To: Nelson Hydro, BC Ministry of Forests, RDCK, and the City of Nelson
CC: MLA Brittny Anderson, Minister Ravi Parmar, Office of the Medical Health Officer, and Environmental Enforcement

Subject:
Immediate cessation of pesticide, herbicide, and fungicide spraying on rights-of-way under power lines managed or contracted by Nelson Hydro and RDCK, due to public health, environmental, and legal risks.

 
Background
Nelson Hydro has released a new 5-year Pest Management Plan that includes the use of chemical pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides under powerlines throughout the Nelson region, including within the the City of Nelson and surrounding areas, including Blewett, Taghum, the North Shore, Harrop, Procter, Balfour and Queen’s Bay.

The plan lists 15 pesticides and includes areas where residents live, garden, and farm. Consultation for this plan is open for only 30 days (ending November 23, 2025) and was announced only by a small ad in the local newspaper.

Many residents were shocked to learn at the recent Nelson Hydro public meeting that “consultation” only means notification, there is no option to opt out of chemical treatment for communities or individuals.

Nelson Hydro is 100% owned by the City of Nelson. If you have a power pole or line near your property, this plan affects you.

 
Why we are concerned
Health risks: Glyphosate and other pesticides have been classified by the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer as “probably carcinogenic to humans.” Exposure risks include drift into residential areas, gardens, and playgrounds.

Environmental harm: These chemicals are known to harm pollinators, aquatic life, amphibians, and soil ecosystems — threatening our local farms, beekeepers, and watersheds.

Legal and regulatory vulnerability:U.S. courts have found for plaintiffs exposed to glyphosate (e.g., Johnson v. Monsanto and Hardeman v. Monsanto).
The U.S. Ninth Circuit has vacated key EPA glyphosate findings, showing regulatory uncertainty.
In Canada, Federal Court rulings and class actions are challenging Health Canada’s pesticide approvals.

Democratic deficit: The public was not adequately informed, and there was only one scheduled public engagement sessions. Citizens deserve the right to participate in decisions that directly affect their health and environment.
 
We demand that Nelson Hydro, RDCK, and the Ministry of Forests:
1.Immediately suspend all pesticide, herbicide, and fungicide applications under powerlines in all affected areas.
2.Publicly disclose all chemicals proposed or used (trade name, active ingredient, and location).
3.Commission an independent, peer-reviewed environmental and human health risk assessment.
4.Implement non-chemical vegetation management alternatives such as manual trimming, mulching, and mechanical clearing.
5.Protect workers and residents through full public notification, buffer zones, and environmental monitoring.
 
Why this matters to our community
From Blewett to Balfour, Taghum to Harrop-Procter, we are united by love for our land and water. Small farms, beekeepers, and families stand to be directly affected by this plan.Nelson Hydro workers themselves could face chemical exposure while doing line maintenance.

We are not against forestry, mining, or the dedicated people working in these sectors. We simply oppose the unnecessary use of toxic pesticides when safer, proven alternatives exist.

 
What you can do
🕊️ Please sign this petition before November 23, 2025 to demand:

1.Public engagement meetings from Nelson Hydro, City of Nelson, and RDCK
2.A halt to the pesticide plan
3.A transparent, democratic process for vegetation management
Your signature will show that Nelson residents and surrounding communities refuse to lose their right to say no to chemical treatment of our lands.

 
References and Documentation
Nelson Hydro Rights-of-Way Pest Management Plan (2025–2030):
🔗 https://www.nelson.ca/DocumentCenter/View/4937/Nelson-Hydro-RIGHTS-OF-WAY-PMP