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> The worst experience I have had was one time finding all the weeds and <br /> > grasses behind my house had overnight turned a bright yellow due to <br /> > broad <br /> > applications of herbicides. Because of records of my previous requests, <br /> > the Maintenance crew had to come out and remove most of the contaminated <br /> > soil (to who knows where ?) Since then they have tried bark chips with <br /> > and <br /> > without geotextile ground cloth (material made from recycled plastic <br /> > milk <br /> > containers) to inhibit the growth of grasses and dandelions. They have <br /> > also occasionally mowed the weeds with a weed eater or recently just let <br /> > them grow. All are short-lived solutions. I have asked that some sort of <br /> > no- maintenace ground cover be planted in that area since Parks people <br /> > have <br /> > little interest in tending that area. <br /> > Today I immediately called Public Works and was able to speak to Bob <br /> > Hammitt <br /> > and later to Adrian Stansfield at Parks Maintenance. They both said they <br /> > would look into the problem. Mr. Stansfield said that they will <br /> > consider <br /> > using no or low maintenance plantings in that area, such as native <br /> > species. <br /> > There are several issues that are disturbing about today's incident, not <br /> > to mention wasting my time having to deal with this problem again and <br /> > again: <br /> > 1. The endangerment of the health of my family and others in the <br /> > neighborhood and community. A fact sheet about the toxicology and about <br /> > human exposure and the ecological effects of Roundup (Glyphosate) can be <br /> > found on Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides' website <br /> > http: / /www.efn.org / -ncap <br /> > 2. A city employee who disregards and disrespects citizens. <br /> > <br /> > 3. The Parks department surely has an integrated pest management policy <br /> > which states that Roundup and other like herbicides are to be used only <br /> > as <br /> > a last resort and only in spot applications and never on days when it is <br /> > expected to rain. <br /> > 4. The weather report for today was "cloudy with chance of rain ". <br /> > Roundup, used on a days when it might rain will wash directly into the <br /> > storm water system. P.O.E.A., a surfactant found in Roundup, is highly <br /> > toxic to aquatic organisms. <br /> > 5. There are no "safe" herbicides. By their own definition they are <br /> > designed to kill something. HERBICIDES SHOULD BE BANNED FROM USE IN <br /> > EUGENE <br /> > ESPECIALLY ON PUBLIC LAND SUCH AS SCHOOLS AND PARKS. <br /> > I would appreciate your looking into this incident further and doing <br /> > something about permanently eliminating this threat to community health <br /> > and environment. <br /> > Yours sincerely, <br /> > David Gusset 342 -2772 <br /> Page 4 <br />