Feather River Action! announces an emergency information and planning meeting on herbicide use in forests at 6 p.m. Sept. 2 at the Portola branch of the Plumas County Library, 34 Third Ave.
The plan to apply herbicides in forests in massive quantities, including on 100,000-plus acres of the Plumas National Forest, continues to generate national attention, said FRA spokesperson Josh Hart. “This is an attack on the natural world, and it is an attack on public health. The industry thinks they can just use our sparsely populated rural areas as a sacrifice zone to increase timber harvests and profits.”
Hart said metabolic diseases like diabetes, along with cancer, are linked to exposure to glyphosate and other herbicides. Glyphosate and other herbicides are known to spread through the soil and water supply, and yet the U.S. Forest Service relies on “outdated, retracted science and refuses to provide monitoring to protect local populations,” said Hart.
Hart said Forest Service maps show spraying is planned directly adjacent to the City of Portola’s backup water supply.
Organizers encourage meeting participants to bring their questions and comments and plan to help organize effective resistance to herbicide spraying plans.
