Seattle Press on Line - Neighborhood Coalition Fights to Cancel Gypsy Moth Spray Over Salmon Bay

Neighborhood Coalition Fights to Cancel Gypsy Moth Spray Over Salmon Bay

By David Gould

The No Spray Zone Coalition, from left to right: Kara Ceriello, Laurie Valeriano, policy director for Washington Toxics Coalition, Claude Ginsberg, Audrey Lyle, and Marney Reynolds.

Apr 19, 2000 -- A planned pesticide spray over Ballard and Magnolia by the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) has met with a tide of opposition from local activists as well as a federal lawsuit.

Last year the state discovered one Asian gypsy moth and an egg mass in Salmon Bay. In response to a potential infestation, the state has decided to do three aerial spray applications of the pesticide Foray 48B over a one mile square area of Ballard and Magnolia to eradicate European and Asian gypsy moths.

But local activists, including No Spray Zone, a Ballard/Magnolia citizens group opposed to the spraying, the Sierra Club, the Green Party, farmers at the Interbay P-patch, an organic community garden, and the Washington Toxics Coalition, say Foray 48B has a poor safety record. They're also worried that the identity of ingredients in the pesticide have not been disclosed, and that the state will not use a buffer zone when spraying near Salmon Bay.

WSDA spokesperson John Lundgren responds that Btk, the active ingredient in Foray 48B, has been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency for use on more than 200 crops. Lundgren adds that proprietary laws disallow the listing of the other ingredients, and adds that, "Inert ingredients mean that the other ingredients have no negative effect." He also points out that Dr. Jeffrey Duchin, King County's Communicable Disease and Health Officer, has stated that Btk is safe for all humans, animals, fish, birds and insects other than caterpillars and moths.

Duchin also claims that Btk is not harmful to water supplies.

This last statement is hard for Rick Poulin to swallow.

Poulin is the attorney for No Spray Zone, and he points out that when the WSDA sprays Foray 48B into Salmon Bay without using a buffer zone as prescribed by federal, state and local laws, the state will be violating numerous clean water laws.

"It is pretty clear that the Department of Agriculture has not used reasonable steps to avoid spraying into Salmon Bay."

So Poulin filed a sixty day notice of intent to file suit on March 31, which informs the WSDA of No Spray Zone's intent to sue the state in federal court. Poulin admits they will not be able to stop the initial spraying slated for the last week in April, but hopes they can disrupt the two follow-up applications scheduled one to two weeks apart.

Lundgren acknowledges the suit but says that the state department of agriculture is unaware of the specific regulations cited by Poulin. "WSDA, " says Lundgren, "follows all state and federal laws and the currently proposed treatment zone includes no buffer."

Lundberg says that the state is adamant about spraying because of the destructive nature of the Asian gypsy moth. The moth feeds on over 500 kinds of trees and shubs including evergreen and deciduous trees like oak, alder and apple.

He adds that the female can fly up to 20 miles, whereas the European variety is flightless, and so the danger for infestation from the Asian variety is much greater.

"If the Asian gypsy moth got a toehold in the state of Washington, three industries would be adversely impacted: agriculture, timber and nurseries. They would have to quarantine the state."

Marney Reynolds, co-founder of No Spray Zone, wonders why the state can't use an alternative.

"State Agriculture is leading us to believe that they found one dead moth and we are in danger now. One dead moth does not constitute an infestation."

Lundberg counters that the state considered six options including mass trapping, mating disruption and release of sterile males before deciding on the helicopter spraying, and notes that if the Asian gypsy moth gets established here, the state may have to use pesticides that are much more harmful to humans and animals.

He adds that the discovery of one Asian gypsy moth means that there are quite possibly many more. Lundberg says that one egg mass can include up to 1000 eggs.

Laurie Valeriano, policy director for Washington Toxics Coalition admits that no one wants to see the moth get established in Washington, but cites a 1993 report about a 1992 Washington state gypsy moth spraying in which 279 individuals reported health problems.

"We want the WSDA, " says Valeriano, "to put health and the environment as a priority."

And according to the battle-weary Reynolds, the war is far from over. She says No Spray Zone is ready. "We will have a showdown with State Agriculture."

WHEN AND WHERE

The gypsy moth spray zone boundaries in Magnolia and Ballard are 32nd Avenue Northwest on the west, Northwest 64th Street on the north, one half block south of West Thurman Street (south of the Ballard bridge) on the south, and 15th Avenue Northwest on the east. Spraying will occur the last week in April to the first week in May. There will be three treatments, each one to two weeks apart. Spraying will begin at first light and last from 5:00 am to 6:30 am and not extend past 7:00 am.

FOR MORE INFO

Websites:

WHAT YOU CAN DO

If you want a one week notification of the spray, call the WSDA at 1-800-443-6684 (moth). Ask to be notified by mail and telephone one week in advance of all spray applications.

If you have adverse reactions to the spray, report your symptoms to the King County Department of Health: Bill Mason, 360-236-3367.

If you're opposed to the spray, call WSDA director Jim Jesernig at 360-902-1801.

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Philip Seifer	Feb 25, 2003	West Palm Beach, Florida	Medical & Spa Consultant
My fiance and I have experienced, what we believe, as described in, Dr. Leonard Horowitz's book, "Death in the Air", Globalism, Terrorism & Toxic Warfare here in Southern Florida. Ester & I had come to Florida In March of 2000. We had experienced the beginning of Toxic Warfare in Munich Germany prior to arriving to the USA. All the top hotels had been equiped with a so called airfreshener system that seemed to have a non detremental fragrence? But after awhile we would not be able to sit in the environment of the smell. We discovered that the so called "airfreshener", had a base of formaldihyde or a derivative and a mixed cocktail of other chemicals. We had gone to court regarding this problem, since we lived in a hotel where it was being administered. We contacted the health officials in Munich, but they said we had to analyse it. This would take money and more money than we thought logical? We decided not to pay the rent! We wound up in court and half won ( a story to be told another time). Never the less, we didn't know the extent of it all, till we came to the USA. The flight on Delta from Munich to Ft. Lauderadale, was full of the same obnoxiously disquised smelling airfreshener! Upon arriving to Florida, the air was still somewhat cleaner than it is today. It has gotten far worse. Black Helicopters spray chemicals numberous times day or night. Huge Black trucks spray at night in surrounding areas of Southern Florida. Then we get the usual round of pesticides for bug maintanance required by the house management. The exterminator comes when needed and many people use the plugin airfreshers to cover the other chemical smells, only making it far worse! As a result both of us are now experiencing a numbness in our left arm, with tingling sensations as though we had slept on our arm and a charlie horse discomfort that has not gone away for a week now. Most of the symtoms of NEUROTOXICITY that are described in Dr. Horowitz's book we are experiencing! We realize that should there be vaccinations, many people would be ill and many would die! It seems that, the same monsters that created the gas-chambers of WWII are at it again, only this time, they have brought the gas-chamber to us.........