Washington State Announces Compost Herbicide Call for Proposals

Danielle Jackson

Olympia, Wash. -- The state Department of Agriculture has announced a call for proposals regarding the use of clopyralid, an herbicide used to control weeds that has been known to damage certain vegetation. The agency is conducting a public hearing on April 23 to extend the state's current ban on clopyralid and make the ban permanent in certain applications.

The agency also wants to allow the use of clopyralid on golf courses and other sites that comply with requirements to keep grass clippings and other vegetation from reaching compost facilities. A proposed rule would allow clopyralid use on lawns and turf when applied to areas such as schools, parks and cemeteries if grass clippings and other vegetation are not sent to compost facilities.

Written comments may be sent to Laurie Mauerman, Washington State Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 42560, Olympia, Wash. 98504-2560. Fax: (360) 902-2093. E-mail: [email protected]. Deadline for comments is April 24.