Newton Herbicide Notification List UPDATE 8 8 2011

Newton Herbicide Notification List UPDATE 8 8 2011

Update Addendum. 

Notice: rec'd 8/8/2011  3:40 pm MA Dept. of Transporation Herbicide Application Notice for I-90, Published in the Boston Herald, June 5, 2011

 Herbicide Notification Update  August 8, 2011

Let me know if you would like to be taken off this list or if you get duplicate emails.  Feel free to forward to friends and neighbors. Questions? Call Ellie 617-965-9637,  Green Decade 617-965-1995  Don't Spray 'em. Outsmart 'em.

1 )  Do you see any "sensitive area" flags or markers on the MBTA, Railroad, Turnpike or roadways, parkways, sidewalks or trails in Newton or surrounding towns?  Please take photos and send them to me.  See marker descriptions below.* 

2 )  No spray

Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation: DCR- Division of Urban Parks [PDF]

At the Newton Conservation Commission meeting on July 28, Environmental Planner Anne Phelps did not approve DCR's maps. They did not show sufficient detail to identify sensitive areas. Phelps asked for better maps.  Therefore Newton did not approve DCR's plan to apply herbicides this year, 2011, to Hammond Pond-Lost Pond PKWY, Saw Mill Brook Area, Quinobequin Rd, Charles River Reservation.

MBTA: MBTA - Vegetation Management Plan (2011-2015) [PDF]

According to John McNally, Newton Department of Health, the MBTA will not apply herbicides on the Greenline in 2011. 

3 ) I am still trying to find a find out about:

CSX: CSX Transportation Inc. [PDF]

According to the 2011 plan, "CSX intends to commence initial application of herbicides on June 6, 2011. Application in an area may be delayed by rain or windy conditions. Application will conclude on or before July 1, 2011. Any touch-up spraying that may be required will commence after

August 1, 2011 and will conclude by August 31, 2011."

CSX operates over and maintains nearly 670 miles of railroad track and maintains nearly 530 public and private grade crossings in Massachusetts.

3a)  8 9 2011:  According to Linda S. Smith, Environmental Analyst with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Highway Division, I-90 has already been sprayed.

I-90 in Newton was sprayed on 7/28 and 8/3.

Did anyone see this notice in the Boston Herald?   See Notice:  MA Dept. of Transporation Herbicide Application Notice for I-90, Published in the Boston Herald, June 5, 2011 .  MASSDOT HIGHWAY DIVISION DISTRICT 6 (includes Turnpike (I-90) from Boston to Weston.)  
MassDOT District 6 - Vegetation Management Plan (2011 - 2015) [PDF]

Linda Smith also said that a notice was published July 31 for the MA DOT herbicide application for I-95 for other towns but not in Newton.

4)  * Marker Descriptions * Different agencies use different systems.

According to the CSX plan:

Sensitive areas, no-spray areas, limited-spray areas, and non-sensitive areas will be marked at their boundaries with permanent color-coded markers by one or any combination of the following:

• color-coded signs attached to posts

• color-coded signs attached to the railroad ties

• color-coded painted rail sections and/or ties

Sensitive areas and non-sensitive areas will be designated by the following color-codes:

• white: non-sensitive areas

• blue: sensitive area in which a minimum of 12 months shall elapse between herbicide applications

• double or dark blue: sensitive areas in which a minimum of 24 months shall elapse between herbicide applications.

• yellow: no spray zone

According to the DCR vegetation management plan:

• Prior to the commencement of herbicide application operations, DCR will place yellow painted arrows that point towards a “no spray” zone on streets curbs or sidewalks as necessary, yellow arrows on stakes for dirt trials.

• DCR will deploy a qualified point person to assist in identification. For applications using a vehicle a single orange traffic cone will be placed by the yellow arrow to signify where to stop the herbicide treatment. Two cones will be placed at the next yellow arrow to signify where treatment can be re-started.

According to the MA DOT plan:

For the purpose of identification, sensitive areas are separated into two categories: areas that are and are not readily identifiable in the field.

Sensitive Areas that are readily identifiable in the field include surface waters, wetlands, rivers, and agricultural and inhabited areas. Sensitive areas that are not readily identifiable in the field include public groundwater supplies, public surface water supplies, and private water supplies.

For guardrail, curb and barrier spray, the following field markers shall be used: NO-SPRAY limits shall be indicated using RED signs at either end of the limits; SPRAY limits shall be GREEN.

For invasive species treatment areas, spray limits will be flagged the using painted wood survey stakes, or landscape flags. ORANGE stakes will indicate limits of Spray area.