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IMPORTANT NOTICE
Mosquito Control Pesticides and the NPDES Permit
Background Information: Beginning in 2001, federal courts have ruled that some pesticide applications constitute "pollutant discharges" under the Clean Water Act and therefore require National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits. In the State of Washington these permits are under the jurisdiction of the Department of Ecology. Mosquito control products are applied to and near waters of the state; for this reason mosquito control districts must have an NPDES permit to apply pesticides. The Department of Ecology has put together a draft permit that is open for public comment until 5 pm on March 17, 2010.
Current Issue: The draft permit includes the following wording, "Adulticides and their residues used for nuisance mosquito control must not be discharged into waters of the state."
Definitions
Nuisance mosquitoes: mosquitoes that are a nuisance to humans and animals bur are not known, in WA state, to be carrying a disease that my be transmitted to humans.
Residues: Any excess pesticide, all chemicals, and their degredants left behind after a pesticide application.
Waters of the State: All surface and ground waters in Washington State as defined by chapter 90.48.020 RCW and all future amendments of state statute. 90.48.020 reads that "waters of the state" shall be construed to include lakes, rivers, ponds, streams, inland waters, underground waters, salt waters and all other surface waters and watercourses within the jurisdiction of the state of Washington.
Most mosquito districts were voted in by the people because nuisance mosquitoes made outdoor activities unbearable. Not spraying for nuisance mosquitoes will have a significant impact on tourism, businesses, and the quality of life of the citizens..
Mosquitoes breed and live near the water. People and animals live and recreate near the water. Mosquito control districts target mosquitoes while they are in the aquatic larval stage, but larvicides are not 100% effective and not all water can be treated. Once mosquitoes become adult flying insects the next step in an Integrated Pest Management Program (IPM) is adult spraying.
If the permit is approved as written, mosquito control programs will not be able to spray nuisance mosquitoes. When sprays are released from a mosquito truck there is a 300 foot swath width. If no chemical residues are permitted to be discharged into waters of the state, than a 300ft NO SPRAY zone will be placed around all water. It is impossible to adhere to the permit guidelines and effectively control mosquitoes.
What You Can Do: Provide public comment to the Department of Ecology. Urge them to alter the permit to read "The Permittee is authorized to discharge incidental amounts of adulticides and their residues to waters of the state for nuisance and vector mosquito control." Email comments must contain the commenter's name and postal address. Comments should reference specific permit text when possible.
Submit comments by email to: jonathan.jennings@ecy.wa.gov
Submit written comments to: Jon Jennings - Mosquito Control Permit Comments Washington State Department of Ecology Water Quality Program P.O. Box 47600 Olympia, WA 98504
Hearing and Workshop: A public hearing and workshop on the permit is scheduled to be held in Moses Lake, Washington. At the workshop Ecology will explain the draft permit and answer questions. A hearing will immediately follow the workshop. Oral comments may be made at the hearing.
Hearing and Workshop March 9, 2010 (1 p.m.) Moses Lake Fire Department 701 E. Third Ave. Moses Lake, WA 98837
Welcome
Welcome to the Website for the Benton County Mosquito Control District. Since 1969 we have been providing mosquito control services. We hope that this website answers your questions and increases your knowledge of mosquitoes and mosquito control activities. If you can't find what you're looking for, please feel free to contact us. Thank you for visiting.
The Benton County Mosquito Control District is dedicated to responsibly improving the quality of life and increasing public education in our area. The District accomplishes this by utilizing Integrated Pest Management strategies, which are designed to be cost-effective control measures, intended to reduce mosquito populations and the diseases they potentially carry, while being environmentally sensitive.
Communication and cooperation with property owners, residents and governmental agencies are critical components in the effort to reduce mosquito populations. Benton County MCD strives to be open and responsive to our community.