|
Road Agencies
Given the seriousness of the public health consequences and environmental effects associated with the use of herbicides, our public agencies should take the lead in reducing and eliminating the use of these toxic chemicals. Nowhere is this more important in terms of protecting public health than in the facilities most essential to and most used by the public.
State highways and county roads, where tens of thousands of people work and millions drive or live nearby, certainly qualify as critical public facilities. These roads are also where toxic herbicides are used in large amounts each year. Clearly, something has to change.
Based on its investigation of state and county herbicide use on our public roads, CATs urges Caltrans and county road agencies to immediately begin to make the following changes for the health and well being of all those who work or travel on California's thoroughfares:
Invest at least as much as the agencies now spend on chemicals - up to $6 million annually for Caltrans and an equal or a greater total amount for counties - to implement alternative means of vegetation control already available and to rapidly develop and implement promising new alternatives.
Audit already existing records to fully assess the actual external and internal cost of using herbicides to provide a basis for comparison to alternatives on which to base future policy development.
Contract with Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM) experts to recognize and eliminate unnecessary spraying; change landscaping and other vegetation control practices to eliminate spraying solely for appearance; do not use herbicides where safety is not the primary consideration.
During the transition from chemical to nonchemical means of vegetation control, provide accurate advance notification, on-site warnings and records detailing herbicide use; make these records readily accessible to the public; identify and mark all school bus sites and areas frequented by children and other members of the public for the purpose of eliminating all herbicide use in these areas.
Set a realistic, step-wise schedule for reducing the amount of herbicides used by these agencies - but only when they can demonstrate that they cannot immediately quit spraying herbicides. One such schedule, for example, would be to cut herbicide use by 50% by the year 2001 and by another 25% by the year 2003, with a final, substantial decrease by a certain date, after which herbicides are to be allowed only in case of substantial emergencies.
Set reduction of herbicide use by acreage and road mile as well as by volume of chemicals.
The director of Caltrans - acting on behalf of the governor - and elected county officials should set herbicide reduction schedules. Implementation of these schedules should be overseen by agency and citizens' committees composed of experts from relevant fields and interested parties who do not stand to profit from roadside vegetation control practices.
The Public
For the general public, public interest organizations and community groups, CATs recommend that they:
obtain information about the use of herbicides on roadsides in the local vicinity from Caltrans or county road agencies. Information about herbicide use by these agencies for a typical year is available by county in the appendix of this report. To obtain more specific information, the assistance of locally elected officials may be necessary.
make the information known throughout local communities and join with other health, environmental and civic-minded individuals and organizations to seek the support of locally elected officials.
approach the city council or county board of supervisors to request that they vote to end roadside spraying by their own agencies and by Caltrans within their jurisdiction.
request that a District Roadside Vegetation Management Advisory Committee be formed in the appropriate Caltrans District; be involved in the selection of committee members and attend meetings. Addresses for each of the twelve Caltrans District offices are available on the inside of the back cover.
get involved in the stormwater permitting process of roads in the appropriate Regional Water Quality Control Board. All road agencies where concentrations of 100,000 people reside must have a Stormwater Discharge Permit which is renewed every five yeas and prohibits the discharge of toxic chemicals. Permits for rural roads will be required soon. Public involvement is essential to the permitting process and agencies must provide adequately protective permits.
|
