Subject: WEST NILE VIRUS, PESTICIDE IMPACT SURVEY
Date: Wed, 03 Jan 2001 06:47:53 -0500
From: Stephen Tvedten <steve@getipm.com>
Organization: Get Set Inc. (www.getipm.com)
To: Paul Helliker <phelliker@cdpr.ca.gov>
Director, State
of California, Department of Pesticide Regulation
cc: Carol Browner browner.carol@epa.gov
Dear Mr. Helliker, I
thought you might like to read an article entitled:
WEST NILE VIRUS, PESTICIDE IMPACT SURVEY
****************************************
A ProMED-mail post <http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the International Society for
Infectious Diseases <http://www.isid.org>
Sat 30 Dec 2000
Source: New York City Dept. of Health, Press Release, Fri
22 Dec 2000 (212) 788-5290 [edited]
Survey of Potential Impacts of Pesticides for Mosquito
Control
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--------------------------------------------------------------
The New York City Health Department announced on Fri 22
Dec 2000 that it has published a "final scoping" document outlining
plans to determine the potential impact from the use of pesticides to control
mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus or other mosquito-borne diseases. The
document, which has been posted on the Health Department's Web site
<http://www.ci.nyc.ny.us/html/doh/pdf/wnv/finals.pdf>, will be used to
develop a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). It outlines proposed
actions, potential environmental issues of concern, and proposed analysis
methods to address the potential environmental impacts of mosquito control
activities. New York City Health Commissioner Neal L. Cohen, M.D., said,
"For the past 2 summers, the City has taken State and Federal approved
actions to limit the spread of West Nile virus by using EPA approved (I would
like to note that no pesticides are "approved" by the EPA - they are
only "registered".) pesticides for mosquito control. The City is
currently undertaking a comprehensive review of the potential environmental
impact of these pesticides. This review involves public comment as well as a
scientific review and analysis of available information. While this effort has
not been done in other parts of the country where spraying for mosquito
control is done routinely, the City seeks to systematically assess the
potential impact of pesticides on public health and natural resources. As part
of this review process, alternatives to pesticide use will be explored as will
measures that could mitigate the adverse impacts of pesticide applications.
While we are committed to reducing the possibility of illnesses
associated with West Nile virus, our goal is to address public concerns about
the use of pesticides used for mosquito control and to minimize the risk of
adverse reactions to pesticides," Dr. Cohen concluded.
It is expected that a DEIS will be completed by March
2001. A public response period and hearings in each borough will then take
place. A Final Environmental Impact Statement is expected to be published in
June 2001. The EIS is an integral component of the Health Department's plans
to implement a comprehensive surveillance and control plan for West Nile virus
in 2001. The "final scoping document" published on Fri 22 Dec 2000,
includes comments from public hearings held this summer.
- --
ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org>
[Concerned persons in New York City may wish to
participate in the consultation process. - Mod.CP] ........................cp/jw/es
The overall NYC Dept Health Website on W. Nile Virus:
http://www.ci.nyc.ny.us/html/doh/html/wnv/wnvhome.html
Well Mr. Helliker, Bernard Miller of Montreal reminded
me of a very famous quote:
"First they ignore you,
then they ridicule you,
then they fight you,
and then you win."
~~~~~~~~~Gandhi
Hopefully, we all will win and we will be able to
safely control both the vector and the disease with unregistered alternatives
this summer.
Respectfully, Stephen
l. Tvedten
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