AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine lawmakers are considering a proposal to ban aerial spraying of some herbicides in forestry.
Democratic Senate President Troy Jackson, of Allagash, offered the proposal, which was subject to a public hearing on Tuesday. Jackson said “aerial herbicides in the Maine woods benefits the bottom line of large landowners at the expense and well-being of the people living and working in the region.”
Jackson’s proposal focuses in part on glyphosate, a widely-used herbicide that is available commercially under the trade name Roundup. It would also apply to other synthetic herbicides.
The proposal received support from the Maine Public Health Association at Tuesday’s hearing. Executive director Rebecca Boulos said the bill “is also a matter of health equity.”
The proposal would need to be approved by the Maine Legislature.
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