Residents say Caltrans herbicide spraying may have violated federal law

You've been a bulldog on this topic, Barbara -- THANK YOU for your advocacy and reporting.

I live 1 mile away from 84 in Cuesta, La Honda. I drive 84 every single day into Woodside or toward Half Moon Bay depending on my errands. This Caltrans stunt is seriously beyond disturbing. The leadership has made it crystal clear that they lack any accountability and believe they wont be held accountable and have zero transparency whatsoever. We do care, we are watching and you will be held accountable for your actions.

So many words to describe this blatant infringement of Federal law: Disturbing, infuriating,mindboggling...

CalTrans has demonstrated a complete disregard for the communities it serves, and the fragile ecosystem it is so carelessly endangering. I believe it is time for a lawsuit to bring CalTrans into compliance with Federal Law. In addition, heads of those responsible should roll.

For years we argued against the county's use of broadcast spraying. Like CalTrans, our public works department pleaded economics for its need to introduce toxic chemicals into our watershed. San Mateo County supes ultimately joined our cause and ordered public works to find another way to accomplish its duties. And guess what? They did. Government agencies are not allowed to create environmental havoc to save money. We, the residents need to bring in the heavy artillery to get CalTrans to cease their dishonest and egregious behavior.

I recognize that there are differences but, when I read this article, the word "Flint" kept going through my head. Isn't this another example of a governmental agency doing something expedient/inexpensive without taking into consideration the
bigger picture?

Sadly, this has probably done in the pair of coyotes that frequent that area, due to poisoning the gophers they eat. Just one example of what these poisons do to our ecosystem, please stop the spraying. I would weed the whole roadside area by hand myself if I were able.

[Post removed; stick to the topic.]

[part removed. Please make your point without negative characterization of other posters.]

I don't know about caltrans but I have been an applicator for years and have seen just how stupid people can be when it comes to pesticides.

[part removed.] once a year fire suppression by killing grass along the roadside keeps wildfires to a minimum. I like my house and don't want it burned down because someone flicks out a cigarette and catches the grass on fire.

Isn't that a fair trade very small amount of product sprayed one time a year? Let see no government reg? Some idiot said applicators need to follow federal regs? Really state laws are tougher, another said her coyotes died? I guarantee no weed chemical killed them it was some jerk in an SUV or Prius driving about 80 mph.

Another said hand pull the weeds? So how long shoulld 84 be closed for 3 months to pull weeds sorry for inconvenience ? [part removed.]

Mr Murray seems passionate about this topic and definitely does let everyone know how he feels. I agree with him on fire prevention it is a little amount of pesticide to save a lot of our way of life. I lived through the Oakland hills fire and afterward the place was a moonscape and if some roundup or capstone could be sprayed to prevent the huge loss I am all in with that. I didn't know that the state was tougher than the Feds but I checked with the department of pesticide regulation and he was right !