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Committee approves using existing treated wood for Eagle Scout footbridge with handling conditions
Summary
The committee debated cedar vs treated wood for a footbridge near a vernal pool and voted to approve using the treated wood that Trails purchased, with conditions about no on-site cutting and prefabrication to limit potential leaching risk.
The committee discussed material choices for an Eagle Scout footbridge close to a vernal pool and environmental concerns about copper leaching from treated lumber. Joyce proposed buying cedar for parts that contact the ground because, she said, “cedar, which is safe. Life lasts a long time. It's untreated. It's appropriate for that kind of environment.”
Kevin referenced studies and local precedent for treated materials near wetlands, saying, verbatim, “the studies don't really show a problem. There's a slight amount of cobbler leaching within, like, an inch of the wood, but it doesn't travel through the soil.” Committee members noted that treated boards typically must be precut off-site to avoid sawdust entering sensitive ground.
Kevin moved that the committee approve use of the treated wood already procured for the project; Joyce seconded the motion. The committee voted to proceed, while recording a condition that any cutting or sawing should not occur on-site (precut materials only) to reduce the risk of material particles entering wet areas.
