Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council denies Sandpoint festival pesticide request after toxicity concerns
Summary
Council denied a festival request to apply bifenthrin and similar insecticides at waterfront festival sites, citing toxicity to aquatic life, bees and persistence in organic matter; festival representatives had offered weather‑contingent applications targeted to hard surfaces but council majority rejected the permit.
Festival organizers requested permission under their permit to apply bifenthrin (and listed alternates) to hard surfaces and artificial turf around the festival stage to reduce wasp, hornet and gnat problems during events. Festival staff said applications would be limited to stage and backstage areas, weather‑contingent and not applied to soil or vegetation.
Councilors and members of the public raised concerns about bifenthrin’s toxicity to aquatic invertebrates and bees and about persistence in organic matter. Councilor Trevor cited EPA and other guidance noting high toxicity to fish and aquatic organisms and questioned use near waterfront areas. Festival representatives said applications would be targeted to non‑organic surfaces and would avoid rain and high wind; they also proposed an alternate product (Demand CS) with different drying characteristics.
After public comment and council deliberation, the council voted to deny the pesticide application request.
Next steps: Festival organizers will need to pursue alternative non‑chemical pest mitigation approaches or return with a modified request and more information on alternatives and environmental safeguards.
