Glyphosate Moratorium Revisited

On Tuesday, February 25, the Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners will consider a motion to rescind the current glyphosate moratorium (AR 2019-44 Glyphosate Moratorium) and adopt a new policy that will allow use of glyphosate on medians, roadways, and hardscapes (gravel, cobblestone, etc) for one year. The proposed new resolution also calls for completion of the Integrated Vegetation Management and Maintenance Plan (IVMMP) within that year–the plan was not completed after the disruption of the pandemic. We believe it is important to make sure the commissioners know that glyphosate is not a long-term option for weed and grass control and that they can support the work of the management plan without re-introducing glyphosate use. If you live or work in Bernalillo County, please send a quick e-mail to the commissioners or make a call to your commissioner or sign up to give public comment. Please do this by early afternoon on Tuesday, Feb 25 (meeting starts at 5:00 p. m., contact info below). Here are some talking points you make wish to consider:

• Bayer/Monsanto lost a series of lawsuits and has settled tens of thousands of claims for non-Hodgkin lymphoma and other malignant blood disorders. Pay-outs to date total ~$10 billion.
• The U. S. Supreme Court, in June 2022, declined to review Bayer’s appeal of the Appeals Court decision to uphold scaled-down awards.
• The EPA withdrew its Interim Decision on the registration review of glyphosate in September 2022 after it failed to make a determination of health effects but held off on requiring a label change on glyphosate products.
• Bayer ended sales of glyphosate for residential use in the U. S. A. in 2023.
• As recently as December 17, 2024, a half-page ad appeared in USA Today advising Roundup users who where diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, leukaemia, or other blood cancer that they could be eligible for compensation.

• A recent study suggested that the introduction of genetically modified seeds and glyphosate significantly reduced average birthweight and gestational length of infants in rural communities.
• Locations downstream from high-intensity glyphosate use have increased infant mortality.
• Increased pesticide contamination of water supplies in Brazil affected by the introduction of intense genetically modified soy production appears to have resulted in increased cases of childhood leukaemia.
• A recent study in mice showed that glyphosate exposure increased brain inflammation and the proteins found in Alzheimer disease with the primary metabolite remaining in the brain months after exposure ended.
• The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics called for a full global phase-out of glyphosate based on the Precautionary Principle: When an activity raises threats of harm to human health or the environment, precautionary measures should be taken even if some cause and effect relationships are not fully established scientifically. Others have called for a review of safety standards and assessments, particularly since product approvals were based on potentially tainted studies from three decades ago.
• Internal documents, known as The Monsanto Papers, came to light during litigation and revealed a co-ordinated effort to attack and discredit researchers and journalists who published findings that raised questions about the safety of glyphosate and a well-funded plan to produce literature and opinions supporting safety claims by Monsanto.

The commissioners:
Barbara Baca — (505) 468-7027, District1@bernco.gov
Frank Baca — (505) 468-7448, District2@bernco.gov
Adriann Barboa — (505) 468-7108, District3@bernco.gov
Walt Benson — (505) 468-7010, District4@bernco.gov
Eric C. Olivas — (505) 468-7212, District5@bernco.gov

Use commission@bernco.gov to send an e-mail to all the commissioners.
Sign up for public comment, in person or virtually, for the meeting at https://www.bernco.gov/boards-commissions/speak-at-a-meeting/