Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) at an Event in Portland Several Years Ago.
Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Subcommittee and Congressman Jared Huffman (D-CA), are demanding answers from the US Forest Service about the current and planned use of glyphosate-based herbicides on federal forestlands according to a press release issued by her office early this afternoon.
Their letter to Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz follows a yearlong Mother Jones investigation that raised serious questions about the use of glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, on public and private forestlands, particularly in areas recovering from wildfires in California. The reporting detailed plans for large scale spraying in natioal forests, including areas near trails, campgrounds, wateways and communities, while also highlighting concerns about the scietific basis and oversight behind the agency’s continued use of the chemical.
“Given the recent scientific disputes, retracted studies and litigation surrounding glyphosate due to serious ecological and health harms, we are deeply concerned by the alleged use of the herbicide and lack of information available regarding current planed use,” Pingree and Huffman wrote.
In tacted studies and litigation surrounding glyphosate due to serious ecological and health harms, we are deeply concerned by the alleged use of the herbicide and lack of information available regarding current and planned use,” Pingree and Huffman wrote.
In the letter, Pingree and Huffman request information on how frequently glyphosate is used on Forest Service land, what criteria determine when and where spraying occurs, which forests are treated and how current acreage compares to five and ten years ago.
The two lawmakers also ask whether the Forest Service has assessed glyphosate residues in soil, water or wildlife in and around treated areas, evaluated potential human health harms, established a publicly accessible database of herbicide use, and coordinated with state, tribal, local and water officials before application.
he letter further pressed the agency on worker safety and exposure risks, including protections for Forest Service employees, firefighters, trail crews, contractors and others who may enter treated areas. Pingree and Huffman also ask whether there have been reported worker illnesses, accidentialexposures or contamination complaints tied to glyphosate applications.
Finally, the lawmakers request details on whether the Forest Service has eplored or piloted nonchemical or low-toxicity alternatives to herbicide applications, what those findings show and what barriers may be limiting broader adoption.