PORT TOWNSEND — Herbicide spraying is scheduled to begin today and continue through Sept. 11 in four areas of East Jefferson County.
The spraying, conducted by Olympic Resource Management, a subsidiary of Pope Resources, is to take place on land owned by the company in Port Ludlow, Chimacum and in two areas in the Eaglemount area.
Trees in the areas have been harvested and the spraying is a part of the reforestation process, according to company spokesperson Seanann Card.
After the spraying is complete, replanting will begin in the fall, she said.
The herbicides include glyphosate, sulfometuron methyl and imazapyr, and the spraying is conducted by a low-flying helicopter that releases spray through multiple calibrated nozzles.
The spray area is focused and is allowable only during low-wind conditions, according to Patrick Raymond, area manager for the company.
“We’ve been doing this for years and have never had any problem,” Raymond said.
Raymond said that residents within 1,000 feet of areas to be sprayed were notified of the spraying.
The company paid a visit to each residence and left a packet if they were not home.
Raymond said that those residences adjacent to the land in Port Ludlow “were happy that we reached out to them about the spraying.”
Personnel conducting the spraying are regulated by the state Department of Agriculture, and the spraying itself is regulated by the state Department of Natural Resources, he said.
The company is not required by law to make public notifications of spraying but does so in a voluntary agreement with the Jefferson County Conservation District that has been in place since 1985, he said.
The overall intent of the agreement is to notify the public about the chemicals involved, and when and where the spraying is to occur.
Questions about the spraying can be directed to Mike Glass at Olympic Resource Management, 360-297-0570, ext. 227.
