ANS testimony on DC proposal to regulate wildlife-harming noise from leaf blowers

All photos Wikimedia Commons. Leaf blower: Cbaile19. Noise level: Chuck Kardous (NIOSH). Wood thrush: Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren.


Today at 1:30 pm, ANS will deliver testimony to the DC Council asking them to support Bill 22-234, the “Leaf Blower Regulation Amendment Act of 2017.” Growing scientific evidence shows the harm that excessive noise does to birds and other wildlife, by making it harder for them to hear each others’ calls, listen for predators and find prey or other food. It elevates their stress hormones and causes them to change behavior like changing the pitch of their vocalizations or moving out of their habitats. Councilmember Mary Cheh is the bill sponsor–read more about the background on it by clicking here.

As our letter states to the Council, “When we drive out and drown out birds, we suffer, too. It would be hard to imagine a hearing at which residents complained about too much birdsong.”

We encourage the Council to support and pass Bill 22-234!

Read our full testimony here: ANS testimony on DC leaf blower regulation bill 6-28-18.pdf

Many thanks to longtime ANS members and volunteers David Cottingham for delivering the testimony and Janet Bogue for drafting it.

About Eliza Cava

Eliza Cava is the Nature Forward Director of Conservation, where she supervises our policy, advocacy, watershed community science, and conservation outreach work, and supports Woodend restoration as a demonstration landscape for the region.
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