Interior Health 'consultation' on West Nile virus plan
March 25, 2009 by Mi Kai Lee
Filed under BC news, Environment, Freedom, Government, Safety
Larvae of Culex Mosquitoes. As seen on the picture, larvae make dense groups in standing water. (Photo: Public Library of Science - Creative Commons licence)
The Interior Health Authority has filed a draft 6-year plan to spray the Kootenays and Southern Interior for mosquitos that can potentially carry West Nile virus. Although no cases of WNv originating in BC have been reported, IHA says it will spray periodically from early spring until fall each of the next 6 years because it is sure the virus is coming.
This is not the first time such spraying has taken place. It was done from 2004 to 2008 under old legislation that was replaced in 2004. That plan expired last year.
All parties to the current plan agree that West Nile virus is a very low-risk health concern — so low that those opposed to the plan feel that the long-term health and environmental risks of using insecticides outweigh the potential risk from West Nile.
In West Kootenay petitions have been circulating against the plan, where concerns focus on the safety of the insecticides to be used.
The Ontario Government is in the process of banning all ‘cosmetic’ pesticide use, but has not banned the insecticides that IHA would use for mosquito abatement, which are widely used throughout North America, despite protests and law suits.
One of the insecticides, methoprene, is known to cause deformities in fish, frogs and other amphibians, and to kill crustaceans (crabs and related invertebrates) in concentrations as miniscule as one part per billion. It is also know to break down into other substances when exposed to sunlight and these are also toxic to fish.
At least one law suit in the northeast U.S. claims that methoprene put in storm drains wiped out lobster populations in the vicinity. Others claim that methoprene in storm drains has caused widespread deformities in frogs.
It is widely presumed that because methoprene has low toxicity for mammals it is also ‘safe’ for other species. However, emerging evidence over the past decade suggests otherwise.
The IHA plan would allow spraying to begin as early as April 15, but before the plan is approved there is a public consultation period. Although methoprene is the last course of action under the plan, it would be used if a single case of West Nile is confirmed.
Consultation roadblocks
We wanted to publish contact information so that readers with concerns could participate in the consultation process, but we were unable to obtain any information whatsoever about the consultation process or timeframe from either Interior Health or the Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport.
Since this plan relates to a half dozen or so pieces of legislation, we also wanted to know what legislatively required consultation processes might be rolled into consultation for the plan. For instance, does it also constitute environmental impact assessment consultation? We were unable to get any information about that from IHA or the ministry.
We could not find out when consultation is supposed to take place or how. To express your concerns you may need to make a number of inquiries.
3. The Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport oversees Interior Health. You can contact the minister’s office at 250-387-3504 or email Honourable Mary Polak at HLS.Minister@gov.bc.ca
4. If you are unable to get information from the Minister’s office (as we were unable), then you may wish to contact the Premier’s office at 250-387-1715 or email premier@gov.bc.ca
You may phone any BC Government number free of charge by dialing 1-800-663-7867 (Enquiry BC) and asking to be connected to the number.
March 26, 2009 update
The Valley Voice in New Denver reported in yesterday’s issue (page 3) that the consultant who developed the plan is also handling the public consultation process. Deadline for comments is reported by Valley Voice to be April 3. We did not get an answer or voice mail at the published number.
Stuart Craig
SMC Consulting
250-492-6193
Email: smcconsulting@shaw.ca
The ad which is required by section 61(1) of the Integrated Pest Management Regulation is supposed and purported to give notice of consultation, but in fact says nothing about consultation.
Draft plan:
• Pest Management Plan For the Control of Mosquito Larvae That Are Potential Vectors of West Nile Virus
• Integrated Pest Management
• Integrated Pest Management Regulation
• Mosquito Management Sector Review Paper
CVNews related links:
• Preparing for West Nile in Interior Health
• In Depth: West Nile Virus (CBC News backgrounder)
• Bugging Out
• Suffolk County Passes Controversial Mosquito Plan, Officials Resign
• Larvicide linked to frog deformities
• Bioaccumulation and Metabolic Effects of the Endocrine Disruptor Methoprene in the Lobster, Homarus americanus
• Lobster Story
• Methoprene Photolytic Compounds Disrupt Zebrafish Development
• Caledon Environmental Advisory Committee Report 2004-05
• Use of Methoprene in Mosquito Control Programs (Health Canada)
Good article on this ground-breaking news,
This reminds me of the Alberta minister of envrironment, in shock years ago when they discovered 2-4 D in rainwater. Anyrhing you pour or spray on the earth will become part of the hydrological cycle of water and soon you will be eating it along with every other creature. Did DDT work, not! But we are all carrying the poison in us, breastfeeding the next generation on it. Thank-you.
Where will with this folly end? This is indeed a very dark, deadly period in the history of humankind.
Peace and love,
Eloise Charet, Bear Clan
I am now 66 years old. After reading about the discovery of 2-4 D in rainwater I’ve decided to go back to breast feeding. Thanks for the scoop.
Please don’t poison our land and lakes for a very low risk problem.