Submitted by Greg Alderete.
Paul Loveless has approved the use of toxic Glufosinate Ammonium as the sole method of weed eradication throughout the town of Steilacooms public areas.
I first noticed this at the Chambers Street entrance to the Farrells marsh. So this poisonous chemical is leaching into the freshwater of a recovering and fragile biosphere and then into the Puget Sound.
It was sprayed throughout Steilacoom, near the water, including the tunnel of trees walkway where residents and their pets walk (no warning signs). If this doesn’t concern you you can stop reading.
Any women who are pregnant should avoid any areas where this has been sprayed (see toxic warning below). I would recommend you not walk with your children, or animals or if you are pregnant anywhere this poison was sprayed. Dogs are closer to the toxin and often eat grass.
For those new to the indifference of Loveless, he authorized and funded the killing of the Farrell Marsh beaver colony using kill traps near public trails without any signage warning the public. So this should no be a surprise to anyone. These toxic areas are not posted so be vigilant.
To ensure we have a legal record email paul.loveless@ci.steilacoom.wa.us.
I think weeds are one thing, animals and humans
suffering, but whom allowed this person to make these decisions
and operate like the king anyway?
Why are you telling about this after the fact?
Is he allowed to conduct policies and actions
without any assistance or controversy?
Tatting after the fact is rather useless.
Thank you for shining a light on this. I have expressed my concerns for years about this program directly to our prior mayor who had greenlighted this program annually. I see this latest notification to the community as just more of the same, business as usual. Unless citizens speak up in the way you have, this will continue. Our elected town council should be informed of these intentions and reach out to seek input from citizens before chemicals are sprayed liberally around town. Mechanical means of weed eradication should be our first line of defense.
Impressed by Mr Alrdrete’s chicken littlish behavior here. How dare the Town spray the weeds with weed killer that has been proven safe and effective.
What does this master of herbicide offer as an alternative? He doesn’t. If he did, it would be something that doesn’t work. Thanks again Greg.
I for one appreciate the Town taking care of our roads and parks.
Mr. Alderete thank you for your vigilance. With just a few keystrokes I have been able to discover prenatal exposure to glufosinate-ammonium induces behavioral abnormalities in mice. It adversely affects the microbiome mediates and neurodevelopment. I used a vinegar and salt solution to kill weeds, it works, its cheap is organic, and a nonpersistent agent. Cheetah Pro remains in the soil for three months. It kills the plant and roots, that are eaten by grubs, that are eaten by moles. Studies show it has an adverse effect on tad poles, eaten by blue heron, turtles, and fish. What happens when this substance comes in contact with other chemicals or burns? If you are simply using the information from the company’s website then you could probably put it in your tea. It is a chemical, with a toxic warning label, if the same label was on a can of coke you wouldn’t drink it, so why is the town, with total disregard spraying this, without signage, so unsuspecting citizens and their pets are exposed to it, especially after it is sprayed and very vapid. The town has sprayed this around many of the drainage systems that flow directly into the Puget Sound another fragile ecosystem. Imagine if this toxin is sprayed all along the Puget Sound. I hope this is brought up with the Parks committee and they condemn it and seek alternative that won’t harm family.
To be clear I am not against weed, noxious, or invasive plant management. As a volunteer at the Farrells marsh, I have spent many hours organizing and assisting in preserving the marsh to its natural state. Collectively volunteers have removed English ivy, laurel, scotch broom, and other nonnative plants. We did it without hands and shovels.
Chemical alternatives to weed management historically do not have an unblemished track record. Agent Orange, DDT, and Roundup, all approved by the government, were once deemed safe. A quick visit to the Veterans hospital at American Lake will prove my point.
Toxic chemicals, as such, often manifest and compound in parts of the body that filter toxins. Oil-soluble binding agents do not leave human tissue expeditiously, toxic particles remain in the liver, and brain because they are not lipid-soluble. Cheeta pro which the town is using is toxic when it is inhaled. So when this was sprayed all the children who walk home from the high school who use View Road were unknowingly vapidly exposed to chemicals just spayed on both sides by those wearing hazmat and respiratory protection. Pets who were walking along with this and other roads were at much greater risk due to their proximity to the unmarked toxic areas.
This weed killer kills all vegetation and because it permeates the ground continues to kill effectively for about 90 days because it permeates the top soil.
This herbicide has not been around long enough fully understand the long-term health effects on humans, wildlife, and the vast aquatic dimensions of the Puget Sound and the Salmon, orcas, and their food sources.
If plants are noxious they must be removed carefully. I pull the weeds in my yard. But if the wok shy attempt is to just kill everything using chemicals then we are on a very slippery slope in an already fragile ecosystem. I will take green weeds over brown ones any day of the week.
As a previous writer stated there are numerous organic weed killer alternatives to something made in a chemical laboratory with uncertain long-term effects.
Mr. Loveless does not live in Steilacoom, doesn’t walk the sidewalks or visit the Marsh. While he may think he has good intentions, his environmental track record proves otherwise.
You can’t be a little pregnant nor can a chemical be a little toxic.
Correct Version
To be clear I am not against weed, noxious, or invasive plant management. As a volunteer at the Farrells marsh, I have spent many hours organizing and assisting in preserving the marsh to its natural state. Collectively volunteers have removed English ivy, laurel, scotch broom, and other nonnative plants. We did it without hands and shovels.
Chemical alternatives to weed management historically do not have an unblemished track record. Agent Orange, DDT, and Roundup, all approved by the government, were once deemed safe. A quick visit to the Veterans hospital at American Lake will prove my point.
Toxic chemicals, as such, often manifest and compound in parts of the body that filter toxins. Oil-soluble binding agents do not leave human tissue expeditiously, toxic particles remain in the liver, and brain because they are not lipid-soluble. Cheeta pro which the town is using is toxic when it is inhaled. So when this was sprayed all the children who walk home from the high school who use View Road were unknowingly vapidly exposed to chemicals just spayed on both sides by those wearing hazmat and respiratory protection. Pets who were walking along with this and other roads were at much greater risk due to their proximity to the unmarked toxic areas.
This weed killer kills all vegetation because it permeates the ground and continues to kill effectively for about 90 days.
This herbicide has not been around long enough fully understand the long-term health effects on humans, wildlife, and the vast aquatic dimensions of the Puget Sound and the Salmon, orcas, and their food sources.
If plants are noxious they must be removed carefully. I pull the weeds in my yard. But if the work shy attempt is to just kill everything using chemicals then we are on a very slippery slope in an already fragile ecosystem. I will take green weeds over brown ones any day of the week.
As a previous writer stated there are numerous organic weed killer alternatives to something made in a chemical laboratory with uncertain long-term effects.
Mr. Loveless does not live in Steilacoom, doesn’t walk the sidewalks or visit the Marsh. While he may think he has good intentions, his environmental track record proves otherwise.
You can’t be a little pregnant nor can a chemical be a little toxic.
How about a challenge to those who approve or condone this. How about they, with their grandparents, children, grandchildren, and pets walk up and down View Road right after it was sprayed. I’ll see if I can set it up with Paul Loveless or Dick Muri and let you know what the date is or where other sprayings are happening. It’s difficult to find these places right after they are sprayed and even harder to find because there are no warning signs. If you find when it is brown you are too late. I’ll grill hot dogs for the press. Thoughts?
Thank you Greg, I’m 74 and I can see the damage done. Shame on every person who doesn’t consider how we respect ourselves and this planet.