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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Nov. 8, 1999
99-233
Contact: Mary Getchell, Public Information Manager, 360-407-6157;
pager, 360-534-8590
Kathleen Emmett, Environmental Planner, 360-407-6478
OLYMPIA - The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) is launching a two-year effort to review which chemicals may be used to kill unwanted and potentially dangerous aquatic weeds and algae in Washington lakes.
At the direction of the 1999 Legislature, Ecology is updating the Aquatic Plant Management Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement. It is a technical document that Ecology uses to determine what chemicals or methods would be the most effective in treating aquatic weeds and algae, while causing the least harm to fish, wildlife and people. The information is used when issuing permits for weed or algae eradication.
"This is a tremendous undertaking with a lot at stake," said Megan White, manager of Ecology's Water Quality Program. "Determining what chemicals would be best involves good science and a great deal of help from citizens."
Ecology completed the original environmental impact statement (EIS) in 1980 and updated it in 1992. The EIS recommends an integrated approach to plant management and allows limited use of copper, endothall, fluridone and glyphosate to control various aquatic plants and algae.
Since 1992, research and development of chemical control methods have progressed. The 1999 Legislature directed Ecology to review the information on the chemicals conventionally used, and to review several new, commercially available herbicides. During the next two years while Ecology updates the EIS, people may review and comment about the chemicals.
Ecology hired Compliance Services International, a Tacoma environmental research company, to assess the public and environmental risks of six aquatic chemicals to treat aquatic weeds: hydrothol 191, aquathol, 2,4-D, diquat, imazapyr and copper compounds.
Every year, people make hundreds of requests to Ecology for permits to use herbicides to manage nuisance and noxious aquatic plants and algae that are highly destructive, competitive or difficult to control by various methods or chemicals.
Ecology is forming a technical advisory committee made up of lake management districts; tribal, state and local governments; environmental organizations; and others to review the risk assessments and EIS.
In spring 2000, Ecology hopes to have a draft risk assessment completed for three of the chemicals. Ecology will be asking for the public's review of the draft. To get more information about the EIS, contact Kathleen Emmett, (360) 407-6478 or e-mail, kemm461@ecy.wa.gov.
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
