Family wants more specific herbicide spray time information

By Christy Marsters

The Hants Journal/NovaNewsNow.com

John Macumber was up at 6 a.m. Sept. 17, prepared to spend the entire day standing in a clear-cut field along Hiltz Road in Cambridge. He went there to prevent a company from spraying herbicides within 500 metres of his home.

The company said only what day the spraying would happen, with no specific time, John Macumber said. “So, I got up at 6 a.m. because I knew I had to go protect my family… I have a wife and a son with asthma.”

And, at about 9 a.m. Sept. 17, Precision Vegetation did roll up to the entrance of the clear-cut lot along Hiltz Road with intentions of herbicide spraying, John Macumber said. “I had my car parked at the end of the driveway and I wouldn’t move. I calmly explained my position -- I have a wife and a son with asthma… So then they turned around and left. “And, they said they’re not coming back,” John Macumber added. “This just goes to show that if people stand up to things those things can be stopped… but, it’s frustrating when people don’t listen and don’t care. Knowing what could’ve happened to my son.”

Dave Kavanaugh of Precision Vegetation said future activities for this plantation will need to be discussed with the woodlot owner wanting the area treated since the company was unable to treat it because of an illegal barricade placed at the entrance on the day of spraying. “The piece of land, scheduled to be treated, was planted with spruce seedlings. “The area was scheduled to be treated in an effort to release the young spruce seedlings from competing vegetation,” Kavanaugh said. “The treatment would increase survival of the young seedlings resulting in increased yield for the woodlot owner.

30 days notice “Residents adjacent (within 500 metres) to the plantation to be treated were notified with a written notice at least 30 days prior to treating the area as notices were placed in mail boxes, in front doors or delivered in person,” Kavanaugh said. “In addition to the 30-day notice, three adjacent residents asked to be notified the day before the treatment was to take place. This request was completed. “We have not treated the area along the Hiltz Road before,” Kavanaugh added. “But, the product that was to be used was Vision (a glyphosate product). It is the most widely-used herbicide in the world and science has convinced us that there is no associated health risks with the product when used according to the label.”

Sherri Macumber said the herbicide spraying would’ve been very dangerous to her eight-year-old son Wade, who has severe asthma. “Asthma is a disease of the lungs. It’s like living as if someone has plugged your nose and has told you to breath through a straw.”

Hants West MLA Chuck Porter said when John and Sherri contacted him and informed him of the spraying going on down in Cambridge, he wanted to insure it was being done in accordance with lawful legislations and that everyone in the area was properly notified.

Porter said, “I just tried to determine if the all rules were being followed… if residents were given proper notification. So, they could not be home during sprays.”

Should be more public

Spraying notifications should be more public and, if a company allowed to spray, it’s fine, Porter added, “but my number one priority is the health and safety of our residents.”

Cambridge resident Barbara Gallagher was concerned about the spraying and checked with the Department of Environment to find out what kind of signage was put up for this spraying, and then made a trip out Hiltz Road to see if she could see a sign.

There was a sign posted at the entrance of the lot, stating there would be spraying anytime after the Aug. 10, Gallagher said. “But, I think you should have a right to know exactly when … and people should have been more properly notified.” “I’ve been opposed to herbicide spraying for years,” Gallagher, who also chairs the CAPE environmental group, said. “It’s a health risk and pretty poor forest management.”

West Hants Warden Richard Dauphinee said council has asked people be notified about any spraying. “However, they can spray. We don’t have any ban against it.”

Spraying is a provincial guideline, Dauphinee said. “We have lots respect for the people around us … but we have a lot of agricultural land here too. Really, we’re in a catch 22.”

Fact box:

Notification Guidelines for Pesticide Spraying Approval of Forestry Herbicides * Notify the Department’s Central Region, Bedford Office, within a reasonable time prior to spray commencement so that arrangements can be made to monitor the program. Continue to keep the Central Region, Bedford Office, up to date with the progress of the Program as per a mutually acceptable arrangement. * Post access to all sites with signs approved by this Department no less than 30 days prior to pesticide application. Provide space on the signs for coloured fluorescent decals, which shall be applied when the program commences. All signs must display the following wording "There is to be no consumption of berries and fruit within this spray site(s) for the remainder of the growing season". Do not remove signs during the growing season. Remove all signs by November 1, 2008. * Deliver a written notice to the owner or occupier of all structures (ex: dwellings, businesses, schools, public buildings or other structures designated by an administrator) located within 500 m of the treatment site. Deliver written notices at least 30 days prior to applying pesticide. * The Approval Holder shall make all reasonable attempts to notify persons living in the vicinity of the treatment area who have requested pre-notification of when the application will be taking place. - From a Nova Scotia Environment application form for spraying in Hants County.