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; and,

WHEREAS, In response to concerns expressed by members of the public and by the Commission on the Environment at its January 26, 2016 meeting, the Department of the Environment has further modified the Restrictions on “Most Hazardous” Herbicides, and

WHEREAS, The modified restrictions now include a requirement that pesticide applicators applying “most hazardous” herbicides within City limits be under the direct supervision of a person licensed by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation, and,

WHEREAS, The modified restrictions also include other measures intended to protect public health, including the use of blue indicator dyes and physical barriers for certain treatment sites, now, therefore, be it,

RESOLVED, That the Commission on the Environment finds that the pesticide products in the RRPL 2016, in combination with the modified Restrictions on “Most Hazardous” Herbicides use 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; 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 November, 2016 Committee meeting and further requests that the Department of the Environment present an analysis to the full Commission that outlines a pathway to significantly reduce the use of Tier 1 herbicides including the possibility of a phase out within two years in:

(a)  Public parks;

(b)  All areas in which these herbicides are used by the City and County of San Francisco.

I hereby certify that this Resolution was adopted by the Commission on the Environment at its meeting on March 22, 2016.

____________________________________

Anthony Valdez, Commission Affairs Manager

Vote:            4-1 Approved

Ayes:            Commissioners Omotalade, Stephenson, Wald and Wan

Noes:           Commissioner Hoyos

Absent:         Commissioner Bermejo