poisons in our
environment.
As a licensed Registered Nurse in the state of Hawaii, I respect the World Health Organizations International Agency for
Research on Cancer and the US Department of Health and Human Services US National Toxicology Program for peer
reviewed information and recommendations for patient care. Both determine glyphosate as a "probable human
carcinogen."
According to Bayer/Monsanto, more than 43,000individual plaintiffs are in glyphosate lawsuits and the numbers
continue to grow. Hawaii County could be at risk for some sort of similar action with continued use of chemicals in public
places. Cost analysis of future liability should be factored into continued use in Hawaii of known carcinogens.
As an educational and safety action, I propose the County of Hawaii post advance signage stating when spraying will
occur in a Park, and keep the signs in place long after application,for many months. I believe IF local people and visitors
are aware of herbicide use on park lawns and roadways, and are aware which parks are not using herbicides, perception
of safe recreation and tolerance for more natural appearing public lands will evolve. It is time to start now.
Bill 101 will foster pilot studies on alternative weed control techniques, another educational tool that will surely be
covered in our newspapers, public forums, and newsletters.Again, perception of less risky recreation and tolerance for
more natural appearing public lands will evolve.
I fully support Bill 101 and currently talk about health and safety benefits of Bill 101 with my friends and colleagues.
Thank you for all you do.
Sincerely,
Lynn Ryan RN tS.
75-6016 Alii Dr#134 Comm. No + U
Ref. To: P G'
t Ref, u- ;. JAN_'_
Kailua Kona, HI 96740
707-845-2825
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