Good News for Oregon’s Bees and More to Do

This from John Jordan, Communication Director for Beyond Toxics:

Eugene’s City Council Wednesday night voted to ban the use of neonicotinoid pesticides on city property. Council Resolution 5101 also expands the current Pesticide-Free Parks program and requires all city departments to adopt the same IPM standards and protocols as the City’s Parks and Open Space Division.

The Eugene City Council resolution, the only one of its kind in the nation, passed by unanimous consent in a council work session. The language of the resolution specifically includes a strong concern for children’s health as well as protecting bees and a host of other pollinators in Eugene’s environment.

Click here is the text of the ordinance.

————————-

Now if we could only stop selling neonics as well: but there are steps in the right direction.  This past Monday, February 24, the Save Oregon Pollinators Act (HB 4139-3 amended) passed 27-2.  The bill now goes to the Governor’s desk where he is expected to sign it into law.

Important:  The bill requires all pesticide applicators to take a course and pass a test on Bee Health and Pesticides, and establishes a Task Force instructed to bring further bee protection legislation to the 2015 Legislature.

Thus the bill takes proactive steps to prevent pesticide operators’ performing uneducated acts of label violation like that which killed 50,000 bumblebees in a mall parking lot in which linden trees were sprayed while in bloom last year.