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Council reinstates
herbicide use |
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By Trista Steers
Larson Newspapers
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Sedona City Council
reinstated a managed weed control plan that uses herbicides no more than four
times a year in response to citizen concern.
Council voted 5-2 at its
meeting Jan. 9 to start using herbicides again after a 120-day trial period
during which the city didn’t use them for weed control
.
Sedona City Council
reinstated a managed weed control plan that uses herbicides no more than four
times a year in response to citizen concern.
Council voted 5-2 at its
meeting Jan. 9 to start using herbicides again after a 120-day trial period
during which the city didn’t use them for weed control.
Vice Mayor Jerry Frey and
Councilman Rob Adams voted against reinstatement of herbicide use.
City staff moved the
meeting out of the Council Chambers for that item so chemically sensitive
residents who wished to speak against herbicide use could attend. Earlier that
day, roofing crews sprayed a chemical while repairing the chambers’ roof, and those with chemical sensitivity couldn’t be in the
building without getting sick.
“There’s a certain segment
of our population that’s adversely affected by this,”
“I think we need to
protect our citizens,”
Other council members
agreed a long-term solution further scaling back herbicide use needs to be
considered, but at a later date.
Councilman Harvey Stearn said without hard facts linking herbicides to health
problems, he couldn’t completely condemn their use.
“I think a measured
approach is important,” Stearn said.
Council will re-evaluate
the new plan in a year, and during that time, directed staff to begin planning
for the future.
Residents told council
members about the health concerns related to herbicide use for chemically
sensitive individuals and the general population during public comment.
“Even using a small amount
would be detrimental to human health,” Matthew Turner said.
Turner founded Vibrant
Sedona — group dedicated to addressing chemical use’s effects on health — and
he has a bachelor’s degree in environmental science.
According to a report issued
by the Sierra Club of Canada in January 2005, the chemical 2,4-D
— or 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid — causes many health problems in mammals.
Turner points out that people, yes, are mammals too.
Cell mutations leading to
cancer, reproductive concerns regarding conception and fetus development and
interference with neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine are among health
risks cited by the Sierra Club.
Chemically sensitive
individuals suffer from immediate symptoms and are vulnerable to long-term effects
as well.
Verde Valley Weed Control
— contracted by the city — uses 2,4-D when spraying
Sedona.
Ginny Rench,
co-owner of Verde Valley Weed Control, said while 2,4-D
is used, it’s in small amounts.
Turner said the amount
used is irrelevant because 2,4-D doesn’t break down.
It builds up each time sprayed.
Also, 2,4-D
is approved by the Environmental Protection Agency, Rench
said.
The chemical’s EPA
approval makes Rench feel comfortable using it. She
trusts the agencies that regulate the chemicals, Rench
said, and therefore accepts their approval.
Turner said while he
respects the EPA, they are underfunded and can’t
study all the effects of each chemical.
The EPA has also approved
many chemicals, according to Turner, and later found them to be toxic.
Verde Valley Weed Control
only uses chemicals it is comfortable with, Rench
said.
“There are harsher
products on the market we choose not to use,” Rench
sad.
The city contracted Verde
Valley Weed Control in 1995 to spray weeds and has used its services since.
Rench said her company is licensed by
the Structural Pest Control Commission of the state of
SPCC requires employees to
undergo yearly training for renewal of the license while checking Verde Valley
Weed Control’s operation regularly, Rench said.
City staff will begin
applying herbicides in March and do so every other month until November.
Herbicides won’t be used during the winter months — November through February.