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Commission asks staff to press Bell Labs and EPA to widen access to dry-ice rodent control
Summary
The commission voted to authorize staff to draft letters to Bell Laboratories asking them to distribute a registered dry-ice product ('Rat Ice') on the West Coast and to the U.S. EPA to consider a variance permitting dry ice as a rodent control method, citing wildlife-safety and lower secondary toxicity risks compared with rodenticides.
The Commission on the Environment authorized staff to draft and send two letters: one to Bell Laboratories urging wider West Coast distribution of its registered dry-ice rodent control product (marketed as "Rat Ice") and one to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requesting consideration of a variance or other pathway to allow dry ice (carbon dioxide) to be used as a less-toxic rodent-control tool in appropriate settings.
Chris Geiger summarized the history: dry ice was historically used to suffocate rodents in burrows; staff piloted an exempt-product approach and performed trials (including at Portsmouth Square) with promising results, but the U.S. EPA and state pesticide regulators have limited exempt uses. A registered product from Bell Labs was later approved, but Geiger said distribution to West Coast users has been slow. "We waited and waited for it to be distributed on the West Coast... the distribution out here is simply not happening," he said.
Commissioners framed the request as part of a broader effort to find less-toxic alternatives to secondarily toxic rodenticides. Commissioner Sullivan moved (seconded by Commissioner Ahn) to send the letters; public commenters supported the move. Roll-call vote: President Stevenson, Vice President Ahn, Commissioners Chu, Sullivan, Wald and Juan voted aye; Commissioner Bermejo excused.
Why this matters: staff argued that dry-ice-based control has minimal secondary wildlife impacts when applied correctly and can help reduce use of rodenticides that persist in food webs. The Commission's action is an advocacy step to encourage a manufacturer to distribute and a regulator to permit wider use, not a regulatory change by the city.
Next steps: staff will draft the two letters (to Bell Labs and to EPA) on behalf of the Commission and pursue follow-up with partner agencies; staff noted additional conversation will be needed on application training and safe procedures if distribution increases.
