FAQs • Alcoa, TN • CivicEngage

Will the herbicide contaminate water on my property?: Herbicides we use can be applied to the waters edge according to the manufacturer’s label. Any herbicide that makes it to the ground bind strongly to the soil and are immobile.

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Herbicide Treatment

1. Will the herbicides used affect my pets during or after treatment?: Herbicides target growth hormones and specific processes that are unique to plants. The EPA requires chemical manufactures to study herbicides for years and spend millions of dollars—to demonstrate that it will not harm humans or animals—before herbicides can become EPA approved to be used by licensed applicators for rights-of-way applications.

2. If I am opposed to herbicide treatment on rights-of-way through my property, can I opt-out?: Property owners can opt-out by signing and abiding by our Rights-of-way Agreement. This agreement is between the City of Alcoa Electric Department and the property owner and requires the property owner to continually maintain a clean rights-of-way, except concerning compatible species such as dogwood (Cornus Florida) or Black Haw (Viburnum Prunifolium).

3. Will the herbicide contaminate water on my property?: Herbicides we use can be applied to the waters edge according to the manufacturer’s label. Any herbicide that makes it to the ground bind strongly to the soil and are immobile.

4. I did not hear that you were going to be using herbicide on rights-of-way through my property.: As a courtesy, we make every effort to inform our customers. We have pre-planners that go door to door ahead of time and leave door tags if no one is home. We also send out text to those who have an updated cell phone on file with the Electric Department. We also have information available on our website.

5. What method is used to apply herbicide?: Our contractors use low volume methods. Individuals walk our rights-of-way with backpacks or work out of a UTV. This year treatment will consist of a stem treatment during the dormant season and follow up foliar spot treatment only in areas where we did not receive our desired kill rate with the stem treatment.

6. How frequently do we use herbicide in our rights-of-way: We only use herbicide in a particular area approximately one year after cutting crews have been through an area. We are on a cycle program and thus after cutting an area and then applying herbicide it will be at least 3-4 years before we are back to a particular area.

7. What does the herbicide target?: We are only targeting broad leaf species that have the potential to grow up into our power systems. We use selective herbicide mixes that do not target grasses.

The contractor has let us know that they plan to use the following chemicals (we have included the MSDS links for each)

For low volume spraying:

Element 4	http://www.cdms.net/ldat/ld8R2005.pdf
Arsenal AC	https://www.brmemc.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/mp746004.pdf
Milestone	https://assets.greenbook.net/M79670.pdf
Sunrise	http://www.cdms.net/ldat/ld6CS004.pdf

For vegetation too large to just spray:

Capstone