School district seeks method
to kill weeds without chemicals
By David Brown
Ot the Emerald
Male angora goats might be chomping on
unwanted woody vegetation located on public
school grounds next year
But its more likely, say authorities of Eugene
School District 4J, that low-growing ground
covers, shrubs and flowers which deter weed
growth could be planted along 4J district fence
lines and building perimeters A tougher turf
which fights weed infestation could be planted on
playing fields And weeds could be seared with a
"flamer ”
Possibly, a reassessment might find com
munity residents tolerance of weeds to be higher
than expected
"Integrated Weed Management for School
Grounds," a report to the school district, sug
gests those and more alternatives to chemical
weed control on public school grounds
A summary of the report was scheduled for
presentation at the 4J board meeting Wednesday
evening but the board postponed consideration
until a committee has a chance to study its
feasibility
There is no herbicide policy in 4J s policy
book, says Gay Campbell, 4J public information
director However, the district applies herbicides
according to a six-point plan of caution enacted in
February
Despite the plan a number of community
residents have protested 4J's use of chemical
weed killers
During an alleged incident in April. Amazon
Community Tenants of the University's off-cam
pus housing threatened to go to court for an
injunction against 4J’s herbicide use
The tenant association retained a private
analysis that documented residue of Round-up. a
weed killing powder, on vegetables in their
gardens at 36 parts per million following ap
plication of the controversial chemical to an
adjacent fence by 4J workers A second analysis
however, by the Department of Agriculture,
showed only 20 parts per million on the com
munity's garden vegetables
Environmental Protection Agency safety
standards permit no more than 20 parts per
million on leafy vegetables
ACT has taken no further legal action
because there was no further spraying of that
area, says Jane Burkhart, ACT legal
representative
In addition, grounds maintenance person
nel (have) expressed their frustration in trying to
select pesticides that are both effective against
the target pest and not likely to damage non-tar
get organisms, including humans," the summary
reads
General public concern, not a specific case
of litigation against the district's weed control
program, prompted the report, Campbell says
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District 4J seeks alternate ways to deal with weed
problems as the public protests the use of
chemicals
The district wants to find the fine line between
what s best for both children and maintenance,
she says
The herbicide committee will consist of 12 to
14 board and staff members appointed by Super
intendent Terry Lindquist and will submit recom
mendations to the board this February, in time for
next year's weed control program
4J retained a division of the John Muir Insti
tute of Napa, Calif , to compile the report because
of the sixth point in the board's herbicide plan
which requires the to call in a consultant to help in
development of long range weed control
guidelines, Campbell says
The plan also specifies individual schools
implement manual weed control when parents
sign an agreement freeing 4J of liability for
weed-seed drift into neighboring properties Play
areas cannot be treated with chemicals under the
plan, Campbell says
Notice must be posted 48 hours in advance
and weed killers must be applied in accordance
with product directions concerning wind and
frequency of use, she says
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