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VEGETATION MANAGEMENT / WEED CONTROL
The Alaska Railroad has tried to control vegetation along its track with non-chemical methods including mechanical brush-cutting, manual labor, steam and burning since 1983. Despite these efforts, the volume and location of vegetation along the track has resulted in stiff fines from the Federal Railroad Administration, the railroad's federal regulatory agency. Adding chemical vegetation control to our non-chemical methods would greatly enhance the Railroad's ability to improve safety and comply with federal regulatory requirements.
For more information regarding the Alaska Railroad's vegetation management efforts and information regarding the current Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation permit application process, please click on the links ARRC Vegetation Managment Links located at the bottom of this page.
The Alaska Railroad has recently applied to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) for a permit to use herbicides as part of an integrated vegetation management (IVM) effort between Indian and Seward. The area of application covers a 90-mile stretch of operating property (rail yards, spurs, sidings, etc.) and is considered the worst in terms of overgrown vegetation. A permit to apply herbicides in summer 2010 will help address the Alaska Railroad's safety concerns over uncontrollable vegetation. Equally concerned with safety, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has sent the Alaska Railroad its strongest warning yet to clear the tracks of vegetation or face more fines, speed restrictions and even track closure.
The general use water-safe herbicide Aqua Master (active ingredient Glyphosate) is proposed for use with the nonionic surfactant AgriDex in the Alaska Railroad application. The Alaska Railroad is working with the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) on a herbicide research project to evaluate the chemical migration and retention in the soil. Initial results from field studies completed in the first year of the two year research project indicate that the herbicides are behave similarly to how they behave in other climates and regions.
ADEC permitting includes a 60-day public process, beginning July 16. Three public hearings will be held 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. and will be preceded by a question-and-answer session from 4:00 to 4:30 p.m.
- Whittier: Monday, August 10. City Council Chambers, P-12 Bldg at the intersection of Whittier Street and Glacier Avenue
- Seward: Tuesday, August 11. Seward Marine Center / RM Rae Education Bldg at 125 3rd Avenue
-Anchorage: Wednesday, August 12. Marriott Downtown Hotel, intersection of 7th Avenue and I Street
Public comment may be given verbally at the hearings or written comments may be submitted to ADEC no later than September 15, 2009 via:
Mail:
Stephanie Stewart, Administrative Assistant
Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation Pesticide Program
555 Cordova Street
Anchorage, AK
99501
Phone:
(907) 269-7644 Fax: (907) 269-7654
Email:
Stephanie.Stewart@alaska.gov
To review the Alaska Railroad Corporation's permit application or more information regarding the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservations Pesticide Program, please click on the link below:
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