Mills Directs Maine Forest Service & Board of Pesticides Control to Review & Recommend Changes to Aerial Application of Herbicides for Forest Management

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Governor Janet Mills at the Signing Today. (Photo Courtesy of Environment Maine)

Governor Janet Mills today signed an Executive Order directing the Maine Forest Service and the Board of Pesticides Control to review rules related to the  aerial application of synthetic herbicides and to recommend changes to further protect rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, brooks, wetlands, wildlife and human habitat and other natural resources.

The Governor’s Executive Order follows her Veto of LD 125, which she objected to because of its “blanket prohibition” over aerial application of glyphasate for the purpose of silviculture, the science and practices underpinning the sustainability of Maine’s forests.

In a BANGOR DAILY NEWS, op-ed yesterday, Bob Seymour, of Orono, a Professor Emeritus of Silviculture at the University of Maine and forestry expert, called the bill “flagrantly anti-environmental and discriminatory,” noting that it would imperil the ability to manage Maine’s forests and jeopardize the state’s efforts to combat climate change and “stifle” long-term investments in forest stewardship to build climate resilence and support rural economics.

In her veto message, the Governor noted that “banning aerial application…would force landowners to conduct ground application, which is intensive, has a potential for greater site disturbance and soil compaction and may require multiple applications with higher and more dangerous concentration levels to achieve the same level of effectiveness.  “However, she recognized concern over the aerial application of glyphosate and pledged to issue today’s Executive Order.

“I recognize the legitimate perspectives on all sides of this debate and believe this approach strikes the appropriate balance between environmental concerns and the legitimate needs of silviculture enterprises while also ensuring that we can harness the carbon-cutting power of our forests to combat climate change,” said Governor Mills.  “I look forward to the recommendations that result from this review.”

The Executive Order requires the Board of Pesticides Control and the Maine Forest Service to submit a summary of the review process and findings and any corresponding recommendations to the Governor on or before January 2, 2022.