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8 <br /> oravi.oe Cmcvut� <br /> O'0MV1 .'�sS'&ov►, for the G-vuv'brovxvv ev,,t <br /> Mevu.ora wdu.vu. <br /> To: Barry Jacobs, Chair <br /> Board of County Commissioners <br /> From: Hervey McIver and Johnny Randall, Co-Chairs <br /> Date: December 4, 2006 <br /> Re: Comments from the Commission for the Environment Regarding <br /> the Use of Herbicides in Utility and Roadside Rights-of-Way <br /> In September, the Board of Orange County Commissioners referred to the <br /> Commission for the Environment (CfE) for comment concerns raised by citizens <br /> regarding herbicide use by Duke Power within their powerline rights-of-way <br /> alongside a public road. This memo expresses the thoughts and recommendations <br /> of the CfE on herbicide use in general and on the value of rights-of-way as wildlife <br /> and native plant habitat. <br /> In recent years, utility companies maintaining rights-of-way have moved away <br /> from mowing to the use of herbicides for controlling woody vegetation. The NC DOT <br /> (to a limited extent) and railroad companies also use herbicides to control woody <br /> vegetation within their rights-of-way. The use of herbicides to control woody <br /> vegetation is becoming more common because of cost (labor and equipment) and <br /> logistical (steep slopes and vehicular access) issues. <br /> In response to an inquiry into the Duke Power incident, a company <br /> representative stated in an e-mail that, in the case in question, a combination of <br /> Accord concentrate (diluted to 3.1%) and Arsenal was used. Glyphosate is the <br /> active ingredient in Accord and is non-selective in its lethal effect on plants. <br /> Imazapyr, the active ingredient in Arsenal, is a broadleaf-specific herbicide that has <br /> non-selective plant effects through soil activity. <br /> The Commission for the Environment has concerns about herbicide use in all <br /> rights-of-way since even broadleaf-specific herbicides affect non-target plants via <br /> soil activity. The loss of vegetation on these sites has negative impacts on the <br /> environment and natural diversity. <br /> Our specific concerns are outlined below. <br /> 1. Roadsides and utility rights-of-way represent a documented refugium <br /> for many common and rare native grasses and herbaceous plants that <br /> Com l2cG55LON.for the Fx v rokLmet t t <br /> C/o oraktge oouN,t(� FRCP <br /> Po gox 8181/.so6 4 Revere Road <br /> HzCCsborough No 2728 <br /> P19)24S--200 <br />