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April 20, 2000
Dear Saltaire
Homeowner:
The Board of
Trustees with the assistance of the Medical Committee has developed a
Mosquito Reduction Action Plan for the upcoming summer season. The plan
outlines the proactive steps that both the administration and homeowners
can take to reduce the impact of mosquitoes within Saltaire, thereby
mitigating any potential health risks that are associated with them.
Obviously, the threat of West Nile Virus is the most salient risk
associated with mosquitoes, and that is directly targeted in the plan. The
final modifications are being made to the plan, and it will be sent to all
homeowners shortly It will also be posted on Saltaire’s web-site at
www.saltaire.org.
One of the most
important goals of the plan is to reduce mosquito breeding in Saltaire by
attacking them at the larval stage. There are a number of ways we are
doing this, but the most effective method is through the application of an
organic substance known as Vectolex. A copy of the Material Data Safety
Sheet is enclosed. The material comes in a granular form and is
distributed through various broadcast methods. The active ingredient in
Vectolex is very similar to that of BTI, but the advantage is that it is
effective for a longer period of time. It attacks the mosquito larvae
biologically and prevents the larvae from maturing into adults.
Vectolex is not a
pesticide but rather an organic substance, and it has been approved by the
Department of Environmental Conservation for use in the type of
environments found in Saltaire. The material is to be applied to all areas
of standing water, which is where mosquitoes breed. The Board of Trustees
has approved its use in all public areas within the village, and has made
arrangements with Suffolk County Vector Control to have the material
applied under their jurisdiction. It is contemplated that the material
will be applied on a weekly basis, which can be increased if necessary
during periods of excessive rainfall.
The Board of
Trustees strongly endorses the application of Vectolex as an effective and
environmentally sound method of mosquito control. The effectiveness of the
program will be greatly increased if treatment is made in all areas of
standing water on both public and private property. in fact it is vital,
and we encourage your passive participation. However, the rights of the
private homeowner are paramount and if you would prefer Vector Control not
apply Vectolex on your property, either call the Village office or fill
Out the form below and mail it back to the office. We will advise Vector
Control of your objection.
Please be assured
that the Board of Trustees is doing everything possible to reduce mosquito
activity within the Village, thereby reducing the potential risk of
mosquito borne diseases. Your cooperation will be required along the way,
and you can look for additional communications from the administration
updating you on the progress made toward that goal, and how you can assist
in the process. The full Mosquito Reduction Action Plan will be sent out
shortly, and will be posted on the web site. Thank you in advance for your
cooperation.
Sincerely,
Mario Posillico
Village Administrator
MP/mc
OFFICIAL
NOTICE TO VILLAGE ADMINISTRATION
I OBJECT TO THE
APPLICATION OF VECTOLEX ON MY PROPERTY AND REQUEST THAT YOU PASS THIS
INFORMATION ON TO SUFFOLK COUNTY VECTOR CONTROL.
Saltaire Address
Signature
INC VILLAGE OF SALTAIRE
2000 MOSQUITO CONTROL PLAN
April 2000
Overall Objective
To decrease mosquito activity within
Saltaire, thereby minimizing the adverse health risks that can be
associated with mosquitoes. Adverse health impact of mosquito activity
includes: mosquito bites to which some people may have a highly allergic
response, mosquito bites which get secondary infection, and mosquito borne
diseases that can infect animals and humans.
#1- CONTROL OF MOSQUITO BREEDING
WITHIN SALTAIRE
The control of breeding in Saltaire is
the first line of defense in limiting the effects' of adult mosquitoes
within the Village. The actions planned for this purpose are as follows:
GOAL #1
Actions Planned
Action Taken/Necessary
GOAL #2
Promote natural reduction of mosquito
larvae in standing water
Actions Planned
Action Taken/Necessary
GOAL #3
Prevent mosquito larvae from reaching
adulthood
Action Plan#1
-- Treatment of mosquito larvae in
standing freshwater throughout the Village with Vectolex. Vectolex is an
organic substance (similar to BTI) which has DEC approval for use in
freshwater wetlands. Vectolex will alter the life cycle of the mosquito
larvae and prevent it from reaching adulthood.
Action Taken/Necessary
- Village to sponsor two of its employees (Joe
Rosabella and Tim Early) to be certified to apply Vectolex.
Certification requires a 30 hours course and testing requirements.
Course will be taken during the week of April 3 - April 7 at the
Cornell Cooperative Extension, testing to be complete immediately
thereafter. The Village will operate under the supervision and permit
of Vector Control to apply the larvicide. Vector Control personnel and
resources are stretched thin during the summer and this arrangement
allows for the Village to monitor larvae conditions daily and to
respond immediately
-
Notify Village residents of Village’s
planned activity to apply Vectolex, and seek to gain permission to
apply material in and around private property. The need to apply on
private property is crucial since much of the standing water is under
private homes. DONE
-
Apply Vectolex with Village personnel
as necessary.
