{"id":14150,"date":"2014-09-25T00:01:28","date_gmt":"2014-09-25T04:01:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/?p=14150"},"modified":"2014-09-29T09:25:45","modified_gmt":"2014-09-29T13:25:45","slug":"garden-city-of-alaska-passes-comprehensive-pesticide-ordinance-bans-bee-toxic-pesticides","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2014\/09\/garden-city-of-alaska-passes-comprehensive-pesticide-ordinance-bans-bee-toxic-pesticides\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cGarden City of Alaska\u201d Passes Comprehensive Pesticide Ordinance, Bans Bee-Toxic Pesticides"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>(Beyond Pesticides, September 25, 2014) Last week, the Borough of Skagway, Alaska passed a comprehensive vegetative maintenance pesticide ordinance, joining a growing number of localities across the country in enacting restrictions that protect human health, wildlife, and the wider environment from the hazards associated with unnecessary pesticide use. Among a number of notable accomplishments, Skagway\u2019s <a href=\"http:\/\/www.skagway.org\/vertical\/sites\/%7B7820C4E3-63B9-4E67-95BA-7C70FBA51E8F%7D\/uploads\/Ord._14-15_Limiting_Herbicide_CLEAN.pdf\">Ordinance 14-15<\/a> makes it the first municipality in Alaska to ban the use of bee-toxic neonicotinoids by government employees. However the new law goes further, prohibiting the <em>sale and use<\/em> of neonicotinoid-containing products on all <em>public and private<\/em> lands in the Borough of Skagway. The state of Alaska is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beyondpesticides.org\/lawn\/activist\/documents\/StatePreemption.pdf\">one of seven states that affirms the right of a local jurisdiction \u00a0<\/a>to restrict pesticide use throughout its jurisdiction by not adopting law that preempts localities.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Seal_of_Skagway.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-14151\" src=\"https:\/\/www.beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Seal_of_Skagway.png\" alt=\"Seal_of_Skagway\" width=\"292\" height=\"300\" align=\"right\" \/><\/a>Skagway, Alaska\u2019s <a href=\"http:\/\/www.skagway.org\/vertical\/sites\/%7B7820C4E3-63B9-4E67-95BA-7C70FBA51E8F%7D\/uploads\/Ord._14-15_Limiting_Herbicide_CLEAN.pdf\">Ordinance 14-15<\/a> also:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Prohibits the sale and use of persistent herbicides (persistent according to the <a href=\"http:\/\/compostingcouncil.org\/persistent-herbicide-faq\/\">US Composting Council<\/a>) on public and private property.<\/li>\n<li>Prohibits the use of restricted herbicides within 300 feet of any waterway.<\/li>\n<li>Creates a list of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.skagway.org\/vertical\/sites\/%7B7820C4E3-63B9-4E67-95BA-7C70FBA51E8F%7D\/uploads\/7B.3_Restricted_Herbicide_list.pdf\">restricted pesticides<\/a> (based in part upon the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.takomaparkmd.gov\/safegrow\/list-of-restricted-pesticides\">list of pesticides restricted<\/a> in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/?p=11318\">Takoma Park, Maryland<\/a>).<\/li>\n<li>Although the ordinance establishes a waiver system by which restricted pesticides may be used, there are stringent requirements to receive a waiver, and neonicotinoids and persistent pesticides are never eligible for a waiver that would allow use.<\/li>\n<li>Prohibits the use of restricted pesticides by municipal agents and employees except in extreme circumstances in accordance with the waiver process.<\/li>\n<li>Contains an education component which encourages private landowners to practice organic pest management.\n<ul>\n<li>The ordinance does allow private landowners to apply up to 2 gallons of restricted or 90 lbs of weed and feed on their property;<\/li>\n<li>However, the law stipulates that homeowners should consider all least-toxic options before pesticide use on private property is allowed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Establishes civil fines for noncompliance of $1,000 for each day in violation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The Borough of Skagway is a major tourist destination 80 miles from the capital of Alaska, Juneau, with a year-round residency of 900 that accommodates over 900,000 visitors in the summer months. Contrary to the notion of Alaska as a bitter cold destination, Skagway is in USDA hardiness zone of 6a, a mild climate with temperature ranges similar to Columbus, Ohio. In 1988, the Governor of Alaska declared Skagway the \u201cGarden City of Alaska.\u201d Local activist Kim Burnham, who helped organize and promote the passage of the Skagway ordinance, notes that \u201cthere are many private gardens, fruit trees and even a large show garden\u201d in the borough.