MASSACHUSETTS EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS
Department of Agricultural Resources
251 Causeway Street, Suite 500, Boston, MA 02114 617-626-1700
www.mass.gov/agr
PUBLIC HEARINGS: VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PLAN NOTICE
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
http://www.mass.gov/agr/pesticides/rightofway/vmp/MassDOT-D6-VMP-2011-2015.pdf
Pursuant to the Rights-of-Way Management Regulations (333 CMR 11.00) in order to apply pesticides to control vegetation to maintain Rights-of Ways, the Department of Agricultural Resources must approve a Vegetation Management Plan (VMP) and a Yearly Operational Plan (YOP). The VMP is intended to justify the need to control vegetation, identify target vegetation, describe the intended methods of control, describe methods for identifying sensitive areas, describe operational guidelines for applicators, outline a program of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) designed to reduce the use of herbicides, and describe alternative land use activities.
The following municipalities are advised that the MassDOT Highway Division District 6 proposes to utilize herbicides to treat their Rights-of-Way in these municipalities:
Boston, Braintree, Brookline, Cambridge, Canton, Chelsea, Dedham, Dover, Milton, Needham, Newton, Quincy, Randolph, Somerville, Watertown, Wellesley, Weston, Westwood, Weymouth, Winthrop
PUBLIC HEARINGS SCHEDULED:
In accordance with 333 CMR 11.05 the Department of Agricultural Resources will conduct a regional hearing to receive public comment on the proposed Vegetation Management Plan for the MassDOT Highway Division District 6 as submitted by the MassDOT Highway Division 6, 185 Kneeland Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111.
To provide all interested parties an opportunity to comment on the proposed VMP, public hearings will be held at the following locations:
Wednesday, January 19, 2011: MassDOT, John Driscoll Building, 668 South Ave, Weston Turnpike Depot, Weston 10:30 AM- 12:00 PM
Plans Available for Public Review Prior to Hearings: http://www.mass.gov/agr/pesticides/rightofway/vmp/MassDOT-D6-VMP-2011-2015.pdf
Section 11.05 (3)(d) of the Row Management Regulations provide: “At least 21 days prior to the end of the public comment period, the applicant shall send a copy of the proposed VMP to the chief elected official, the Board of Health, and the Conservation Commission in affected communities upon their request.” Such request should be made to:
Mr. Helmut Ernst District Highway Director MassDOT Highway Division District 6 185 Kneeland Street Boston, MA 02111
2010 VMP: http://www.mass.gov/agr/pesticides/rightofway/yop/MassPike-MADOT-YOP-2010.pdf
