Base Gagetown Summary of Chemical Spray Program

Base Gagetown Summary of Chemical Spray Program

(DND Documents – Right to Information)







1956 – 3687 acres - 24 oz 2,4 D and 24 oz 2,4.5 T mix per acre - 24 BARRELS



1957 – 3149 acres – 24 oz 2,4 D and 24 oz 2,4.5 T mix per acre - 25 BARRELS



1958 – 4469+2639+500 acres – 32 oz 2,4,5 T Mix per acre - 35 BARRELS



1959 – None



1960 – 9000+acres- 32 oz 2,4,5 T in Mix 20% fuel oil, 80% water 3.5 gallon/acre - 40 BARRELS



1961 - 5189 acres – 48 oz 2,4,5,T in Mix 20% fuel oil, 80% water 4 gallons/acre - 34 BARRELS



1962 – nil



1963 – 9653 acres – 40 oz 2, 4,D and 40 oz 2, 4, 5 T in one gallon fuel oil at 5 gallon/acre - 105 BARRELS



1964 – 10000 acres – 40 oz 2, 4, D and 40 oz 2, 4, 5 T in one gallon oil at 5 gallon/acre - 100 BARRELS



1964 – spray accident occurred (DND documents – presentation to NB Cabinet) chemicals drifted to Upper Gagetown and Sheffield Area. The federal crown paid approx. $250,000 to several market gardens in the area as reparation for the damage to their crops.



DND stopped using 2, 4, 5, T mixture and changed its spray program the following year



1964 – DND started pursuing alternative chemicals, no funding available



1965 – changed chemical use to Tordon 101 - 4708 acres - 1 gal/acre - 301 BARRELS



1966 – tests began of alternative chemicals including Agent Orange and Purple





People were DIRECTLY exposed to these deadly chemicals. Soldiers training and civilian workers handling and mixing the chemicals on Base during these years are claiming the exposure to these chemicals have lead to serious illness.



2,4,D and 2,4,5 T are components of Agent Orange and Purple. Experts said that the mixtures of these components in the mid to late 50’s early 60’s contained higher dosages of dioxin than in the late 60’s early 70’s even.



The province of NB compensated in 2001 civilian workers at NBPower who handled these types of chemicals sprayed near power lines. The province did not send them to Workers Comp.



The Federal Government has the moral and ethical responsibility to compensate directly all veterans and civilians who have an illness as a result of the exposure to these deadly chemicals while working at Base Gagetown since 1956. We await their response.

MLA, Oromocto Gagetown

(506) 357-3407 (t)

(506) 357-7101 (f)

www.jodycarr.ca



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