Invasive species have been a problem across New York state. Now, there is a debate over whether an herbicide used to combat one should be used.

Plans to apply ProcellaCOR in one of the state’s more popular tourist destinations, Lake George, is stirring up controversy.

“Who in the world would want to put that in the water so the people who drink out of the water, who swim in the water, or who boat in the water have a potential to get cancer?” said Hague Deputy Town Supervisor Steve Ramant.

ProcellaCOR is an herbicide used to kill of milfoil, an invasive aquatic plant.

“Lake George is not in crisis and does not warrant the extreme step of chemical treatment,” said Chris Navitsky, Lake George Association waterkeeper. 

Clean water advocates and landowners from around the lake rallied Tuesday before the state’s Lake George Park Commission met to approve a licensed applicator.

“We simply have to follow the established science,” Lake George Park Commission Executive Director David Wick said.

Wick invited representatives from three nearby lakes to share their experience with ProcellaCOR, which he says is a product approved by the Environmental Protection Agency.

“They had no follow-up challenges with any water quality issues, certainly no public health issues and the treatments, the effectiveness lasted for years,” Wick said.

It didn’t stop several people from speaking their minds during a public comment period, claiming ProcellaCOR contains per and polyfluoroakyl substances, known as "forever chemicals."

“The Minnesota Department of Agriculture feels that the PFAS compound in ProcellaCOR is a cancer-causing agent,” Ramant said.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation provided the commission with a written statement that was read aloud by Ken Parker, chairman of the commission.

“Have not been identified any concerns regarding the toxicity or persistence of the above mentions chemicals when used as labeled in ProcellaCOR product,” Parker said.

Pending the permit process, the herbicide will be applied to the lake next month across two areas, much like its been applied in other lakes in the state since 2019.

“The idea that we would do something that somehow endangers its users, or the water quality itself, is a non-starter,” Wick said.