Jackson officials discuss chemical treatment plan
Gypsy moths expected to reappear this spring; plan of attack pondered
BY DAVE BENJAMIN Staff Writer
Which chemical should be used to destroy the 2008 gypsy moth population and how that chemical will be applied are decisions Jackson officials will have to make in the near future.

DAVE BENJAMIN Steve Chisholm discusses gypsy moth concerns at a Jackson Township Council meeting.

"There has been much discussion about gypsy moth spraying over the past year," Mayor Mark Seda said at the Dec. 11 meeting of the Township Council. "The spraying was not done (this past spring) and the township was devastated in certain areas or pockets."

Throughout the remainder of the year, township officials have been investigating how to deal with the issue locally so they can manage to see more progress, the mayor said.

"(In 2008) the gypsy moth spraying will cost roughly $1 million," the mayor said, referring to the estimated cost for Jackson to participate in New Jersey's aerial spraying program.

Seda said the state's spraying program in 2005 and 2006 was not effective and so a decision was made not to participate in the aerial spraying program in 2007. The resulting damage caused by gypsy moth caterpillars enraged Jackson residents whose property was hardest hit.

During a presentation by township engineer Dan Burke, Shade Tree Commission Chairman Steve Chisholm and township forester Gary Lovallo using state maps to show township areas that were and would be sprayed, council members could see what had transpired over the past few years.

"The state is looking for a preliminary commitment (to participate in the aerial spraying program) by Dec. 21, but it is not binding," Burke said. "The real commitment is the one that attaches money and requires the CFO to allocate funds. I believe that comes in January or early February.

"This is the 2005 spray map and it is based on the Department of Agriculture survey in 2004," said Burke, who is the gypsy moth coordinator between the state and the township. "The state designated two areas in Jackson for a total of 170 acres. That cost the town approximately $5,000 or about $28 per acre."

In 2006, he said, the state representatives wanted to spray 6,000 acres.

"The price jumped dramatically from $28 per acre to $39.44 per acre," Burke said. "Some areas were sprayed twice. This cost us $231,000 and there may or may not be a refund from the state."

Burke said the material that was sprayed in those instances was Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis).

As a result of the fall 2006 survey, Burke said, it was suggested that 7,600 raw acres in Jackson be sprayed in the spring of 2007, but with double applications it came to a total of 13,049 acres at a cost of $39.44 per acre, or about $520,000.

"Once again, you may or may not get a grant back after the fact," he told the council. "Since we did not know that the elected officials chose not to spray" in 2007.

He said that based on what municipal representatives see for 2008, the state has 12,900 raw acres identified and with double applications it comes out to 25,643 acres to be sprayed, Burke said, adding that if the price holds at $39.44 per acres that would come out to about $1 million.

"I have e-mailed Mr. (Joseph) Zoltowski, who is the administrator for the gypsy moth program for the Department of Agriculture and asked if they can make a firm commitment on the contribution from the state or federal government and the answer was no," Burke said.

The engineer pointed to a map indicating where state lands are located in Jackson and said the state does not spray its lands, particularly the Colliers Mills wildlife area. He noted that double spraying means the trees are sprayed and then a week passes and the area is sprayed again depending upon the weather.

He said the Bt spray has an effective time window of seven days, but if the gypsy moths come out of their egg masses in more than a week or two, then the spray missed its target. If the egg mass is high enough then there is a defoliation whether or not one or two spraying were done, he said.

"That's what we've seen in the past few years," Burke told the council. "When we did the spray in 2005 and 2006 we still had a dramatic increase. That tells me the spray they were using was ineffective."

Burke said last year the Department of Agriculture suggested using Dimilin, also known as Diflubenzuron, but that idea was shot down by the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

"The Department of Agriculture may propose that again based on the significant increase statewide of the defoliation," he said.

In his remarks, Chisholm said, "There are a lot of state lands that are not being taken care of. That makes it difficult for any community to take care of their problems with gypsy moths."

