Applicant: Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF) 2600 Lou Merk Drive 008-3,
Fort Worth
Texas 76131. Tel: (817) 352-2732
Agent: Art Guite Consulting. 206-20641 Logan Avenue, Langley, B.C. V3A 7R3
Tel: (604) 835 9148 email: artguiteconsulting@gmail.com
BNSF Rail has a Pest Management Plan confirmed by the BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Control Strategy. The purpose of the Pest Management Plan (PMP) is to control vegetation, including noxious weeds and invasive plants, on ballast, rights-of-way, station grounds, yards, and around buildings, shops, material storage areas, crossings, and bridges using the principles of integrated pest management. The pest management methods proposed for use include hand removal and cutting, weed trimming, mowing, brush cutters, chainsaws, and the judicious use of herbicides.
The PMP applies to BNSF property within their New Westminster Subdivision. It is located in proximity to the communities of White Rock, Delta, Surrey, Vancouver and New Westminster. Experience with using herbicides under the PMP has shown that it is necessary to refine the treatment program especially in areas where glyphosate has been the only herbicide used since 2019. It is proposed that one or more of the following products will be added to the glyphosate tank mix used on the railroad ballast where plant species are tolerant or resistant to glyphosate: Telar (chlorsulfuron), Banvel (dicamba), Arsenal (imazapyr), Esplanade (indaziflam), Escort (metsulfuron methyl), Navius (aminopyrachlor & metsulfuron methyl), Torpedo (flumioxazin & pyroxasulfone). The herbicides are usually applied with a power sprayer equipped with a shroud to prevent drift. These sprays are applied at low pressure to assure minimal drift off target or with a power hose equipped with a spray gun if railroad switches or materials piles are being treated.
Other products that may be used where the railroad tracks are far enough away from the water are Milestone (aminopyralid), , Torpedo (flumioxazin & pyroxasulfone) and Clearview (aminopyralid and metsulfuron -methyl).
The herbicide applications are usually done in the spring and fall of each year. Details and documents related to the proposed spray operations may be obtained by contacting artguiteconsulting@gmail.com or by contacting Paul Still, Engineering at BNSF Rail 400 Brunette Street, New Westminster, B.C. V3L 3E8.
Pesticide Use Permits are granted for three years. If you wish to comment on the above proposal, please contact artguiteconsulting@gmail.com within 30 days of the publication of this notification.
