good for Wellfleet!

MIke R

Senior Insider
for setting a good example

Cape Towns Test Chemical-free Property Care

By Mary Ann Bragg
mbragg@capecodonline.com
April 02, 2012

WELLFLEET — Wellfleet is taking its opposition to NStar's use of herbicides one step further.

The board of selectmen has adopted the region's first organic land-management policy, although two other Cape towns are actively working on similar policies and several more have adopted some organic practices.


Wellfleet's policy, adopted March 13, bans the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers on all municipal properties including the town hall lawn, playgrounds and the school ball field, Town Administrator Paul Sieloff said. It does allow for a few exceptions, such as pesticides contained in traps for rodent control.

The selectmen say they adopted the policy because they believe chemical fertilizers contaminate groundwater, bays, estuaries and sources of drinking water, and because pesticides and chemical fertilizers can harm humans and animals.

"We're using very little or none of these prohibited chemicals," Sieloff said. "What we're doing now is guaranteeing future activity and behavior."

Challenging NStar

Wellfleet has been one of the towns on Cape Cod to challenge NStar's efforts to maintain its power line rights of way with herbicides. The selectmen's vote demonstrates to the utility company the seriousness of the town's opposition and also provides a model for local property owners, Sieloff said.

The Wellfleet Department of Public Works maintains all town properties, including a school ball field. The total public works budget for fiscal year 2010 was around $1.7 million. Sieloff said the current cost for chemical fertilizers and pesticides is "minuscule" and that he has not yet calculated the cost of any organic replacements.

The state encourages towns to reduce pesticide use on municipal lands, particularly to protect children, but doesn't have the money to develop further programs, state Department of Environmental Protection spokesman Ed Coletta said. In 2002, the DEP used a grant to produce a guide for towns on how to cut down on pesticides, through educating residents and adopting municipal pesticide reduction policies.

About 10 towns statewide have adopted organic land-management policies, according to consultant Charles "Chip" Osborne, owner of Osborne Organics and a member of the Marblehead Recreation and Parks Commission.

Locally, Eastham is developing an organic policy and also a town bylaw, Town Administrator Sheila Vanderhoef said. Eastham, like Wellfleet, fought NStar's plans to use herbicides on rights of way. Both towns also rely heavily on private wells for drinking water.

Barnstable is documenting current land-management practices and determining how an organic policy could be implemented, acting Town Manager Thomas Lynch said. Eastham and Barnstable will work together on developing policies for each of the two towns, he said.

"You can't invite people to your parks and put something down that might be injurious to them," Lynch said.
 
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