Concord Natural Resources Commission backs home-rule petition to restrict second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides

The Natural Resources Commission voted May 7 to support a town warrant article (Article 36) requesting home-rule authority to restrict sale or use of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) within Concord.

Gwen Chapley, a Concord resident and petitioner, told the commission her group is seeking a townwide prohibition on so-called "eschar" bait products because they "move up the food chain" and harm raptors, coyotes, foxes, fishers, pets and potentially humans. Chapley said Concord municipal buildings do not use those products now and that the home-rule petition would ask the state to allow Concord to ban SGAR use on both public and private property, with an exception for a narrowly defined public-health emergency determined by the board of health.

Chapley described the local plan as a two-track effort: first, a town home-rule petition asking the state legislature to authorize Concord to override statewide pesticide regulations within town borders; and second, support for a pending state bill called "Act to Reduce Rodenticides." She said the petition would, if approved at town meeting and by the Select Board, then be submitted to the state for action. "We are asking the Natural Resources Commission to officially support the article," Chapley said during her presentation.

Commissioners voted in favor of a motion to support Article 36. Public comment at the meeting included questions about economic impacts to pest-control businesses and household costs; a local resident who called pest-control companies reported companies said alternative products such as vitamin D3 products or corn-gluten-based products (RatX) generally cost about the same as SGARs. The commission discussed that trapping and other non-chemical strategies can be more labor intensive and therefore more expensive for some homeowners.

The petitioners said NHESP and other agencies had been contacted about wildlife protections and that the petition builds on regional efforts by other municipalities. Chapley emphasized that the proposed ordinance would not prevent emergency public-health uses as determined by the board of health.

Ending The NRC voted to support the Article 36 home-rule petition; petitioners will pursue the Select Board and then state action as described in their presentation.