keeper of wild places: roundup herbicides

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

roundup herbicides

This cannot be happening
It just doesn't make sense when people that studied environmentalism, are trying to tell me that herbicides are less dangerous to the environment then mowing.

But this is what Yukon Energy and government workers with Yukon environment are trying to tell me.

Please lets stop this madness

this is what Yukon Energy says:

Yukon Energy has more than 1,000 kilometres of transmission lines, and we must keep the right-of-ways under the lines clear to ensure reliability of our system. Currently we mow the right-of-ways and manually remove the trees under our powerlines. However vegetation experts have reviewed our practice and suggest that using herbicides in addition to our current practices will provide benefits both from an economic and an environmental standpoint.

Using herbicides would mean that the right-of-ways would be disturbed less often by heavy equipment, because we wouldn’t have to manually remove vegetation so often. It could promote the growth of grasses and other vegetation desirable to animals and humans, since herbicides can be selectively applied to target certain plants or trees. It also reduces bird nest disturbances.

This summer, we will be testing some herbicides in the Whitehorse area to see if it makes sense for us to add their use to our vegetation management program.

The small plots, near the Long Lake Road and in the vicinity of the Takhini Hot Springs Road, will be clearly marked with signs before the work begins. See the maps below for their exact locations.

Herbicides are commonly used by utilities elsewhere in Canada and abroad. The ones we are testing have been recommended by environmental experts and have been approved as safe to use by Health Canada.

We will begin our test program on July 8th and run for two weeks. During this time, we ask that you not walk through the plots, and that you prevent your pets from walking through them. While it isn’t a hazard for you to walk in the area, it could affect the results of our testing.

Please contact us if you have any questions.

The herbicides to be tested are Garlon XRT #28945, Roundup Transorb Liquid Herbicide #28198, and Arsenal.

As for the debate about “rights of way” versus “right of ways”, the Merriam-Webster dictionary says both are acceptable.

And this is what the government says

Hi Jozien,

Here are the labels of the products that Yukon Energy’s contractor is going to be using. The applicator is required by both federal and territorial law to follow the instructions of the label. I’ve also attached a copy of the permit for the applicator. The permit outlines some restrictions that they must follow. I hope this information is helpful.

Thanks

Jennifer

Jennifer Dagg

Environmental Protection Analyst

Environment Yukon

P: 867-667-5610

Yukon government welcomes your input on proposed changes to the permitting regime under the Environment Act

http://www.env.gov.yk.ca/environment-you/PermitRegimeReview.php

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