Action Plan#2
- Re-institute Village’s ability to
distribute BTI Rings to Village residents. The will promote wider
coverage of larvicide in freshwater areas.
Action Taken/Necessary
-
Village Administrator to contact head
of Pesticides at DEC to seek variance/permission to re-institute
program
-
Failing the above, seek areas to apply
political pressure to convince DEC that the health risks far outweigh
the questionable environmental regulations prohibiting BTI
distribution.
Action Plan #3
Treatment of Mosquito larvae in saltwater
marshes with Altacid. Altacid acts exactly like Vectolex, but is
specifically designed for use in saltwater conditions.
Action Taken/Necessary
#2- CONTROL OF BREEDING OUTSIDE OF
SALTAIRE
GOAL #1
Influence FINS to treat lands under their
jurisdiction with the larvicide Vectolex, and to clear drainage ditches
that flow over FINS lands.
Actions Planned
-
Written request from Mayor to
Superintendent Dillon.
-
Request of Congressmen Lazio to use his
office to influence Superintendent Dillon to treat FINS land.
-
Consider informing media of the
potential health risks of the decision by Superintendent Dillon not to
treat FINS land.
Action Taken/Necessary
GOAL #2
Influence surrounding communities, i.e.
Fair Harbor and Kismet, to take steps to control mosquitoes in their
communities to minimize migration into Saltaire.
Actions Planned
Action Taken/Necessary
#3- CONTROL AND MONITORING OF ADULT
MOSQUITOES
It is a certainty that despite even the
best results of the efforts to control breeding within Saltaire and in
surrounding communities, we will have some degree of mosquito activity.
Mosquitoes migrate, some species up to as much as 20 miles; therefore we
will have to deal with them. The amount of activity will be dependent on a
variety of environmental factors: amount of rainfall, prevailing wind
direction, heat conditions, etc.
GOAL #1
Elimination of adult mosquitoes in the
ball field. This is the primary site for the Camp Program, with an average
125 children in the field each weekday, plus a major gathering site during
the weekend. The Village needs to do all it can to mitigate the effects of
mosquitoes in this area
Actions Planned
Action Taken/Necessary
-
Cut grass low and often to
discourage nesting.
-
Acquire latest mosquito trapping
technology to "collapse" the population in the field during the
evening, and create a barrier of the field during the day.
Investigation of the latest technology finds a method of attracting
mosquitoes by mimicking the scent of a large mammal, and then
capturing and killing them. The preferred unit is called the
"Dragonfly" manufactured by Biosensory Inc. from Willmington Conn. The
information on the unit can be found at www.biosensory.com. In testing
in Florida, the residential model has captured up to 20,000 mosquitoes
in one night. The professional series has ten times the capacity and
will obviously capture many more. It is completely self contained,
safe, and has all the necessary EPA approvals. The plan would be to
set one at each end of the ball field to attract mosquitoes to the
units instead of nesting in the field. The units cost $490 each and
the plan is to purchase 2 to adequately cover both ends of the field.
In the morning, the units will be
shut down, and a barrier system, manufactured by the same company,
will be set up on the perimeter of the field. These are small
individual units that electronically create an environment that is
offensive to the mosquito. By strategically placing the units around
the field, a barrier is established to create a mosquito free zone.
The units are powered by AA batteries, are small, and cost $30 each.
Planned purchase of one case (24) to adequately cover the field and
with enough left over to cover another area of public assembly if
necessary. Total purchase price of $648 (case discount of 10%).
For the system in total, $2,000 will
be required to purchase all equipment and supplies needed to operate
for the summer.
GOAL #2
- Monitor mosquito activity and
potential diseases they can carry Actions Planned
- Saltaire will be established as
testing site for Vector Control to determine mosquito counts, species type
and whether they carry West Nile Virus. Vector Control will coordinate
necessary testing on a weekly basis.
- Saltaire will be established as a
testing site for Vector Control to determine if West Nile Virus has been
transmitted to other animals, namely birds. Vector Control will establish,
with our assistance, a chicken coop that houses 6 chickens. These chickens
will have blood drawn on a weekly basis to determine if the West Nile
virus has been transmitted to them. They are planning to test for only the
- West Nile since that is the main health
risk at hand. EEE does not seem to be a threat, but they can also test for
that if conditions warrant.
