[Revised Reduced-Risk Pesticides List for 2017]
Resolution Adopting a Reduced-Risk Pesticides List (“RRPL”) For 2017.
WHEREAS, Chapter 3, Section 303(e) of the San Francisco Environment Code allows the Commission on the Environment to exempt “reduced-risk” pesticide products from the pesticide ban imposed by the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Ordinance upon a finding that the “reduced-risk” pesticide is commonly used as part of an IPM strategy; and,
WHEREAS, The Department of the Environment annually performs an extensive evaluation of pesticide products that may qualify as “reduced-risk” pesticides in consultation with members of the public, scientists, and departments and agencies of the City and County of San Francisco; and,
WHEREAS, On March 22, 2016 the Commission on the Environment approved the RRPL 2016, which includes a new set of restrictions on certain herbicides used on City properties (“herbicide restrictions”) aimed at further reducing the use of these products; and,
WHEREAS, City departments involved with the citywide Integrated Pest Management Program have substantially reduced the use of certain herbicides as a direct result of the new herbicide restrictions; and,
WHEREAS, The Department of the Environment continues to work closely with other City departments to strengthen the implementation of the herbicide restrictions; and,
WHEREAS, Members of the public have expressed a strong desire for additional advance notification of any herbicide use planned for publicly accessible areas; and,
WHEREAS, New data on the hazards of the most commonly used herbicide ingredient, glyphosate, has amplified the need for additional advance public notification; and,
WHEREAS, The Commission on the Environment is strongly committed to the community’s right to know about potential hazards, as articulated in the Precautionary Principle Ordinance, and seeks to maximize the ability of city residents to avoid unwanted exposure to hazardous chemicals; and,
WHEREAS, The Department of the Environment has worked with other City departments to further improve and clarify the language in the herbicide restrictions as part of RRPL 2017; and,
WHEREAS, The Commission on the Environment’s Policy Committee has discussed and heard public testimony at 5 meetings since March 2016 on efforts to further reduce the use of pesticides on city property; and,
WHEREAS, The Department of the Environment has reviewed over 155 pages of public testimony submitted to the Commission; and,
WHEREAS, The Department of the Environment has strengthened and made significant improvements for public notification, and protection, based on public testimony, commissioner comments and suggestions, and recommends the attached RRPL 2017, for adoption by the Commission for the year 2017; now therefore be it,
RESOLVED, That the Commission on the Environment finds that the pesticide products on the RRPL 2017 are “reduced-risk” pesticides commonly used as part of an IPM strategy, and are therefore exempt from the ban imposed by Section 302 of the Environment Code; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Commission on the Environment requests that the Department of the Environment further explore best practices from other cities and work with other city departments to develop additional advance public notification, including, but not limited to, electronic notification tools, improved signage and flags, and periodically report on its progress to the Commission on the Environment Policy Committee.
I hereby certify that this Resolution was adopted by the Commission on the Environment at its meeting on March 28, 2017.
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Anthony Valdez, Commission Affairs Manager
Vote: 4-0 Approved
Ayes: Commissioners Bermejo, Hoyos, Stephenson and Wald
Noes: None
Absent: Commissioner Wan