The Poisoning of PG&E Power Poles

June 5, 2005

The Poisoning of PG & E Power Poles

http://www.alternatives2toxics.org/catsoldsite/powerpoles.htm Keep PG & E poisons off your property!

Since August 2002, more than 462 residents of California have signed our PG & E petition or have called CATs for help regarding pesticides being used for the maintenance of power poles on or adjacent to their property. The local electric utility company, Pacific Gas and Electric (PG & E) hired contractors Davey Tree Utility and Provco to apply pesticides through injection into poles and by spraying vegetation in utility right-of-ways. Neither PG & E or its contractors provided advance notification or obtained permission from residents before using pesticides on their property. Residents state that after denying permission to treat power poles on their property and asking pesticide applicators to leave, the applicators often returned later to treat poles when the residents were not at home.

Recently herbicides were sprayed by a Provco workers within 20 feet of a school yard full of children. Children and staff reported a bad odor followed by symptoms of exposure including stinging eyes and sore throats. (In the News: Northcoast Journal 2/27/03: "Power Pole Spraying Is Back", Arcata Eye 7/21/03: "Pole Probes Pose Problems")

Millions of utility poles carry electricity, phone and cable lines through fields and forests, over mountains and across deserts, along roads and in cities. Poles are usually owned by the electricity company, but most of the land traversed by these utility lines is not; it belongs to homeowners, farmers, timber companies and other businesses, or the land is publicly owned under government management.

In response to this, CATs has started a poisoned power poles campaign to stop unnecessary application of pesticides on power poles.

Information about our campaign along with actions you can take to stop PG & E's practices can be found here