We Need a Regional Policy for NStar Herbicide Program!
Tell Your Legislators We Need a Regional Policy for NStar Herbicide Program!
APCC urges you to contact your state legislators and board of selectmen or town council today about NStar's herbicide spraying program on Cape Cod. The electric power utility recently announced plans to conduct herbicide spraying this spring and summer along its Cape Cod easements. NStar plans to use herbicides in 2010 in all Cape towns except Provincetown and Mashpee.
APCC is concerned about potential impacts to the environment and human health from herbicide use near wetlands, public water supply areas, private wells, rare species habitats and other sensitive areas found along the easements that run throughout most of the Cape.
The spraying is part of NStar's vegetation management program, which in the past has solely relied on mowing and pruning to control vegetation that could pose a hazard to power lines or impede access for repairs and maintenance. As a public utility, NStar is exempt from certain state and local laws restricting the use of herbicide and other pesticide use.
Because of the unique characteristics of the Cape's sandy soil and prevalence of sensitive natural resources, APCC has advocated for the establishment of a Cape-wide policy that would meet NStar's vegetation management program goals while protecting the Cape's natural resources and human population from potential exposure to herbicide chemicals. Currently, the Cape Cod Commission is working with several towns to help identify the location of private wells and other sensitive areas, and has initiated preliminary talks with NStar with the goal of reaching agreement on a Cape-wide policy.
To help ensure that these important discussions continue, please contact your town leaders and state legislators today to express concern about the NStar herbicide program and to ask them to work with the Cape Cod Commission, NStar and other stakeholders on the adoption of a region-wide herbicide policy for Cape Cod.
Contact information for the Cape's state legislators is found below. Click HERE to find out which legislative district you live in and please, forward this message to friends and neighbors.
Legislator Contact Information:
Rep. Demetrius Atsalis
Room 167
State House
Boston, MA 02133
617-722-2810
Rep.DemetriusAtsalis@Hou.State.MA.US
Rep. Susan Gifford
Room 542
State House
Boston, MA 02133
617-722-2976
Rep.SusanGifford@Hou.State.MA.US
Rep. Timothy Madden
Room 167
State House
Boston, MA 02133
617-722-2810
Rep.TimothyMadden@Hou.State.MA.US
Rep. Matthew Patrick
Room 540
State House
Boston, MA 02133
617-722-2090
Rep.MatthewPatrick@Hou.State.MA.US
Rep. Sarah Peake
Room 473F
State House
Boston, MA 02133
617-722-2210
Rep.SarahPeake@Hou.State.MA.US
Rep. Jeffrey Perry
Room 136
State House
Boston, MA 02133
617-722-2396
Rep.JeffreyPerry@Hou.State.MA.US
Rep. Cleon Turner
Room 540
State House
Boston, MA 02133
617-722-2090
Rep.CleonTurner@Hou.State.MA.US
Senate President Therese Murray
Room 332
State House
Boston, MA 02133
617-722-1500
Senator Robert O'Leary
Room 511-B
State House
Boston, MA 02133
617-722-1570
Robert.O'Leary@state.ma.us