Action Taken/Necessary
-
Finalize details with Vector Control to
establish both sites. Conversations with Vector Control indicate that
there might be budgetary constraints to cover Fire Island at all. If
Fire Island is covered, I feel confident that Saltaire will be chosen
as the sight based on the relationship established with them over the
past few years. We need to assure, however, that budgetary constraints
do not prevent the site from being established. Political pressure may
be necessary, Vector Control has already been notified that Saltaire
will be prepared to contribute whatever is necessary, either
monetarily or with personnel, to alleviate any budgetary constraints
that they have. Board will be kept apprised of the progress and if any
political pressure is necessary.
#4- PUBLIC AWARENESS & EDUCATION
GOAL #1
Inform Public of the Mosquito Control Plan
that is described herein. Actions Planned
Direct mailing of some version of this
document.
Placement of document on website. Plan a
public information meeting in June. Action Taken/Necessary
Board must adopt plan as a framework for
action.
Direct mailing by the end of April the
latest, so residents understand Village policy well in advance of the
season. Mosquitoes and West Nile may well be the major concern of
residents this season, and it important that they are informed of the
Village’s Plan as early as possible.
Convert to HTML and put it on website
GOAL #2
- Gain universal consent to apply
Vectolex on private property.
Actions Planned
Action Taken/Necessary
-
A Non-Treatment Form has already been.
created to allow residents notify the Village if they wish to opt out
of Vectolex treatment
-
Direct mailing by the end of April the
latest, included with the mailing outlined in Goal #1.
GOAL #3
Educate public on ways to avoid contact
with mosquitoes and how to treat mosquito bites, and distribute medical
information on the West Nile virus.
Actions Planned
-
Compile necessary information and
create information notice.
-
Establish hyper-links to Department of
Health, relevant governmental agencies, and relevant medical agencies
from the village’s web-site.
-
Direct mailing and placement on
bulletin boards & website of information complied, including the MDS
of accepted pesticide.
GOAL #4 - Contingency based upon
Board Decision
Notify public as soon as possible if
decision is made that spraying is required for adult mosquitoes.
Actions Planned
Action Taken/Necessary
-
Investigate available pesticides and
determine which is the most effective while being least toxic to the
environment. Notify Vector Control of the Village’s preferred
pesticide.
-
Develop notice of spraying including
MDS for pesticide to be sprayed in advance so that it can be quickly
reproduce and disseminated to residents if necessary.
#5- VILLAGE ACTION PLAN TO IDENTIFIED
HEALTH RISK
Scenario #1
Mosquito activity is low to moderate and
no evidence of virus in either mosquitoes or birds.
Actions Planned
Action Taken/Necessary
Scenario #2
Mosquito activity is high but still no
evidence of virus in either mosquitoes or birds.
Actions Planned
Action Taken/Necessary
Scenario #3
- Mosquitoes trapped in Saltaire tested
positive for carrying West Nile Virus.
Actions Planned
-
Continue with actions in Categories 1,
2, 3 & 4 above.
-
Notify public of test results.
-
Notify FINS of results and that a
potential health risk exists and that should be prepared to spray on
lands under their jurisdiction.
-
Board convenes, by telephone conference
if necessary, to determine if spraying is required.
Action Taken/Necessary
-
Prearrange with Vector Control
regarding the form, style and type of notification that Vector Control
will require if the Village wants to request spraying in order that
the spraying is effected as quickly as possible. Prearrange with
Vector Control regarding the pesticide that will be used in Saltaire
in case of an emergency.
-
Inform Vector Control that the Board is
considering a request to have Vector Control spray in Saltaire.
Scenario #4
Chickens have tested positive for being
infected with West Nile.
Actions Planned
-
Continue with actions in Categories 1,
2, 3 & 4 above.
-
Notify public of test results.
-
Notify FINS of the proven health
emergency and request that they spray on lands under their
jurisdiction.
-
Board convenes, by telephone conference
if necessary, to confirm its previous resolution to order spraying in
case of such an event. Resolution grants the Mayor power to order
spraying, and failing his availability, this power falls to the Deputy
Mayor.
Action Taken/Necessary
-
Pass Resolution by June 1 5th approving
the use of the accepted pesticide under certain conditions.
-
Request Vector Control to conduct
spraying in Saltaire, as pre-arranged.
-
Direct notification of public as
outlined in Goal #4 under Public Education and Awareness.
Scenario #5
Vector Control or Department of Health
determines independently of Village that Fire Island should be sprayed..
Actions Planned
-
Continue with actions in Categories 1,
2, 3 & 4 above.
-
Notify Board of Trustees
-
Notify FINS of the proven health
emergency and request that they spray on lands under their
jurisdiction.
-
Board convenes, by telephone conference
if necessary, to decide if they wish to oppose Vector Control spraying
in Saltaire.
Action Taken/Necessary
 
Revised:
03/19/04 |
