Bringing information you can use for action about herbicides, pesticides and other toxic chemicals in northern California and around our shared world
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PG&E Spray Alert, Spring 2009 - PG&E Prefers Poisons On Power Poles
PG&E, the state’s largest owner of utility poles and right-of-ways, is applying herbicides this spring to reduce fire risk even though weed removal with string trimmers has proven effective.
Contractors for PG&E, such as Texas-based Trees Inc., are applying a toxic mix of several chemical formulations to control plants growing at the base of poles and within utility line right-of-ways.
According to a source within PG&E, poles displaying square aluminum tags and a separate six-digit number are scheduled to be sprayed while poles displaying a circular aluminum tag are managed mechanically. The determining factor is the type of equipment on the pole.
In some parts of the state, particularly in northwest counties, PG&E will not spray without the consent of property owners—and then its contractors will trim unwanted vegetation down to the soil. But in most areas, the utility giant won’t even bother to inform property owners about herbicide applications.
- No Notice -
Furthermore, where poles are within right-of-ways belonging to the state, county or city, the spraying is conducted without advance notification or posting to warn the public of the presence of toxic chemicals.
PG&E is using a witch’s brew of herbicides and chemicals, including:
Landmark XPx -- a blend of active ingredients sulfometruon methyl and chlorsulfuron, chemicals so potent that tiny amounts kill many plants outright and prevent seed and fruit production in others;
Gallery 75DF – with the active ingredient isoxaben, a possible carcinogen according to the EPA and listed by California as a potential groundwater contaminant;
Accord – which contains the active ingredient glyphosate of Roundup infamy;
In-Place and Syl-Tac, formulations that intensify the killing power of the herbicides.
These chemicals are so potent that one witness who came upon PG&E spraying early on a drizzly spring morning recounted smelling chemicals from 10 feet away and tasting them for an hour after the encounter.
- Widespread Spraying -
Neither human nor environmental exposure appears to be considered when PG&E makes its annual spray plan. Witnesses have reported herbicides applied along heavily used paths, sidewalks, bus stops and other public places--in addition to homes and yards. Herbicides are frequently applied near wells and streams, too.
What can you do? Contact PG&E to demand a stop to herbicide spraying. Call at 1-800-743-5000 – a live person has answered and found the information on spray plans for at least one inquiring person. Find out if the company plans to spray near your home, work, kids' school or wherever you care about--and tell PG&E to remove those weeds with a string trimmer. Manual ground clearing is the viable and safe option.
To find out where spraying is planned in areas of concern to you, call PG&E or the company’s main contractor, Trees Inc. (1-800-743-5000). Ask for specific information about location and date of planned spraying and demand that PG&E stop this unnecessary use of chemicals.
You can also call your city council member or county supervisor, depending on the location of spraying you are concerned about. Ask them to contact PG&E to stop the spraying or, at a minimum, to post notification where herbicides are applied. PG&E and other utility companies have options, especially mechanical removal of vegetation, which is better for workers, neighbors, and the environment!
In Northwest California, call Larry Rumensen of PG&E at 707-577-1026. For other areas, call PG&E.