<\/p>\n<p>Skagway\u2019s path towards these strong protections from pesticides is intermixed with state-level politics and the powerful railroad industry, which operates throughout Alaska and Canada&#8217;s Yukon Territory. In 2013, the Alaska Department of Transportation (ADOT) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/?p=9749\">implemented a new rule<\/a> that eliminated the opportunity for the public to comment on the proposed use of pesticides on state rights-of-way, essentially allowing spraying to take place without any public knowledge or input. The move met <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/?p=7718\">staunch opposition<\/a> from elected leaders such as state Representative Les Gara (D-Anchorage) and environmental groups like <a href=\"http:\/\/www.akaction.org\/\">Alaska Community Action on Toxics<\/a>. In response, Skagway drafted a pesticide ordinance, yet did not yet propose it after determining that the borough did not have jurisdiction to regulate pesticide use on Alaska state-owned lands. However, the municipality drafted a letter to ADOT requesting that the agency refrain from using herbicides in the borough. So far, ADOT has honored that request, though other areas in SE Alaska <a href=\"http:\/\/www.alaskapublic.org\/2014\/08\/27\/dot-to-commence-herbicide-spraying-in-southeast\/\">have not been as lucky<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/whitepasspesticides.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-14156\" src=\"https:\/\/www.beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/whitepasspesticides-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"whitepasspesticides\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" align=\"right\" srcset=\"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/whitepasspesticides-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/whitepasspesticides.jpg 650w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>The issue was reignited when, earlier this year, the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.yukon-news.com\/news\/white-pass-applies-for-herbicide-permit\/\">White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad announced its intent<\/a> to spray <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beyondpesticides.org\/gateway\/index.php?pname=glyphosate.htm\">glyphosate-based herbicides<\/a> along over 65 miles of railroad <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beyondpesticides.org\/infoservices\/pesticidesandyou\/documents\/UpdatedROW.pdf\">rights-of-way<\/a> on both sides of the border. Residents in both Alaska and Canada\u2019s Yukon Territory were outraged, citing concerns over water quality, wildlife, and human health. Kim Burnham <a href=\"http:\/\/www.skagway.org\/vertical\/sites\/%7B7820C4E3-63B9-4E67-95BA-7C70FBA51E8F%7D\/uploads\/4_Burnham_herbicide_letter_2014.pdf\">wrote a letter to the Skagway\u2019s local leaders<\/a>, who then wrote to the railroad. The Yukon Conservation Society (YCS) also spoke out strongly against the planned spraying. \u201cWhat about salmon? We know the chinook run\u2019s a disaster this year,\u201d said Lewis Rifkind of YCS to <em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.yukon-news.com\/news\/white-pass-applies-for-herbicide-permit\/\">Yukon News<\/a><\/em>. \u201cWe\u2019re not saying that herbicides could wipe out the chinook, but you know, you get these \u201d\u02dcdeath by a thousand cuts\u2019 scenarios. Why take the risk?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The railroad did hear community concerns, and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.skagway.org\/vertical\/sites\/%7B7820C4E3-63B9-4E67-95BA-7C70FBA51E8F%7D\/uploads\/11_White_Pass_to_MOS_Herbicide_June_30_2014.pdf\">decided to \u201csuspend indefinitely\u201d<\/a> its herbicide program. Although the railroad asserted its right to proceed with the spraying, it also noted in its letter to stakeholders that, \u201cThrough the interaction within our communities we have been made aware of alternative, non-herbicide related methods that may also meet our goals, in a way more appreciated by our neighbors.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Although some were satisfied by the railroad\u2019s response, Ms. Burnham and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.skagway.org\/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&amp;SEC=%7b924BB3AB-BB28-4369-A4B5-C80B0CCE8FD5%7d&amp;DE=%7b464E2DBB-8A19-4D8D-B753-BFAD914FED1E%7d\">numerous other Skagway residents urged the municipality\u2019s assembly<\/a> to resurrect the previously drafted pesticide ordinance to address the potential for any future spraying. Ms. Burnham notes that the lack of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beyondpesticides.org\/lawn\/activist\/documents\/StatePreemption.pdf\">preemption language in Alaska\u2019s pesticide laws<\/a> helped create the impetus to move forward with the ordinance.