The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors will consider a Resolution at its Tuesday, October 25, 2022 meeting to oppose herbicide spraying on county-owned lands and on private property without express written consent of the landowner. County staff will be asked to seek public input and develop an Ordinance to prohibit the use of herbicides on county-owned lands and right of ways unless no feasible alternative exists and is approved by the Board of Supervisors.
The proposed Resolution responds to widespread community opposition to PG&E’s initiative to resume spraying on hundreds of public and private properties throughout the County.
What To Do
Voice your support of the Resolution by attending the Board of Supervisors meeting, either virtually or in-person on October 25, by calling and emailing Supervisors in advance of the meeting and by inviting others to join the effort to support this Resolution and spread this action alert. Specific, factual and persuasive comments are most likely to convince Supervisors to vote in favor of the Resolution. Contact information for the Board of Supervisors is at the bottom of this page.
What’s Happened
News of utility giant PG&E’s plan to resume herbicide spraying on public and private parcels throughout Humboldt County was leaked on a Friday in early October with application to begin the following Monday. Chemicals involved include the infamous carcinogenic herbicide Roundup mixed with other, lesser-known weed killers—all highly toxic to the environment.
Immediate and intense community opposition sparked the need for the County to clarify its position on herbicides and a Resolution to that end was developed and will be proposed at the Board of Supervisors meeting on October 25 th for an up or down vote.
It is past time for Humboldt County to formalize its NO HERBICIDE SPRAY policy. For decades Humboldt County, Caltrans and PG&E have demonstrated that herbicides are not needed to keep vegetation under control enough to meet fire and safety requirements.
Achievements like these have come about only when people from throughout Humboldt County raise their voices to oppose dangerous herbicide spraying. Join the action now if you haven’t already!
The Board of Supervisors will meet Tuesday, October 25 at 9 am at the County Courthouse, 825 5th St, Eureka, to consider the proposed Resolution.
Instructions on how to attend virtually, along with the meeting agenda, can be found at humboldt.legistar.com/
Supervisors can be reached at:
- Supervisor Steve Madrone: smadrone@co.humboldt.ca.us
- Supervisor Mike Wilson: Mike.Wilson@co.humboldt.ca.us
- Supervisor Michelle Bushnell: mbushnell@co.humboldt.ca.us
- Supervisor Virginia Bass: vbass@co.humboldt.ca.us
- Supervisor Rex Bohn: rbohn@co.humboldt.ca.us