Steve Burns
WMAL.com

ROCKVILLE – (WMAL) Montgomery County is again looking into a first-in-the-nation law, this time potentially limiting or banning the use of pesticides on public and private property.

The Montgomery County Council’s Transportation and Energy Committee is set to hear a bill from Council President George Leventhal that would entirely ban the use of pesticides on private and public property throughout the county.

“For our water supply, our children, our pets, I just think this is the right direction to go in terms of protecting public health,” Leventhal told WMAL. “Our county has been out in front in issues of health and public safety, and prohibiting the use of pesticides on lawns is consistent with all of those values.”

Leventhal said that science is never conclusive, but mentioned a significant amount of research that links pesticides like RoundUp to a host of health problems, including cancer.

However, Councilmember Roger Berliner called a ban “not responsible government” and will be offering amendments that instead look to reduce pesticide use by 50% over three years.

“I don’t think we’ve prepared our public for such a dramatic step as to ban you as a homeowner from using a lawful product that you can buy at any store on your own lawn,” Berliner told WMAL. He said he’s heard an opinion from the State Attorney General’s office that a ban may be unlawful, and said a referendum on the matter would likely fail. He said the legal fees and revolt from residents makes the ban “a bridge too far.”

“I get that this stuff is probably not okay. But to go from where we are today, where we have done virtually nothing in this realm, to a ban, is not responsible government.” Berliner said his plan includes requiring homeowners to sign waivers indicating they understand the potential risks prior to purchasing pesticides.

But Leventhal said there’s only so much effort they can put in to educating the public.

“The public’s attention span and willingness to listen to messages from local government is really questionable,” he said. “I’m confident people will still be able to maintain green and attractive and healthy lawns using natural and organic means, rather than chemicals that are hazardous to humans, pets, and our water supply.”

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