PROTECT YOURSELF

Our friends at GreenCape.org put together this helpful information which we have customized (below), for our community. Thanks to Sue Phelan and her team at GreenCape.org for protecting the water supply, wildlife, and residents of the Cape and Islands.

TIPS TO PROTECT YOUR FAMILY FROM EVERSOURCE ROW (Rights of Way) SPRAYING

Eversource contractors have published their intent to spray so be on the lookout for them. Peer-reviewed studies supply ample evidence of potential harm to human health from pesticide spraying especially to animals, children, the immune compromised, and pregnant women.

If you see chemicals sprayers along power lines, let the town manager, Melissa Murphy Rodrigues, know: RodriguesM@sudbury.ma.us

PRIOR TO ARRIVAL OF THE SPRAYING CONTRACTOR:

  • If you are a direct abutter or the easement is on your property, research your deed for the specific easement language. Older deeds tend not to include language specifying chemical maintenance. You may have the basis for a legal action. Work with your neighbors so you can all benefit. Contact the town if you have questions about your deed.
  • If you obtain your drinking water from a private well, be sure to notify Eversource with an obvious sign. Make sure your well is on their maps.
  • Close windows. Keep children and animals inside and away from sprayed areas until the next significant rain.
  • Leave shoes outside after walking in sprayed areas to keep chemicals from getting in your home. Herbicides remain in house dust for years
  • Bring in toys, outside furniture, pet dishes, etc. prior to spraying.
  • Harvest your vegetable gardens prior to spraying and don’t harvest after the spraying.
  • Relocate sensitive persons from your home before subcontractors arrive to spray.
  • Remove sensitive persons from the home immediately after the spraying only if you suspect an imminent health emergency such as asthma or chemical sensitivity. Remain inside and call 911
  • When driving through an area that has been recently sprayed, close your windows and vents.
  • Contact Bill Hayes, Senior Arborist with Eversource at 1-800-592-2000 and request an exemption for your property based on your deed or a health condition that will be worsened by the spraying.
  • ~ Call your town Dept. of Health and State Rep.or Senator if an exemption is not agreed upon

IF THE APPLICATOR HAS ARRIVED BUT HASN’T STARTED SPRAYING YET:

  • If you are pregnant, elderly, have young children, or have any immune system issues (e.g. cancer, Lyme disease, HIV/AIDS, asthma, chemical sensitivity, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Crohn’s disease, MS, diabetes, thyroid disease, Parkinson’s, etc.), you should approach the arborist and subcontractors hired by Eversource and let them know exposure to herbicides will impact your health.
  • Insist on an exemption from spraying based on your health or the health of family members.
  • Ask to see if the applicators have the maps of the area including water wells and water bodies, wetlands, endangered species habitat, etc. Ask to SEE your well indicated on their map.
  • Ask to meet the person overseeing the applications or monitoring spraying and record his name.
  • Ask how they are determining wind velocity. Remind him that herbicides can only be sprayed when the wind is between 3-10 miles per hour. It says this on the labels.
  • Ask if setbacks from wells, water bodies, wetlands, etc. are flagged. If not, why not?

DO NOT ENDANGER YOURSELF BY GOING OUTDOORS ONCE SPRAYING BEGINS:

  • The label is the law. It is contraindicated to spray if the wind is less than 3 MPH or more than 10 miles /hour. Spraying outside of this window is a violation of federal law.

DOCUMENT WHAT YOU SEE:

  • Take dated photos and videos to ensure against procedural violations but don’t endanger yourself by going outdoors to record.
  • Take follow-up dated photos/videos of the sprayed area at intervals until next fall with attention to areas of overspray on your property.
  • Record date & time of spraying, weather, and wind velocity
  • Record info about the spraying truck: license number, business name, and any type of spray device, how far away, how was spray directed?
  • Could you see spray being released off target? What property was being sprayed?
  • Document any effects you notice immediately: smell, strange behavior of bees/animals, irritation to eyes or mucous membranes, headache, nausea, and other symptoms.

REPORT POSSIBLE VIOLATIONS OR EXPOSURES IMMEDIATELY TO:

  • MDAR- Michael McClean at 617-626-1781
  • Your local Department of Health
  • Your physician
  • Your State Rep. and Senator
  • Sudbury town manager: Melissa Murphy Rodrigues: RodriguesM@sudbury.ma.us.
  • Insist that samples of your property be collected in a timely fashion. You may want to have your physician take a blood sample to confirm exposure.

IN CASE OF ILLNESS DUE TO CHEMICAL EXPOSURE:

  • In the case of physical illness of people or animals, see a physician (or veterinarian) to immediately to confirm symptoms, obtain a diagnosis, and receive treatment.
  • Get a written report signed by the physician or veterinarian. (Note: Many physicians and veterinarians are not familiar with the symptoms of pesticide exposure, many of which resemble symptoms of a cold or flu or nervous system condition.)
  • Tell them about your exposure and make sure they make a note of it.

 

  • Call Eversource Investor Relations at (781) 441-8118 or (https://www.eversource.com/…/inv…/contact-investor-relations) and request they return to a more sustainable approach to ROW maintenance.
  • Call local officials (town administrators and our BOS) and urge them to remind Eversource that Sudbury opposes spraying toxic chemical in our community and ask that Eversource use their considerable profits towards creating new less toxic ways of maintaining ROWs.