PETITION: Support Your Neighbor's Right to OPT-OUT of Mosquito Abatement Fogging

If you believe your neighbor has the right not to be fogged, please sign this petition.  Thanks!

SUPPORT YOUR NEIGHBOR'S RIGHT TO OPT-OUT OF MOSQUITO ABATEMENT

OPT-OUT FORM

This is an opt-out form for Ephraim residents.  If you are interested in opting out copy and paste this into a word document and print.  Return the form to either Rachel or Amy.  Or you can sign, scan and email it to healthysanpete@gmail.com.  Don't forget, if opting out is not for you, but you respect your neighbor's right to opt-out, there is a form for that as well!  

Attention: Residents of Ephraim City, UT                               OPT-OUT

Exemption From Spray Request Form

Opposing the use of pesticides on our properties and residences.

If you are concerned about the city spraying your residence/property with chemical pesticides for mosquito control, please fill out the bottom portion of this form if you do not want your property/residence to be sprayed with chemical pesticides/insecticides.  There are less toxic approaches to control mosquito populations.  Residents should also contact their local and state officials immediately and voice their concerns.

Negative human health effects are well documented from pesticides.  Organophosphates (Malathion) are associated with a broad array of human health impacts.  Common acute effects include difficulty breathing, vomiting, cramps, diarrhea, blurred vision, sweating, headaches and dizziness.  Human health effects may be most severe for developing unborn babies, children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems.  Effects include immune system suppression, nervous system effects, and with prenatal exposure lower cognition (IQ), dyslexia and ADHD. 

For most humans, West Nile Virus (WNV) is a very low risk disease. More people die from the flu than WNV.  Those at risk from WNV, the immune compromised & elderly, will also be at risk along with the general population, including unborn babies and children, for potential serious adverse health effects from widespread pesticide spraying.  Widespread pesticide use is documented to harm sensitive ecosystems and vulnerable individuals.

Pesticide spraying is not very effective.  Rapid development of pest resistance to organophosphates is well documented.  Repeat spraying is necessary to overcome rapid mosquito rebound.  Long-range effects of pesticide spraying can actually increase the number of mosquitoes by destroying their natural predators.  Mosquitoes that survive the spraying may become resistant, longer-lived, and more aggressive.  

Sustained use of pesticides puts our ecosystems at considerable risk.  Organophosphates are highly toxic to many beneficial insects including all bees, honeybees and other essential pollinators.  Where substances have been shown to have the potential for health and ecosystem damage, they should not be used.

Steps individuals can take to minimize local mosquito populations and prevent bites:

·              Remove any unnecessary items on your property that hold stagnant water, such as old tires. 

·              Empty water from buckets, toys, and containers, and store them in places where they will not collect rain.

·              Drain water from birdbaths, fountains, wading pools, plant pots and drip trays twice a week.

·              Check for ways water may collect around your house: gutters, standing water on flat roofs, puddles beneath air conditioners.

·               Clear vegetation and trash from drains, culverts, ponds or streams on your property so that water drains properly.

·               Eliminate standing water in your basement.

·               Make sure window and door screens fit properly and replace outdoor lights with yellow “bug lights”.

·               Wear light colored clothing.

·               Keep grassy areas short and mow lawns regularly.

FOR MORE INFO:     www.healthysanpete.blogspot.com              healthysanpete@gmail.com

To voice your health concerns and objections to pesticide use, call/contact/email your County Environmental Health Department or Ephraim City Manager at:

Manti Office: 40 W. 200 N., 435-835-2231, kpcox@utah.gov  Mt. Pleasant Office: 20 S. 100 W., 435-462-2449, carolemott@utah.gov

Ephraim City Manager: 5 S. Main, 435-283-4631, regan.bolli@ephraimcity.org

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Please ensure the following property is not sprayed/fogged with any pesticides/insecticides for any mosquito control spray program or any other pest control program in the city of Ephraim, UT.

____________________________________            ­­­­­­___________________________________­­­­______

Name (Print)                                                                                                     Email

____________________________________            _________________________________________

Street                                                                                                                  City                            State                                           Zip

____________________________________            _________________________________________

Signature                                                                       Date                           Phone

Please confirm this request by email: _____                             Please confirm this request in writing: _____          

Progress Update

Well, we have good news!  Amy and I just wanted to let everyone know that we are still busy working on finding a healthier solution to mosquito control here in Ephraim.  We had a meeting on Monday, May 1st with the city and EcoLife. Everyone was very helpful and hopeful about finding a fair solution. We thought everyone would be interested in how it went, what we learned, and where we go from here.  Minutes from the meeting are posted below, as noted by Amy and I during the meeting.  We would love to hear from you all, so please contact us if you want to get involved and help. 

