NB Power apologizes over herbicide spraying 'miscommunication'

NB Power is apologizing for misinforming residents about eating berries recently sprayed with herbicide near their transmission lines.

Wayne Webb, a resident in the rural community of Wirral, said he was told by aNB Poweremployee, who was a part of a team applyingVision Maxnear his home, that blueberries sprayed with the herbicidewould be OK to eat after 24 hours.

"I said, 'You're spraying our berries,ruining them you're poisoningthem,'" said Webb.

"She said, 'Oh no that stuffwon't hurt you, you can go down and pick them in 24 hours.' I said, 'I don't think so.'"

An onlinewarning from the herbicide marker Monsanto states not to eat sprayed foods.

"We do not recommend eating berries in posted areas after spraying with VisionMAX herbicide," the warning states.

Marie-Andree Bolduc, a NB Power spokesperson, made the apology to the Wirral residentsfor the utility.

"We certainly apologized if there was miscommunication about the consumption of the blueberries in that area," saidBolduc.

TheMaterial Data Safety Sheets for the glyphosate-based herbicide states that if thechemicalis ingested to immediately call poison control and to not induce vomiting, do notallow vomit to be breathed into lungs and warns offatal consequences.

NB Power says it heavily dilutes the herbicide with water andit is essentially non-toxic.

Vision Max is approved for use by NB Power by the province's Department of Environment and Local Government.

Webb said he does not accept the apology and will not be satisfied until NB Power discontinues the use of herbicides to control plant growth.

This is the second apology that NB Power has offered to rural residents over the herbicide-spraying program.

NB Power has also apologized for not giving enough notice to residents before spraying the area with Vision Max.