<\/p>\n<p>Community input led to a number of revisions, available to view through <a href=\"http:\/\/www.skagway.org\/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&amp;SEC=%7b924BB3AB-BB28-4369-A4B5-C80B0CCE8FD5%7d\">Skagway\u2019s government website,<\/a> but ultimately arrived at an ordinance which broadened the scope of pesticide restrictions in light of scientific evidence of adverse impacts to humans and the wider environment (see the \u201cWhereas\u201d declarations in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.skagway.org\/vertical\/sites\/%7B7820C4E3-63B9-4E67-95BA-7C70FBA51E8F%7D\/uploads\/Ord._14-15_Limiting_Herbicide_CLEAN.pdf\">Ordinance 14-15<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe neonicotinoid ban was added mainly due to good timing,\u201d Ms. Burnham says. \u201cDuring the early stages of the ordinance (Aug 2013), there was a surge of media reporting evidence that neonics were a main cause for pollinator declines. A short time after bringing the ordinance forward, there was more evidence pointing to these same pesticides being \u00a0responsible for bird declines, and I also became aware of evidence that insects, especially butterflies, may be migrating northward in \u00a0response to climate change. \u00a0These additional findings may make the neonicotinoid part of the ordinance that much more pertinent to our area.\u201d As a result, Ms. Burnham says that the assembly integrated the BEE Protective <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beyondpesticides.org\/pollinators\/documents\/Pollinator_Resolution2013.pdf\">Community Pollinator Resolution<\/a> into its ordinance.<\/p>\n<p>As for the outright ban on persistent pesticides, the municipality is planning on creating a composting program in the future. Persistent herbicides like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beyondpesticides.org\/pesticides\/factsheets\/clopyralid.pdf\">clopyralid<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beyondpesticides.org\/infoservices\/pesticidesandyou\/documents\/aminopyralid.pdf\">aminiopyralid<\/a> have been linked to contamination and damage in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/?p=385\">home gardens<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/?p=4044\">farmer\u2019s fields<\/a>, as well as <a href=\"http:\/\/vtdigger.org\/2013\/06\/10\/herbicide-that-contaminated-green-mountain-compost-now-effectively-banned-in-vermont\/\">municipal compost piles<\/a>. Aminiopyralid has been banned for sale and distribution in New York, and is restricted from use on pastures in six other New England states.<\/p>\n<p>Skagway\u2019s story is another example of the power residents can harness when they engage with local leaders and the broader community. The municipality\u2019s actions follow a successful vote earlier this year in another vacation destination, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/?p=13570\">Ogunquit, Maine.<\/a> In both cases, pesticide protections were crafted to responds to the community&#8217;s  \u00a0unique local needs. In 43 states, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beyondpesticides.org\/lawn\/activist\/documents\/StatePreemption.pdf\">pesticide preemption<\/a> effectively prevents localities from enacting legislation that protects a locality\u2019s distinct environment from chemical hazards. And even in states where no explicit preemption language is present, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/?p=13932\">industry has challenged the rights of localities<\/a> to respond to their own unique needs, as has occurred in Kauai, Hawaii.<\/p>\n<p>We strongly encourage residents pushing for pesticide protections not to be discouraged by the current make-up of state laws, and push their local and state leaders to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beyondpesticides.org\/lawn\/activist\/index.php\">fight against these regressive policies<\/a>. Where local private property bans are not currently possible under state law, work towards restrictions on pesticide use on public property. Whether a small municipality or a large city, education and action on unnecessary pesticide use makes an enormous difference; for our own drinking water, for the most sensitive among us, children, and the elderly, for our pollinators, and for the unique environment and the flora and fauna where you live.