Accent on Natural Landscaping

Donna VanBuecken

Botany Bill S2384

Reference my earlier post on the House Botany Bill HR1572. In July 2018, Senator Mazie K Hirono introduced the Senate version of the Botany Bill (S3240) with three co-sponsors. This past July 2019, she re-introduced her bill in the Senate with ten co-sponsors as S2384. Similar to the House … [Read more...]

EPA’s Glyphosate Risk Assessments

The US EPA has announced a 60-day public comment period for their current draft glyphosate human health and ecological risk assessments. In essence, the EPA continues to find that glyphosate is not a carcinogen and that it presents no risks to public health when glyphosate is used in accordance with … [Read more...]

Revised Definition of “Waters of the United States”

In 2015 the Obama administration published a new definition of "Waters of the United States (WOTUS)." In February 2019, the Trump administration proposes changes to that definition. See Federal Register Vol 84, No 31. The public has until April 15, 2019 to comment on the changes to the proposed … [Read more...]

Botany Bill HR1572

On March 6, 2019 Representative Quigley (D-IL) and co-sponsor Representative Rooney (R-FL) reintroduced the “Botany Bill”* in the House of Representatives. The bill (HR1572) is similar to the version from the 115th Congress (HR1054). It supports plant research, the placement of botanists in the land … [Read more...]

Help Update WI Invasive Species Rules

The Wisconsin Legislature created the Wisconsin Invasive Species Council to assist the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in establishing a statewide program to control invasive species. Wisconsin’s invasive species rule, NR Chapter 40, was enacted in 2009 and last revised in 2015. … [Read more...]

US Farm Bill to Restrict Local Pesticide Ordinances

The US House has added a provision to "the federal farm bill that would block cities, counties and school districts from restricting the use of toxic pesticides on playgrounds and parks." "That would include ordinances that prohibit the use of glyphosate -- the active ingredient in Monsanto's … [Read more...]