Use of Herbicides

Much has been written about the blasting, the clearcutting, transmission lines, access roads and the destructive process needed to erect the massive turbines. Herbicides present another danger, one that is largely ignored. Once construction is complete and the project has been commissioned, the wind developer applies herbicides to the surrounding area to kill off existing vegetation and prohibit new growth. We are trying to find out what herbicides are used, but have had no success to date. They are probably similar, if not identical, to the ones the utilities apply under transmission lines. Our mission here is not to debate whether these toxic herbicides are appropriate for use along roads and transmission lines. We are concerned about the downstream impact the chemicals can have if applied to Bowers and the surrounding mountains.

Wildlife is directly affected by exposure to toxic chemicals. Although it's easy to limit human exposure during spraying, wild animals are impossible to protect. Exposure occurs through herbicide mixtures contacting fur and skin, through inhaled mist, and by eating treated foliage. Aquatic organisms are exposed to herbicides when water contamination occurs through drift or runoff from treated areas after rainfall.

Most herbicide products used in forestry have a severely irritating effect on lung tissue when inhaled. They also cause inflammation of gill tissue in fish, especially in young fish, reducing survival. Even small amounts in water are highly toxic to fish. The leaching of nitrogen from defoliated soil and the increase in water temperature in treated areas also affects survival of cold water fish species like the brook trout. Application of herbicides on Bowers Mtn, Getchell Mtn, Vinegar Hill and other hills in the area put Getchell, Barker, Wallace and Lindsey Brooks all at risk. All of which currently support populations of native brook trout.

Ingestion of herbicides can occur initially when an animal attempts to clean itself after dermal exposure and chronically through eating plants containing herbicide residues. Although there is no visible damage to plants immediately after treatment (mortality may take up to six weeks), residues are present in plant tissue and herbivores may be exposed repeatedly while feeding within a treated area. Some herbicides are fat-soluble compounds which means that they can accumulate in the tissue of mammals. Humans consuming wild animal meat should be concerned about the presence of herbicide residues.

The cumulative impact of herbicides on wildlife is poorly understood. Exposure to a mixture of herbicides is far more serious than exposure to a single chemical in a laboratory setting. Claims by the forest products industry that spraying is harmless or even beneficial to wildlife are hardly supported by the limited scientific literature that exists.