Abita Springs residents defend themselves against government pesticide spraying for mosquitoes

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Subject:  Some are itching to kill new program (before they get killed).........
 Date:     Fri, 19 Apr 2002 09:22:32 -0400
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:    Christine Whitman whitman.christine@epa.gov

Dear Mr. Helliker,  I thought you might like to read an article entitled: Some are itching to kill new program dated 04/18/02 By Richard Boyd St. Tammany bureau.

Abita Springs residents have strong opinions, both pro and con, about mosquito spraying, and the first-ever spraying in the town has prompted predictably robust reaction.

After a spray truck cruised the streets on the night of April 11, one woman complained that the chemical might harm the many hummingbirds that visit her back yard.

Another claimed that the truck was running stop signs.

Many others complained about the smell.

Phones rang off the hook at Town Hall.

"We assumed all along, because of strong opinions on the subject in the past, that we would get some reaction and the first spraying in Abita Springs would create some controversy, and it did," said Viki Taylor, supervisory entomologist for St. Tammany Parish Mosquito Abatement District No. 2.  Because of the uproar, Taylor attended Tuesday night's Board of Aldermen meeting to try to calm jittery residents.

"We are very scientific," she told residents. "Our director, Chuck Palmisano, and I both have master's degrees in entomology, and we have been spraying and doing other control measures in the Slidell area for more than 30 years, and in Mandeville and Covington for eight years. What we use will not harm humans or animal life."  (I believe this statement is against the federal law.)

Abita Springs last week got its first dose of the chemical resmethrin, which was mixed with mineral oil and sprayed from a truck. Voters in a large section of mostly unincorporated western and eastern areas of the parish, including Abita, last year approved a 4-mill tax to join the Slidell-based mosquito district.

Mosquito control has been a divisive issue in the town. When residents of Southwind subdivision signed petitions two years ago asking for mosquito spraying, hordes of other residents stormed Town Hall in opposition.

Last week's spraying apparently caught most by surprise. "I got a lot of phone calls from people upset. Town Hall got a lot of calls," Mayor Bryan Gowland said.

Although only those who were upset by the spraying made their feelings known to Town Hall, Gowland noted that, overall, Abita residents voted overwhelmingly in support of joining the mosquito district.

But Alderwoman Ruth Terry-Sipos said she was disturbed by the odor. In addition, she said, the spray truck passed her house three times and that it ran a stop sign each time. "That makes me very upset," she said.

Taylor said drivers are warned to comply with traffic laws. "It is night, and this is new territory, but they will learn the routes very soon," she said.

"I could smell the stuff coming into my child's bedroom," resident Ann O'Brien said. "It was dreadful. I was really alarmed."

Olga Clifton, known nationally for her elaborate back yard feeding areas for several species of hummingbird, said she feared that the chemical would harm the birds. She called the abatement district the day after the first spraying.

Rene Henry also objected. "I don't want that nasty stuff anywhere around my house," he said.

Taylor said residents who don't want spraying can be accommodated, up to a point. Those at the end of streets or not surrounded by neighbors can ask to be excluded, and drivers can be given their addresses and instructions to turn off the spray. But it won't work in subdivisions and crowded streets, she said.

Clifton , Henry and O'Brien all fit the criteria and will be spared.

Taylor said there is no regular schedule yet for spraying in Abita Springs. "But I can assure you we are not killing anything that lives except mosquitoes," she said.  (I believe this statement is also against the federal law.) . . . . . . . Richard Boyd can be reached at rboyd@timespicayune.com or (985) 898-4816.

http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/sttammany/index.ssf?/newsstory/t_abita18.html

Well Mr. Helliker,  I have enclosed a few notes that I have written in the past about these "safe" "registered" POISONS that "only harm the mosquitoes".

Resmethrin another Pesticide Poison

Resmethrin Fact Sheet. Contents: What is resmethrin?

What ... What Is Resmethrin? Resmethrin is a type I ...

http://www.safe2use.com/poisons-pesticides/pesticides/pyrethroids/resmethrin.htm - 4k - similar pages

Head Lice ... membranes, eg, the eyes, nose or mouth . Note: Pyrethrum and pipernoyl butoxide are now considered to be carcinogenic. Lindane has been identified as both ... http://www.thebestcontrol.com/lice-chapter/about_lice.htm - 101k - similar pages

Respectfully,  Stephen L. Tvedten

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