11/07/1979 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

I .. i watershed have informal agreements about spraying, he said. The regu- lating agency is the Eastern Lane District of the Department of Forestry e and EWEB has been in contact with them regarding spraying programs. Other factors of control include a 15-day notice, the weather, wind, etc. EWEB monitors such areas as the use of inorganic chemicals, organic chemicals, and micro contaminants. He said that the phenoxy herbicide is on the list of organic chemicals. EWES has had samples tested by private agencies. Last year, hourly samples were taken to determine potential contamination. All samples analyzed showed no detectable amounts of herbicides. Therefore, there are less contaminants in the water than any monitoring equipment can measure. Mr. Lieuallen wondered if EWES had an inventory of the private land owner- ship in the watershed. Mr. Johnson said that their inventory includes only the major landholders doing aerial spraying. Mr. Lieuallen wondered if there were any informal aqreements on roadside maintenance with the State Highway Department, and Mr. Johnson responded that there were no agreements, though EWEB did do a study with DEQ when they sprayed, monitor- ing the water during the spraying and after the first rain. He presumed they were not using the banned herbicide 245-T, but he will find that out for sure. Mr. Lieuallen then wondered about the type of analysis that is undertaken and where the samples are sent. Mr. Johnson said that hourly samples done in conjunction with the DEQ for the Department of Transportation are taken at the Treatment Plant at a point where all spraying in the watershed e accumul~!es anQ".arebtested at the Agricultural lab in Portland. Samples takent,Jndependerttly'EWEB are sent to California. Mr. Lieuallen's concern is that -fherE!Should be an ability to sample in minute quantities, and it is his understanding that many of the testing labs are unable to do that. Mr. Johnson said that EPA research has determined that the long-term safe- dose limit is 100 to 1,000 times greater in magnitude than the ability of the testinq equipment to detect. Mr. Lieuallen wondered if Mr. Johnson had any idea how much 24-D, for example, is being applied by all sprayers. Mr. Johnson said that would be difficult to determine because private individuals do not have to advise authorities when they spray. Mr. Lieuallen also wondered if sediments in the Treatment Plant at Hayden Bridge could be tested. Mr. Johnson said that the sediment is collected and used as land fill and does not go back into the watershed. He said it would not be difficult to test samples, however. Mr. Lieuallen wondered if there were an alert level on various poisons, and Mr. Johnson said that it would be considered dangerous to go above the maximum level EPA has set as beinq safe for long-term effects. The Eugene watershed is about 1,000 times below that level now. Mr. Lieuallen's opinion is there may be no safe level. He feels that closer analysis would provide needed precautions. He wondered whether it is possible to get tes'inq levels from EPA or private labs so he can do some comparisons. e 11 /7 /79--4 loll