Stumble Upon

del.icio.us

Digg

Facebook

Print

Email

Speak Up

New Brunswickers are being asked to choose a preferred option to address the issue of landscape and lawn care pesticides use in the province.

The Department of Environment released a public consultation paper entitled Lawn Care and Landscape Pesticide Use: Options for New Brunswick, which outlines four options that could be taken to address the issue. The paper will allow the public, stakeholders and industry to provide input on the options now being considered by the government. Consideration will also be given to combinations of the four options, as well as to all other ideas and opinions.

"It's very important for people to be informed about and involved in efforts to address environmental issues such as the management of landscape and lawn care pesticides use," Environment Minister Roland Haché said. "I urge every New Brunswicker to be a participant in this public consultation exercise, and help determine the best approach for our province."

The options are:

continued emphasis on education, awareness and voluntary reduction;

targeted regulatory changes to require the broader adoption of progressive pesticide management approaches, and to eliminate the use of combination (pesticide plus fertilizer) products;

new provincewide prohibitions with respect to the use of lawn care and landscape (primarily weed control) pesticides in residential areas; and

empowering municipal governments to take a leadership role by implementing pesticide bylaws.

The 90-day public comment period concludes on Oct. 15. The public consultation paper may be obtained online at www.gnb.ca/consultation, at any Department of Environment regional office, or by calling the department at 506-453-3700.

Comments may be provided either in writing or on the Environment website. All feedback will be compiled in a report that will be presented to government.

The Department of Environment will also engage in targeted stakeholders workshops at five locations in the province from mid-September to early October. The consultations will be managed by an independent facilitator, and will provide an opportunity for representatives from non-governmental organizations, industry, municipalities and other stakeholders to express their views.

The Department of Environment is responsible for the implementation of the Clean Environment Act, the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, the Pesticides Control Act, and the Beverage Containers Act through early planning, pollution prevention initiatives and the administration of permits and approvals.