AGENDA #3a(3)
From: Julie Vann [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Monday, October 03, 2005 11:18 AM
To: Town Council
Cc: Wendy Smith
Subject: Petition for Integrated Pest Management
I am writing to petition the Council to develop and adopt an Integrated Pest Management plan for the Town of Chapel Hill and Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation Department. I am requesting that this plan include plans and provisions to eliminate use of herbicides in Chapel Hill parks, soccer fields, greenways and other spaces where these chemicals are used.
Herbicides and pesticides are poisons; and, the risks of pesticides are not yet fully understood, especially in combination with other environmental exposures, and as they relate to children, people with asthma and allergies, and other vulnerable populations. Scientific research indicates that children can be more sensitive to toxic substances in their environments as their bodies are growing and developing. And, the current state of pest control technology is such that effective suppression of pest populations can be achieved without regularly scheduled pesticide use or the broadcast application of herbicides or pesticides to open surfaces.
The General Assembly of North Carolina supports the School Children’s Health Act (House Bill 1502) which states “it is incumbent upon State government to address public health and environmental issues in the classroom and on school grounds in order to protect the health of school age children.” This Bill further outlines: “schools can reduce or even eliminate the risks of pesticides by using simple, low-cost methods, such as Integrated Pest Management.” It is an important start to reduce toxic exposures in our children’s schools. However, this is not sufficient. We need to move beyond this to reduce toxic exposures in areas where children play. And, we need to preserve the quality of our groundwater.
Thank you for considering my proposal.
Sincerely,
Julie Jacobson Vann, PhD, MS, RN
122 Hillspring Lane
Chapel Hill, NC 27515
919-967-9777