Herbicide spraying planned for brush control

AUGUSTA — Annual roadside brush control spraying will be done by the Maine Department of Transportation in 200 Maine communities during July. DOT’s spray solution consists of 0.5 percent Triclopyr or Dicamba herbicides and 99.5 percent water.

DOT runs a spray notification program on a community-by-community basis and will allow “no-spray” agreements with municipalities or individual landowners who object to spray on or near their properties. The town or individual landowner in a no-spray agreement must control roadside brush to DOT standards listed in the no-spray application.

Roadside spraying, mowing, hand-cutting and growth management are part of maintaining “clear zones” between the edge of the road and the tree line allowing the motorist who goes off the road to regain control, help drivers to see around curves, provide places to store snow, and let the sun melt snow and ice on roads.

DOT has used other vegetation to control brush and reduce the need for spray herbicides. Lupines, mostly purple flowers that bloom in June, and crown vetch, masses of pink and white flowers that bloom in July, shade tree seedlings.

Information about no-spray agreement applications and spray scheduling is available from the following DOT division offices:

Division 1: In the Presque Isle area, call 764-2060 or write to: Box 1178, Rice Street, Presque Isle 04769.

Division 2: in the Ellsworth area, call 667-5556 or write to: Box 539, High Street, Ellsworth 04605.

Division 3: in the Bangor area, call 941-4500 or write to: Box 1208, Hogan Road, Bangor 04402.

Division 4: in the Fairfield area, call 453-7377 or write to: 10 Mountain Ave., Fairfield 04937.

Division 5: in the Rockland area, call 596-2230 or write to: Box 566, Rankin Street, Rockland 04841.

Division 6: in the Scarborough area, call 883-5546 or write to: Box 1940, Portland, 04104.

Division 7: in the Dixfield area, call 562-4228 or write to: Box X, Dixfield 04224.

Technical information on the herbicides used and how they are applied is available from the DOT Office of Environmental Services in Augusta at 287-5735.