On Monday, May 1^st at 2:00 p.m., Regan Bolli (Ephraim City Manager), Chad Dewey and Travis Goode (EcoLife) and Amy Jorgensen and Rachel Keller met at Ephraim City Hall to discuss the mosquito abatement program implemented in the city of Ephraim in 2009.  Amy Jorgensen and Rachel Keller requested the meeting in order to better inform themselves and others on the current abatement program approved by the city and administered by EcoLife.

1.     In addition to gathering information, possible solutions for citizens wanting to exercise their right to opt-out of being sprayed/fogged were discussed.  Some equitable possible solutions included:

·       Creating an opt-out policy similar to towns and counties in Utah and throughout the United States (and North America).

·       A compromise which included spraying only public areas for which the city is responsible, such as parks, the library, city hall, baseball fields, etc. 

·       Examining alternative options to spraying.

2.     The issue of economic s was also addressed during the meeting.  Ephraim city spends anywhere from $7,000-$12,000 on the mosquito abatement, with the money coming from a $5-$6 bill issued to each utility connection in Ephraim. Some of the issues addressed included:

·       The effectiveness of spraying vs. the cost. 

·       Research showing fogging as the least effective method of mosquito abatement was discussed, as well as the documented research showing mosquitoes developing resistance and natural predators of mosquitoes being affected by the spraying.

·       The difficulty of achieving efficacy when spraying must take place at least no earlier than 9:00 p.m. in order to try to lessen the effect of the chemicals on pregnant women, children, and the elderly, who are most susceptible to the chemical used.  The peak time for mosquitoes is between 7-10 p.m. 

3.     Another significant issue addressed was the health and safety issue.

·       EcoLife discussed the idea of Malathion being classified as not posing an “unreasonable risk” but also not being classified as “safe.”

·       Possible side effects (including autism) of Malathion were discussed, as well as the idea of people being able to choose what risks they wish to be exposed to and which risks they find too great. 

4.     Some of the main questions  and answers included:

·       Who has oversight of the abatement program administered by EcoLife? 

o   Response:  The Utah Department of Agriculture has general oversight over mosquito abatement programs as far as compliance issues are concerned.  The general rule is “the law is the label”; in other words, EcoLife follows the recommended spraying instructions on the label of Fyfanon ULV®.

o   Inspections are made, but it was noted they are not necessarily on a regular basis.  If companies are repeat offenders, they are checked more often.  EcoLife has never had a problem passing their inspections.

·       Who orders the spraying to be done?  Who decides the when, where, frequency, start/stop dates, etc.?

o   The county provides larvacide treatment free of charge for the entire county.  In fact, citizens with standing water should call the county if they would like treatment.

o   EcoLife decides how often to spray, and the city calls EcoLife to request the initial start of spraying.  EcoLife bases its decision to spray based upon calls from Ephraim City (who receives calls from residents), mosquito monitoring, etc.

·       What is the current opt-out policy for citizens who chose not to have their personal property sprayed?

o   Currently, there is no opt-out program provided by Ephraim citizens for residents who chose not to be sprayed.  It was shared that there are opt-out programs in many areas in Utah and throughout the United States and North America.  Mount Pleasant, Utah has an opt-out program in place, as well as Sevier county.

·       How are mosquitoes monitored?  How and where are they gathered?

o   EcoLife monitors mosquitoes through trapping them in a box, luring them in via carbon dioxide and light.  Then, a fan pushes the mosquitoes to the bottom.  EcoLife collects them and sends them to a lab to be tested.

o   They are gathered weekly from randomly selected sites throughout Ephraim.

·       What sort of gathering apparatus is used to collect the mosquitoes?

o   See above.

·       What criteria are used in the decision to spray Malathion, name-brand Fyfanon ULV®?

o   No clear industry criteria for spraying.  Mostly based on the number of complaint calls Ephraim city receives.

·       What notice is/has been provided to Ephraim residents about what is being sprayed and when it is sprayed?

o   A schedule was provided in the summer of 2011 via the utility bill. 

o   The issue of spraying on non-scheduled days was raised.  EcoLife explained they do sometimes spray on non-scheduled days when they do not complete spraying the previous assigned day. 

o   During the summer of 2010, no schedule or warning was provided.

·       Are there industry standards for determining when spraying is necessary?

o   Again, there is no clear standard.  It is usually determined by peak seasonal times and the number o f phone calls Ephraim city receives.

·       What training do the employees who are spraying on behalf of EcoLife receive?

o   EcoLife’s employee training is extensive.  All sprayers are trained, certified, and licensed.  They complete at least 60 + hours a year of continuing education, attend conferences hosted by the suppliers, as well as online training.  The company also holds a weekly safety meeting.

·       How many, if any, West Nile carrying types of mosquitoes have been found in Ephraim?

o   There were no West Nile carrying mosquitoes found in Ephraim city.  In 2010, there was one reported cased of West Nile in all of Utah.