James Werntz, Director, Idaho Operations Office (EPA). 208 378-5746 and email address is [email protected]

in case anyone else would like to contact him.

Since I will not have time to telephone anyone in the morning, I have sent emails to Mr. Werntz, the Commishes, as well as the Gov’s office asking if the permit was obtained.

I agree that the media needs to hop onto this one FAST. But it also would be nice if the media would listen to the what the people are saying in other places besides this blog. The cross section of the population represented here indicates to me that a lot of folks besides those in my circle have not been happy about the idea of spraying poison around the county.

At least the Boise Guardian is here – hey, no more going out of town Dave!

Another reader asked why folks hadn’t complained about the regular on ongoing ground spraying from the trucks. People in my neighborhood have been complaining to the County about this for some time. I called a few weeks ago after a neighbor told me they had come down our street. I can’t remember the name of the compound right now and can’t find my notes but…you CAN opt out of the ground spraying, or at least they tell you that you can. Ask that your name be put on a no-spray list and you’re supposed to be notified a certain time prior to spraying, as well as no spray being applied within a certain distance of your property. I’m going to post signs as well.

I don’t know if this policy has changed since the onset of the WNV outbreak (if so, when and how) Here is the contact info and links for the County.

Contact Ada County Commissioners
200 W. Front St.
Boise, Id 83702
phone: (208) 287-7000
fax: (208) 287-7009
e-mail [email protected]

Contact Mosquito Abatement
5610 Glenwood St. Garden City, ID 83714.
Office hours 7:30 am. till 5:00 pm
(208) 577-4646

Since the main concern with WNV is becoming seriously ill with encephalitis, take a look at an 11 year research project from the New York State Department of Health which shows that spraying actually increases the incidence of encephalitis carrying mosquitoes by 15 fold. So perhaps the spray trucks have been working … against humans.

http://mindfully.org/Pesticide/Mosquito-Naled-Dibrom_14.htm

“The bottom line – every time a mosquito spray plane or truck sprays these proven genetically damaging pesticides (dibrom and malathion) over the area, they are very likely increasing the amount of subtle genetic damage in the mosquito population, and hence, increasing the number of mosquitoes with genetic flaws which could in theory, allow he encephalitis virus to take hold and grow more rapidly.”

“Therefore, the chain of events which could explain the increases being seen in Brevard County’s Encephalitis Animal Monitoring program include:

1) Mosquito Control sprays pesticides over the area – which causes –
2) More subtle genetic flaws in mosquitoes – which causes –
3) More mosquitoes now vulnerable to encephalitis – which causes –
4) More mosquitoes developing encephalitis – which causes
5) More bites on humans by encephalitis mosquitoes – which causes –
6) More humans becoming infected with encephalitis.”

“So while we are given warnings about wearing long sleeved shirts and plenty of bug repellant, there may now be one more prevention strategy we can use – Impose an immediate moratorium on pesticide spray operations until at least more research can be completed and concentrate our current energy and efforts on effective alternatives.”

I was unfortunate enough to be outside watering my flower beds when the plane went over last night. I was under a tree and thought I might be safe enough. Then it came back, even closer. And then, sure enough, it circled over yet again, right above me. At this point, my wife made me get in the house and into the shower. Eerie. And smelly– like bad food being cooked in a dirty house. It’s too late for my neighborhood, but count me in the “no spray” contingent. I’d rather take my chances with West Nile.

TG’s experience is odd indeed, since they scrubbed the overflights due to weather conditions. (Time to get Art Bell involved???)

I’m no expert on pesticides. Nor do I want to be. This I know… we as a society agreeably expose ourselves to a myriad of ’em pretty much every day, since we prefer our apples without worms, etc., etc. Is the cure worse than the disease? Heck if I know.

I’d like to see some T-shirts available:
I survived West Nile Virus…
And then I survived Ada County Spraying!

Bike – they scrubbed the overflights, but not before they hit Hidden Springs, Downtown, North End and Eagle, if you believe the local rag. I live on the bench above Anne Morrison Park, and they definitely sprayed our area right at 9:15. Today I am finding a variety of dead bugs all over the front walk, and a dead dove and a dead squirrel (not squished) in the street. The dove and the squirrel could be from West Nile, but the bugs? Scorched earth, anyone?

Bikeboy, they did a half hours worth of spraying last night which I understood to include the north end since you doubt the veracity of TG’s post. Also I wonder why the City of Boise is so silent on the issue since it seems to be within its jurisdiction. The City has a sensible policy except for abdicating this spraying authority to the County.

Also there are many of us educating ourselves on the harms of chemicals in our food and water supplies and we purposefully avoid such toxins in any amount. When you’ve watched a loved one die of cancer you can understand why many of us choose not to ignore the health risks associated with these chemicals. The prevalence of of organic gardening demonstrates the significant amount of the populace sharing the concern. You’ll note the County is avoiding registered organic farms but are doing nothing for the multitude of backyard organic gardeners.

I would say that other folks uneducated on the topic are not so much “agreeing” to be exposed but are passively exposed due to their ignorance the topic, yours appearing to be willful. But the big issue here is that few of us had an opportunity to heard on the issue before the County chose to take this drastic, ineffective but expensive measure. Thanks HH for spurring us on to comment. I’m expecting little from my efforts with the County and would urge others to contact the City as well as the County in trying to address our concerns.

Anyone get an answer on the NPDES permit?

Red v Blue – well, either the skeeters don’t travel much and they know where the infected ones live or they figure a lot of drift of the poison or they don’t spray over certain homes. Perhaps we need to look at the map and see where the Commishies fit in….

Did anyone make it to the meeting at 1:30? I was not able to break away from work and I’ve not received any word. I have also not heard back from the EPA. Anyone call?

I would still like to see this stopped.

