Should Roundup Herbicide Be Used in Township Parks?

 

At the 12 June 2024 Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting, supervisor Elen Snyder asked the Board to approve a plan for a “pollinator” garden in Roberts Ridge Park. The proposed plan was submitted by Stockton, NJ, Garden Designer Britney O'Donnell.

During the discussion, the issue of using Roundup herbicide to prepare the area for planting – i.e., to kill the turf grass – came up. After a lively “discussion,” the BOS approved this project by a 3-2 vote (Calabro and Davis voting nay). Listen to/view the discussion on Youtube...

Ms. O’Donnell opted not to be present at the meeting to answer questions and to confirm the process that will be used to kill the turf grass. Apparently, a couple of influential Newtown residents “pushed back” on the potential use of Roundup for this project and Ms. O’Donnell was quoted by Ms. Snyder as saying “I'm not going to touch the Roundup part of it and I'm going to do it in a different way.” That “different way” is vinegar, which is not a herbicide.

At the meeting, Ms. Snyder noted that “the use of Roundup, which I think [Ms. O’Donnell] initially proposed, is not going to happen.” “[This] is unfortunate,” said Ms. Snyder, “because [Ms. O’Donnell] is licensed [aka, “certified,” see below] to [use Roundup] and she knows how to do it properly. [If Roundup were used as originally planned,] we would cordon off the area… she's dressed [in a protective] suit and … does everything … according to law and what she is licensed for.”

Vinegar is an Effective Alternative

In any case, it turns out that vinegar is effective in killing turf grass. The first round of vinegar solution turf killing spray has been applied to the pollinator garden area in the park, and the area is cordoned off (see image below). There will be a second application “The vinegar spray is intense,” says Supervisor Snyder, “so I hope everyone stays well beyond the barrier,” which Ms. Snyder personally erected.

NOTE: A “Community Planting” Event Is Planned

Help the #NewtownPA Environmental Council plant a "pollinator garden" in Roberts Ridge Park. The event is from 9am-5pm on Saturday, October 12, 2024 and Sunday, October 13, 2024. This event is hosted by Supervisor Elen Snyder.

You can confirm that you plan to be there via FB: https://www.facebook.com/events/429645046766283

Residents Are Concerned About Use of Roundup

Recently, I received a complaint from a resident claiming that Roundup is being used in township parks and playgrounds: "One concern of mine,” said resident Gabriel Gall on my Facebook page, “is that the parks department uses Roundup, which is known to cause environmental impacts and cancer, around trees and the playground where my kids play. Here's an example of where it's sprayed - at the base of the tree (see image). You can see how dead the grass is compared to everything else. I've seen families put blankets and have picnics below these trees at Veteran's Park." The following photos were supplied by Ms. Gall:

“I asked yesterday when the guys were spraying by the elementary school (the walking path across the street) why no herbicide signs were deployed? They took the suggestion and thought it was a good idea to indicate that herbicides were present. The guys spraying had disposable gloves - spraying around the base of trees, curbside, and spot treating along the way.”

I confirmed that Roundup is used in Newtown. Township Manager Micah Lewis admitted that “they do treat weeds, etc. with herbicides for maintenance purposes.” Joe Schiavoni, the Public Works Director, expanded upon this in an email:

“We are registered with the Pa Dept of Ag. and have two gentlemen on staff who are certified with the Dept of Agriculture as applicators, they are the only two people we have on staff that are legally allowed to spray/apply pesticides. Both of these gentlemen go to constant training to keep their certification current and to stay up to date on the latest products & safety protocols.”

I guess by "pesticides" Mr. Schiavoni includes herbicides under that category as in as defined by the Pennsylvania Pesticide Control Act (see “Pesticide Applicator Certification” above). In any case, Mr. Schiavoni admits "Roundup is one of the more common ones [herbicides] we use..."

Pesticide Applicator Certification

The Pennsylvania Pesticide Control Act covers all aspects of the regulation of pesticides in the Commonwealth, including certification of pesticide applicators. According to the “Pennsylvania Pesticide Applicator Certification” website, “Pesticides are substances that control, kill or mitigate pest organisms. They include, but are not limited to, herbicides, fungicides, insecticides and rodenticides.”

“As for signage we do not post prior to spraying,” said Mr. Schiavoni, “I have no issues purchasing signage and posting prior to spraying in the future.” Upon my request, Mr. Schiavoni agreed to use signage prior to spraying in areas frequented by children and other visitors to our parks and schools.

Another Alternative to Roundup

The first application of herbicide spraying for the Hatboro's Lawn-to-Meadow project began on Monday, 23 Sept 2024 (read "Herbicide Spraying For Hatboro Lawn-To-Meadow Project Begins").

The herbicide to be used in this area is known as Aqua Neat which uses the primary active ingredient of Glyphosate, N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine, in the form of its isopropylamine salt. This herbicide is very low in toxicity and is an aquatic-rated herbicide and has been tested for safety on organisms including fish, macroinvertebrates, birds, honeybees, etc.).

What About the Pollution Reduction Plan?

In order to have a rain water drainage system separate from the sewer system, the PA Dept of Environmental Protection (DEP) requires that the Newtown Township must have a plan to reduce rain water drainage into the streams, which can become polluted when the rain water carries in pollutants. To do this, the Township came up with a pollution reduction plan to convert some open fields to meadows that will absorb rain water before it can enter the streams. The open fields at Roberts Ridge Park are key components of that plan, which was modified after extensive comments from local residents.

During discussions of the Roberts Ridge Park meadow plan at the 24 April 2019 BOS meeting I enquired how the grassy areas in parks would be converted to meadows and Mr. Lewis mentioned that, according to his understanding, chemicals like Roundup have to be used to first kill the grass. I then asked if there were environmentally friendly ways other than using Roundup to do this. Mr. Lewis noted that there are other products approved by the DEP and EPA for use in wetland areas.

Back in March 2024, the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) sent the following email message to Mr. Lewis who forwarded it to supervisors:

“PA DCNR is inching closer to advertising your lawn conversions [including the Roberts Ridge Park meadow] for public bid. The speed bumps have been … execution of grant funding contracts and legal review of landowner agreements,” said DCNR Watershed Specialist Karen Ogden. “I’m told they fully expect work to begin – turfgrass kill – later this summer for a fall seeding. Worst case scenario is preparation and seeding spring 2025. So, as the grass starts to grow, please mow. I cringe just a little bit but if you stop mowing, in invites invasive weeds to grow and seed, exactly what we don’t want to happen.”

Many people use this park, which is also abutted by the Newtown Walk development to the south and Goodnoe Elementary School to the West, not to mention the many joggers and pedestrians using the trail along the park on Lower Dolington Road and Frost Lane. We need to know better what the timeline is for the implementation of this plan so that we may prepare for it, especially with regard to proper notification of local residents prior to the use of herbicides and the measures that will be taken to prevent access to the site once herbicides have been deployed.

Posted on 19 Sep 2024, 01:05 - Category: Public Safety