<\/p>\n<p>For additional tools to support your efforts to adopt \u00a0pesticide \u00a0policy in your community, see Beyond Pesticides\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beyondpesticides.org\/lawn\/activist\/index.php\">Tools for Change<\/a>, and visit the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beyondpesticides.org\/pollinators\/index.php\">BEE Protective<\/a> webpage, or give us a call at 202-543-5450.<\/p>\n<p><em>All unattributed positions and opinions in this piece are those of Beyond Pesticides.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Source and Photo Credit: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.skagway.org\/\">Skagway.org<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.yukon-news.com\/news\/white-pass-applies-for-herbicide-permit\/\">Yukon News<\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>Update: While the original article described the ordinance as restrictions on &#8220;cosmetic&#8221; pesticides, this was changed to &#8220;vegetative maintenance&#8221; to more accurately reflect the intent of the ordinance.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>(Beyond Pesticides, September 25, 2014) Last week, the Borough of Skagway, Alaska passed a comprehensive vegetative maintenance pesticide ordinance, joining a growing number of localities across the country in enacting restrictions that protect human health, wildlife, and the wider environment from the hazards associated with unnecessary pesticide use. Among a number of notable accomplishments, Skagway\u2019s Ordinance 14-15 makes it the first municipality in Alaska to ban the use of bee-toxic neonicotinoids by government employees. However the new law goes further, prohibiting the sale and use of neonicotinoid-containing products on all public and private lands in the Borough of Skagway. The state of Alaska is one of seven states that affirms the right of a local jurisdiction \u00a0to restrict pesticide use throughout its jurisdiction by not adopting law that preempts localities. Skagway, Alaska\u2019s Ordinance 14-15 also: Prohibits the sale and use of persistent herbicides (persistent according to the US Composting Council) on public and private property. Prohibits the use of restricted herbicides within 300 feet of any waterway. Creates a list of restricted pesticides (based in part upon the list of pesticides restricted in Takoma Park, Maryland). Although the ordinance establishes a waiver system by which restricted pesticides may be used, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[249,52,21,7,10,56,93,19,276,13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14150","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-agriculture","category-alaska","category-chemicals","category-lawnslandscapes","category-pesticide-regulation","category-pets","category-pollinators","category-statelocal","category-take-action","category-wildlifeenvironment"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>\u201cGarden City of Alaska\u201d Passes Comprehensive Pesticide Ordinance, Bans Bee-Toxic Pesticides - Beyond Pesticides Daily News Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2014\/09\/garden-city-of-alaska-passes-comprehensive-pesticide-ordinance-bans-bee-toxic-pesticides\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"\u201cGarden City of Alaska\u201d Passes Comprehensive Pesticide Ordinance, Bans Bee-Toxic Pesticides - Beyond Pesticides Daily News Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"(Beyond Pesticides, September 25, 2014) Last week, the Borough of Skagway, Alaska passed a comprehensive vegetative maintenance pesticide ordinance, joining a growing number of localities across the country in enacting restrictions that protect human health, wildlife, and the wider environment from the hazards associated with unnecessary pesticide use. Among a number of notable accomplishments, Skagway\u2019s Ordinance 14-15 makes it the first municipality in Alaska to ban the use of bee-toxic neonicotinoids by government employees. However the new law goes further, prohibiting the sale and use of neonicotinoid-containing products on all public and private lands in the Borough of Skagway. The state of Alaska is one of seven states that affirms the right of a local jurisdiction \u00a0to restrict pesticide use throughout its jurisdiction by not adopting law that preempts localities. Skagway, Alaska\u2019s Ordinance 14-15 also: Prohibits the sale and use of persistent herbicides (persistent according to the US Composting Council) on public and private property. Prohibits the use of restricted herbicides within 300 feet of any waterway. Creates a list of restricted pesticides (based in part upon the list of pesticides restricted in Takoma Park, Maryland). 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