Ahhh…the sweet sound of the bug killer! Hopefully it’ll kill off all those black flies too. Anything they can spary to shutup the neighbor’s dog in the morning??

Did Ada County get an EPA permit? They needed one to spray over the Boise River. Should local governments have to follow the rules, the laws or are they above them? Our Ada County Commishes do have a reputation for acting as if they are above the rules. This is just too tiring!

Here is the email I recieved from James Wernz, EPA.
“Thanks for your inquiry. I’m out of state today, but wanted to let you know that no NPDES permit is required, as long as the applicator is applying in accordance with the FIFRA label. The relevant exerpt from the EPA policy fact sheet is below:

What do the interpretive statement and proposed rule say?
The application of a pesticide to waters of the United States consistent with all relevant requirements under FIFRA does not constitute the discharge of a pollutant that requires an NPDES permit in the following two circumstances:

1. The application of pesticides directly to waters of the United States in order to control pests. Examples of such applications include applications to control mosquito larvae, aquatic weeds or other pests that are present in the waters of the United States.

2. The application of pesticides to control pests that are present over waters of the United States, including near such waters, that results in a portion of the pesticides being deposited to waters of the United States. Examples include aerial applications of insecticides to a forest canopy where waters of the United States may be present below the canopy or applications of pesticides over or near water for control of adult mosquitos or other pests.”

But James, wouldn’t it be nice if the local govenments actually followed the laws – such as the EPA regulations? Perhaps they have, but are just keeping it a secret from us, the taxpayers.
Perhaps the EPA regs are silly and do not have any reasoning behind them so do not need to be looked at at followed?
Perhaps only you and I and other citizens (not the elected few) are the ony ones who have to be aware of the laws and follow them. If that’s the case, well then I’d like that be openly stated “except when an elected official or body does it, then it’s ok to not follow this law”.
The EPA laws are sometimes for accumulated effects. You know – Just how much poison does it take before the lab rat start developing symptoms – having deformed baby rats, miscarriages, cancer, lowered immunities, more frequent heart attacks, etc? At what point do the hummingbirds eggs no longer have shells hard enough to allow them to mature into baby hummingbirds?

Yes, we were lucky enough to get hit Monday before it was called off, and then they hit us again last night. My wife was convinced it was a conspiracy to wipe out left-leaning voters in Ada County (this being the North End and all). This time, though, I was safely inside with all doors and windows shut. And whatever the risks/not risks, I’ll verify that the stuff has an odor. I stuck my head out after the plane went by and smelled the same stench as Monday night. Anyone else notice it?

TG – perhaps the stench you noticed is that of the rotting away of democracy both locally and federally as well as the flowering of double standards. The stench of the Ada Commishes, yet again, (as HH has pointed out) following their own ways and not the laws. I could wax on, but you get the drift – again.

TG you were not the only folks hit. In the park behind St. Lukes there was a ball game. Familys were in the thick of the spray. But it’s ok, nothin’ to worry about.

I’m gonna mosey over to see slim jim’s pesto when I get home….we both live on the Bench. So does HH. Us tree hugging dirt worshipers are everywhere, not just in the North End. Northeneders just are the folks living in the houses we fixed up back in the 70’s.

does anyone actually remember the point of the movie Erin Brockovich? The fact that the contaminated drinking water did not create obvious symptoms overnight?
I am not saying that we are all gonna die soon, but that we do need to be aware and not just trust every chemical company that breezes into town offering a “solution” to a problem, takes our tax dollars, leaves a fast poison and leaves. As much as we may like it to be, it’s not the Lone Ranger, folks. It’s a way to earn a fast buck and laugh all the way to the bank. And who fell for it instead of investigating another, less poisonous way…..who….who….yep the servants of the people – Ada’s Commishioners and soon Canyon County. What is with this? Are they just too lazy to do their job and ask their employees to see what other options are out there?
Vote ’em out, out out – well Judy’s already out.
Don’t forget this.

Great point, j.
Issues like this become a powerful lightning rod that draws complaints while we are likely exposed to much more hazardous things on a daily basis (vehicle exhaust, anyone?)
I did smell the spray last night, though. It wasn’t pleasant. Still have to check the garden to see what affect it had on my insect crop.

Sis, we’ve (the county community) been spending and spraying for years from the ground with little effect, many sick and dead as result from WN. Why be upset with a more effective method. At least we had some warning….I’ve had that damm truck drive by with no warning at 7pm while I was walking the dogs. Having grown up in bugville (midwest), you locals have no idea what real bug control looks like…When it got real bad they would use large transports. Kinda looks like the application of agent orange in VN did.

I do use the protective messures and the directions….many many don’t just look around while people do yardwork in the evenings. Recomend a separate temp. controled out building for storage of nasties as well as take old stuff to hazmat dump because some formulas mutate with age.

I agree j – so I do not buy bug spray, don’t use Hornet Killer, run from the super-green lawn stuff etc. When I go to Freddy’s or Home Depot thinking of getting some kind of poison I just cannot stand the smell of the aisle – so I just don’t buy that stuff. However, I do feel like I am evil when spraying Agent Orange every time I Round Up the goat heads!

Someone told me today that Ada County Citizens suffered NO deaths from WNV – other than those who have been flown in for medical care. Hmmm. Has anyone kept track of this? If it is true, then there is yet another reason to question the sanity of what was just done.
By the way – got a skeeter bite last night.

What a wonderful dream to have TG, to be able to walk up to our politicians and to be able to physically kick them in their collective asses. Ahhhhh – “I have a dream” – do I start locally and progress or just start at the top and kick my way down? May I kick the asses of those elected in other states or am I restricted to those I am allowed to for or/against? It’s my dream so I will go for national as well as international ass kicking.

Thanks for the new dream TG!!