WHEREAS, vegetation control is necessary under certain circumstances to protect the health and safety of Suffolk County residents; and

WHEREAS, non-pesticide alternatives are not always effective or practical in these circumstances; and

WHEREAS, poison ivy represents a potential health hazard to county residents and personnel; and

WHEREAS, vegetation along highway guardrails and signs under certain circumstances may represent a safety hazard; and

WHEREAS, Round-up is an effective, low toxicity pesticide; and

WHEREAS, the Suffolk County Department of Public Works Highway Maintenance Division, and the Suffolk County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation submitted a joint application for a temporary special use exemption for the use of Round-up Pro, attached hereto as Exhibit "A" and incorporated by reference; and

WHEREAS, at its meeting on March 13, 2003, the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) reviewed the request for a Special Use Exemption for the purposes of selective application of Round-up in Suffolk County Parks and along County highways; and

WHEREAS, the CAC has discussed various alternatives for vegetation control over the course of several meetings and observed a demonstration of alternative methods on July 25, 2001; and

WHEREAS, a presentation regarding the request was provided by Cliff Mitchell, Suffolk County Department of Public Works Highway Maintenance Division, and William Sickles, Suffolk County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation; and

WHEREAS, Local Law 3-2002 was previously reviewed under the State Environmental Quality Review Act ("SEQRA"); and

WHEREAS, by separate resolution, dated March 13, 2003, under the State Environmental Quality Review Act ("SEQRA"), N.Y. Envtl. Conserv. Law Art. 8, the CAC has determined that this action is a Type II action, pursuant to Volume 6 of New York Code of Rules and Regulations ("NYCRR") §§617.5(c)(20) and (27), in that the resolution pertains to routine or continuing agency administration and management, not including new programs or major reordering of priorities that may affect the environment; now

Be it therefore

RESOLVED, that a one year Special Use Exemption, pursuant to Suffolk County Code Section 380-5(E), be granted for the use Round-up Pro for vegetation control by the Suffolk County Department of Public Works Highway Maintenance Division, and the Suffolk County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation and for the experimental trials referred to in condition 5, herein; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that this exemption is granted with the following conditions:

1. Round-up Pro will be used by the Suffolk County Department of Public Works Highway Maintenance Division in those areas where mowing equipment cannot reach and vegetative growth represents a safety hazard or impairs sign visibility, such as under guardrails and around signs or when a request is received to control poison ivy growing from county roadsides into the yards of adjacent residential or commercial properties; and

2. Round-up Pro will be used by the Suffolk County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation to control poison ivy in areas where the public and staff are likely to come in contact with the plant, such as camping and picnic areas or hiking trails; and

3. During the months in which Round-up Pro is used, the Highway Division and the Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation will report on their usage monthly to the CAC; and

4. Should the Highway Division or the Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation need to use more than 200 or 10 gallons of Round-up Pro per year, respectively, they will first notify the Chair or two members of the CAC and shall present a report at the next CAC meeting; and

5. Trials shall be conducted by the Cornell Cooperative Extension this summer on alternatives for poison ivy control. The Round-up Pro used for these trials shall be covered by this temporary exemption, but shall not be considered in calculating the gallon amounts referred to in condition 4, above; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that following the one year time period, a renewal request may be submitted; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that this Resolution shall take effect on July 1, 2003.

Motion by: William Sanok
Seconded by: Debra O'Kane

Committee Vote: Appointed Members: 9
Total Voting: 6
Ayes: 6
Nays: 0
Abstentions: 0

I hereby certify that the Community Advisory Committee duly adopted this resolution on March 13, 2003 in accordance with Suffolk County Code Section 380-5(E). I hereby certify that the Community Advisory Committee duly ratified this resolution on ____________.

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Signed

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Dated