We were dismayed to learn the New York State Department of Transportation considers the use of a glysophate-based herbicide on unwanted plants on the Route 80 right-of-way along the western shore of Otsego Lake to be an “acceptable risk.” We believe it poses an unacceptable risk.
Mayor Jeff Katz has written twice to the state agency to express the village’s concerns about the use of the herbicide in such close proximity to the lake, which is the source of Cooperstown’s drinking water. In the most recent letter, Katz explained how the use of weed killers violated the watershed rules and regulations. He explained that under Public Health Law Section 1100, the village was authorized to create the watershed rules and regulations, which state “no herbicides, pesticides, or toxic chemicals shall be discharged, applied, or allowed to enter any reservoir or watercourse.”
“This is clear authority to prohibit the use of herbicides close to the lake, as along the DOT right-of-way on State Highway 80,” Katz’s letter stated.
But that did little to convince DOT Regional Director Jack Williams.
“We recognize the concerns expressed by the Otsego Lake Watershed Supervisory Committee in your letter. The department maintains that the use of herbicides, in general, and Accord XRT II in particular along this corridor, is an acceptable risk based on the application method and best practices,” Williams responded.
We can understand the DOT’s point of view. No doubt it is cheaper and faster to spray the plants than it would be to send out a crew to mow them down.
Williams also said there is noxious wild parsnip growing in the area that poses a threat to DOT workers, but certainly there is protective clothing that could be employed. There are tractors with mowers mounted on hydraulic arms that can reach out and over guardrails to mow weeds and brush.
Following a meeting last week with village attorney Martin Tillapaugh, local officials decided to continue to pursue a ban on the DOT’s spraying.
We support that decision because the health of the lake is far too important. No matter what the cost savings the DOT realizes from using chemical weed control, it is not worth risking the lake and its ecosystem or the village’s drinking water source.
Our Opinion
August 9, 2012
Spraying should stop
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- Congratulations to Lucy Ford for winning a state title Cooperstown's Lucy Ford needed a personal best to win a state title in the high jump Saturday at the New York State Track and Field Championships in Middletown. Ford, a junior, didn't just get her personal best with her jump of 5-feet, 5-inches. She broke her own school record, again, and became the first CCS girl to win a state title in track and field.
- Mother Nature throws Hall a curveball A couple of weeks ago when we wrote that we hoped the date change for the National Baseball Hall of Fame's annual seven-inning exhibition game would be a hit we were not expecting Mother Nature to force an alternative plan all together. Now there is no way to know if the Memorial Day Weekend would have been a better suit as we cannot compare apples to oranges.
- Roses Roses to those who participated and contributed to this year's Cooperstown/Otsego County Relay for Life.
- Hopefully HOF Classic date change is a hit The National Baseball Hall of Fame’s annual seven-inning exhibition game has seen a drop in attendance in the last couple of year. The Hall of Fame Classic began as a Father’s Day event, was then moved to the Saturday before the holiday, and is now being held on Memorial Day Weekend.
- Congratulations Cooperstown softball It is hard to believe that Cooperstown's softball team had never won a division or playoff title until this week.
- Happy CYB has found a home Cooperstown Youth Baseball has finally found a home. However, it is a bit sad it could not be in the village that is often referred to as the "home of baseball."
- Change is never taken lightly We are glad the Cooperstown Central School Board finally chose a nickname, but were surprised by the plummeting attendance rate at meetings pertaining to the matter. What seemed to be a hot-button issue attracting nearly 100 people for and against a name change at initial meetings seemed to simmer to complete no shows toward the end.
- Tax cap is deceiving As if figuring out one's tax bill isn't mind boggling enough. In its second year of implantation, the 2 percent limit on property tax increases makes things all that more complicated. One cannot just assume his or her individual taxes will not increase more than the cap threshold.
- Earth Festival is a good start to spring We hope Mother Nature brings us some sunshine and spring weather this weekend. But if not, there is a predominantly inside event coming up that should help get visitors thinking about spring.
- Education heading in wrong direction It is good to see that with teachers changing their curriculums to teach for the Common Core State Standards that there is still some hands-on learning going on locally.
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