(BIVN) – A bill that prohibits the use of herbicides in Hawaii County parks, roads, and waterways was approved by the Hawaiʻi County Council on Wednesday, after it passed by a 6-3 vote.

Draft 2 of Bill 101 contains a simplified schedule of herbicides that will be prohibited from County government use.

The bill does not pertain to private use of any herbicides.

The 2nd draft also contains a new exemption:

Persons or entities including officers or employees ofthe County, are exempt from this article with respect to a direct application of one or more prohibited herbicides directly into the trunk or onto the cut stump of a targeted invasive species using methods known as incision point injection or cut stump application.

The new exemption was inserted in response to concerns raised by the Big Island Invasive Species Committee, which is on the front lines of the fight against the invasive albizia tree.

In another change, a County resident versed in “weed science” will qualify for a seat on the vegetation management transition committee that will be created by the bill. The revised bill also includes the previous committee member qualifications such knowledge in Native Hawaiian plants, tropical horticulture, agroforestry, silviculture, organic landscape design and maintenance, permaculture and natural farming. (UPDATED)

The Findings and Purpose of the bill explains the reasoning behind the new law: