Printed from https://fyi.org.nz./request/13413-replacement-technologies-to-glyphosate-formulation on November 16, 2024 08:38

Replacement technologies to glyphosate formulation

J Bruning made this Official Information request to Auckland Council

The request was successful.

From: J Bruning

Dear Auckland Council,

Re: Ingredients in FoamStream formulation and glyphosate formulation.

Request to Auckland City Council, for information or advice shared between parks, roadside and vegetation management, including senior management and elected members including but not limited to the Healthy Waters department June 2017-June 2020. This includes information or advice coming from the Environmental Protection Authority to staff or elected members in ACC.

We understand that Auckland City Council contractor Landscape Solutions purchased a FoamStream machine for use as part of Auckland but that it has not been permitted to be used as a FoamStream machine due to staff concerns.

Please can you supply emails, reports, analyses, memos or submissions:

1. Relating to the risk of foam technologies, such as FoamStream, including discussion of ingredients used in the foam solution: including sugar and plant oil.
EPA approval: https://www.epa.govt.nz/assets/FileAPI/h...

2. Relating to the risk of glyphosate formulations. Including but not limited to:

a). The toxicity of glyphosate (the claimed active ingredient), and the formulation released into the environment. The glyphosate-based herbicide formulation may commonly include oxidized petroleum distillates including but not limited to families of polyoxyethylenamines (POEA); and quaternary ammonium compounds.
b). The toxicity of heavy (trace) metals arsenic, chromium, cobalt, lead and nickel as known components of glyphosate based-herbicides which are known to be toxic and endocrine disruptors,
c). Discussion of the paper by Nicholas Defarge and colleagues: Toxicity of formulants and heavy metals in glyphosate-based herbicides and other pesticides
d). Discussion of 'cocktail effect' - additive and cumulative toxicity of other herbicide and organosilicon mixtures commonly added to glyphosate formulations - to which the public will be exposed - that are added to increase toxicity and effectiveness and combat weed resistance.

Supporting notes to the request:
Petrol-based and heavy metal contaminants are widely added to glyphosate formulations, Toxicity of formulants and heavy metals in glyphosate-based herbicides and other pesticides. Defarge et al 2018 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/ar...

The paper by Defarge et al observes that heavy metal levels in glyphosate formulations exceed permitted levels in water in the European Union and the USA and would hope that discussion of this paper is referred to.

We note that the NZ EPA does not require the ingredients in the formulation to be declared.
We note that the NZ EPA has not conducted a comprehensive risk assessment of glyphosate nor of the glyphosate formulation, and may be dependent on other jurisdictions that similarly do not consider contamination from co-formulants perhaps this leaves ACC in a state of ignorance.

Yours faithfully,

Jodie Bruning.

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From: Official Information
Auckland Council

Tçnâ koe Jodie,

 

Thank you for your request for information below.  I am writing to ask you
for clarification of your request so that we can direct it to the correct
departments.  You state:

 

“We understand that Auckland City Council contractor Landscape Solutions
purchased a FoamStream machine for use as part of Auckland but that it has
not been permitted to be used as a FoamStream machine due to staff
concerns.”

 

To assist us to identify which part of Auckland Council holds a contract
with "Landscape Solutions", could you provide us with some more
information?  For example, can you tell us which department has a contract
with “Landscape Solutions” or can you tell us which supplier legal entity
you are referring to as "Landscape Solutions". 

 

You could further assist us to locate who may hold emails, reports,
analyses, memos or submissions about foam technology herbicides and
pesticides and glyphosate formulations, by telling us which department the
staff were from, who you understand expressed their concerns to “Landscape
Solutions”?

 

Please let us know by Monday 3 August so that we can direct your request
to the correct subject matter experts.

 

Ngâ mihi

 

Samantha

 

Samantha Sinclair | Senior Business Partner Privacy & LGOIMA

Democracy Services | Auckland Council

 

show quoted sections

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From: J Bruning

Dear Samantha at Democracy Services Auckland Council

Landscape solutions is a subcontractor to Ventia who holds the community facilities contract for the north shore and Rodney.

The staff who expressed their concern were in Community Facilities.

Thank you
Yours sincerely,

J Bruning

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Auckland Council

Attachment LGOIMA and Privacy Information Sheet 2017.pdf
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Dear Jodie,

 

Thank you for your request for information about replacement technologies
to glyphosate formulation.

 

I have attached an information sheet on our processes and requirements
under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987.

 

We will respond to your request within 20 working days of receipt of your
request.

 

If you have further questions please feel free to contact Fernanda Maciel
([email address])on09301 0101, quoting reference
8140007202

 

Kind regards

The Privacy and LGOIMA team

Auckland Council

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References

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From: Official Information
Auckland Council

Attachment Final response letter.pdf
276K Download View as HTML

Attachment Otara Papatoetoe Weed Management Memo Jan 2019.pdf
654K Download View as HTML

Attachment Project Streetscapes Weed management memo 2018.pdf
199K Download View as HTML

Attachment Redacted Foamstream assessment further information Sep 2019.pdf
341K Download View as HTML

Attachment Redacted Glyphosate Options prepared for Auckland Council 2017.pdf
820K Download View as HTML

Attachment Staff advice on application for approval Aug 2018.pdf
196K Download View as HTML

Attachment Trial of Foamstream for the management of weeds.pdf
470K Download View as HTML

Attachment Attachment A Examples of vegetation in the road corridor.pdf
991K Download View as HTML

Attachment Attachment B Weed Control Methodology Table 2015.pdf
126K Download View as HTML

Attachment Attachment C Weed management policy.pdf
499K Download View as HTML

Attachment Foamstream assessment Aug 2019.pdf
241K Download View as HTML

Attachment Foamstream V4 Trial Letter from Auckland Council.pdf
57K Download View as HTML

Dear Jodie,

Thank you for your request for information.  Please see attached our
response.

If you have any further queries please contact Fernanda Maciel
([1][email address]) , quoting Official
Information Request No 8140007202

Please note you have the right to request a review of this decision from
the Ombudsman.

Kind regards

Fernanda Maciel
Privacy & LGOIMA team
Democracy Services

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CAUTION: This email message and any attachments contain information that
may be confidential and may be LEGALLY PRIVILEGED. If you are not the
intended recipient, any use, disclosure or copying of this message or
attachments is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email
message in error please notify us immediately and erase all copies of the
message and attachments. We do not accept responsibility for any viruses
or similar carried with our email, or any effects our email may have on
the recipient computer system or network. Any views expressed in this
email may be those of the individual sender and may not necessarily
reflect the views of Council.

References

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