Resolution Adopting a Revised Reduced Risk Pesticides List for 2016

[Reduced-Risk Pesticides List for 2016]

Resolution Adopting a Revised Reduced-Risk Pesticides List For 2016.

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, in consultation with members of the public, scientists, and departments and agencies of the City and County of San Francisco, annually performs an extensive evaluation of pesticide products that, in combination with specific use limitations, may qualify as “reduced-risk” pesticides; and,

WHEREAS, The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) recently categorized glyphosate the active ingredient in Roundup® as “probably carcinogenic to humans,” and the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment has recently categorized glyphosate as a “chemical known to the state to cause cancer” under the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986; and,

WHEREAS, In response to these determinations, the Department of the Environment, together with other San Francisco Bay Area public agencies, has reviewed the City’s use of glyphosate and similar herbicides and developed the attached Policy on the Safe Use of Herbicides (Herbicide Policy); and,

WHEREAS, On December 16, 2015 the Department of the Environment held a public hearing on pest management practices on City properties and the IPM Program Reduced-Risk Pesticides List for 2016, hereafter called the “RRPL 2016”; and,

WHEREAS, The RRPL 2016 includes the Herbicide Policy and the attached Restrictions on “Most Hazardous” Herbicides; and,

WHEREAS, The RRPL 2016 has come before the Commission on the Environment Policy Committee twice, on December 14, 2015 and January 11, 2016, and the Policy Committee has recommended the RRPL 2016 for adoption by the Commission on the Environment for the year 2016; now, therefore, be it,

RESOLVED, That the Commission on the Environment finds that the pesticide products in the RRPL 2016, in combination with the use limitations specified in the RRPL 2016, 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 San Francisco Environment Code; and, be it,

FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Commission on the Environment approves the attached RRPL 2016 until the March 22, 2016 Commission on the Environment meeting; and, be it,

FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Commission on the Environment requests the Department of the Environment to provide an implementation update to the Commission, through the Commission’s Policy Committee at its regularly scheduled March 14, 2016 committee meeting.

I hereby certify that this Resolution was adopted by the Commission on the Environment at its meeting on January 26, 2016.

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Anthony Valdez, Commission Affairs Manager

Vote:            7-0 Approved

Ayes:            Commissioners Arce, Wan, Bermejo, Hoyos, Omotalade, Stephenson and Wald.

Noes:           None

Absent:         None