SOURCE:
By J.T. Fetch - May 17, 2021
CLIFTON PARK, NY (WRGB) — CLIFTON PARK - The Shenendehowa Central School District is planning to use a banned herbicide on many of its fields.
Back in 2018, CBS 6 questioned Dr. L Oliver Robinson, the Superintendent of the Shenendehowa Central School District, over their use of pesticides on fields.
We reported then, that since 2015, Shen had authorized "Emergency Pesticide Applications" on its athletic fields. Under state law, pesticide use is banned. School districts can authorize emergency applications, but they must notify the State Department of Health.
CBS 6 News learned that wasn't happening.
After our reporting, in the Spring of 2019, Shen switched to an organic fertilizer and healthy, natural microbes for its athletic fields.
Then came the School Board meetings on March 9th and April 13th of this year, when the Board of Education approved contracts with Turf Management Company, Inc. of Glens Falls to fertilize 12 athletic fields and the Shatekon Elementary School Fields.
A viewer sent us pictures they say were taken on Friday, of two of the fields that would be treated. the total cost? $23,638.26. Both contracts show an herbicide called “Trimec Classic” will be used. An active ingredient in it is something called 2,4-D. The EPA says 2, 4-D was one of the ingredients in Agent Orange.
The Shenendehowa Central School District is planning to use a banned herbicide on many of its fields. (WRGB)
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) calls 2,4-D “The Most Dangerous Pesticide You’ve Never Heard Of.”
Brian Smith is the Associate Executive Director for the Citizens Campaign for the Environment, a self-described 120,000-member organization that works to identify key environmental concerns.
“Pesticides including 2,4-D pose an unacceptable risk to children’s health, largely due to their small and developing bodies - over the long term, we’ve seen that it can contribute to more serious health impacts, there’s a correlation between exposure and cancer,” Smith tells CBS 6.
At their April 27th School Board meeting, the Vice President of the company that Shen would have use the chemicals had this to say:
“You have two fields right now that I would say it’s an emergency because they’re so full of clover, I wouldn’t let my kid play on it,” James Girard told the Board of Education members.
Girard also said “If there was a way to do it without the pesticide, I’d be doing it.”
But Smith says pesticides don’t need to be used.
“Schools across the state have demonstrated time and time again that they can eliminate the use of pesticides, while continuing to effectively manage pest problems and maintain safe turf,” said Smith.
School district documents show the plan is to use the Trimec Classic herbicide on the more than one million square feet of fields at Shen. But first, the School District needs to once again declare an emergency.
The New York State Education Department (NYSED) received a complaint from a resident regarding the possible upcoming use of the product, and provided CBS 6 with this letter they sent to Dr. Robinson:
Shenendehowa’s Public Information Officer Lindsay Valenti provided the following statement to CBS 6:
“As with all decisions made, the district consults with various individuals who are knowledgeable about the issue at hand, and assesses various alternatives. Formulating a plan to best maintain fields and turf is no different. If, or when, a decision is made all necessary legal and regulatory steps will be followed... In addition, any treatment that is being used or proposed to be used contains the same ingredients in herbicides sold in any major store and used on the front lawns and backyards of countless households.”