CP Vegetation Management Program postponed to Monday June 9th

06/04/2014

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) wishes to inform the Community that the Canadian Pacific Vegetation Management Program visit, originally scheduled for Tuesday, May 27th (see press release dated Friday, May 23, 2014), has been rescheduled to take place on Monday, June 9th - rain date Tuesday, June 10th. 

Spraying will take place on the ballast section of the tracks only (gravel between the rails) using specialized equipment that includes shrouds that prevent spray drift by 90%. The application will happen only once this season and should take approximately one hour to complete.

The program is required to ensure the safe operations of passenger and freight trains and to maintain the structural integrity of the railway lines, preventing derailments There are concerns that the MCK could be held liable in the case of a derailment due to lack of proper maintenance (i.e. weed growth). While both the MCK Community Protection Unit and the Environment Protection Office have concerns about spraying, it is agreed that safety must remain a priority.

The MCK wishes to remind residents living in the area of the Adirondack rails to err on the side of caution by keeping away from the tracks during spraying, and for approximately 24 hours afterward. Railway tracks are an inherently dangerous place to be, which is why public access and any activities are, in fact, prohibited.