Chisholm said today there are chemicals that have low toxicity compared to a product called Seven, which was used years ago. That product was eventually was taken off the shelf.

"From the ground we can use Dimilin as a pre-emergent spray," Chisholm said. "Dimilin is about one-third the cost and is about 90 percent effective. But for whatever reason, the DEP said no."

Chisholm said Maryland, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and Delaware use Dimilin.

"Dimilin is a growth inhibitor and is more effective [than Bt]," he said.

Councilwoman Emily Ingram wanted to know if Dimilin were used as a ground spray would there be one or two sprayings.

Chisholm said only one spraying is needed. He directed the council's attention to studies conducted by Cornell University, Michigan State University, Oregon State University and the University of California-Davis, dated September 1993, and noted that Dimilin does not have the toxicity some other chemicals have.

"Just look at the studies," he said, explaining that the study noted that Dimilin is practically non-toxic to wild birds, quail, ducks and various species of fish.

Councilman Angelo Stallone said he heard officials at the nearby Lakehurst naval air base sprayed about 700 acres.

"Mr. Zoltowski said most of the caterpillars that were in that area moved to our area," Stallone said. "Does that happen when they spray the Bt?"

"All I can tell you is that this year 320,000 acres (across New Jersey) were defoliated," Chisholm responded. "If you don't spray with an effective spray you can almost double it next year. That's what they told me."

Chisholm said you can't stop the gypsy moths with Bt.

Stallone said Bt is a suppression method, but Dimilin will eradicate the problem.

Council President Ann Updegrave said although she wants to use what is most effective, she is concerned about any side effects the chemical may have on the environment.

Chisholm said he understood that concern, but said there are three levels of toxicity and there is no way to get around that.

"If you got rid of agricultural pesticide products you would pay 35 percent more for your vegetables," he said.

Chisholm suggested banding together with the mayors from other towns across the state and putting pressure on the DEP to use Dimilin for the aerial spraying program.

Residents speak out

During the public portion of the meeting, resident Mike Kafton, who served in Jackson's previous form of government, wanted to know the effectiveness of Bt.

Seda responded by saying there is a 60 percent kill rate under perfect conditions.

"In the year that the spraying did not happen we jumped to 12,900 acres. How can you make those comments, knowing the numbers jumped so drastically between one year and another?" Kafton said. "The fact that you did not spray is proof Bt does have an effect when it is sprayed because the numbers jumped drastically from 2007 with 7,600 acres to 2008 with 12,900 acres that we now have to spray."

Resident Peter Leighton, who is a bee keeper, asked about the effect of Dimilin on honey bees. He said if his bees were killed because the township used Dimilin he would seek financial compensation for his bees and loss of income.

Leighton said Bt has no effect on bees.

Resident Gary Black asked if the state's Bt program is a failure.

Lovallo said the state's program is based on suppressants and he said the suppression program does work. He said when the population exceeds 4,000 egg masses per acre it becomes a very difficult time with the materials that are allowed to be used.

"That's why a waiver was requested, because the population was on the rise," the township forester said.

Resident Nicholas Antonoff said the 2006 spraying with Bt left Jackson with a worse infestation in 2007. He said the Bt did not kill enough gypsy moths to make an impression.

After further questioning by Kafton regarding the cost of the spraying to taxpayers, Seda said the spraying of Dimilin is expected to cost $32,000. That would involve two men spraying the areas where the state map indicated for a total road mileage of about 142 miles.

Burke said it would take a total of 254 miles of road, up and back, to accomplish the spraying by truck and that would be a significant savings compared to aerial spraying.

Seda said Jackson has a license to spray Dimilin from the ground.

During the closing comments, Ingram said she would like to hear someone from the DEP address the issue.

"I do have concerns for the residents and for my own family," Ingram said. "More research is needed."

Councilman Scot Martin said patience is needed.

"I don't care about any cost savings if there is a health risk," Martin said. "I ask for patience as we look into this."

Stallone said he contacted Zoltowski and said the gypsy moth program director would like to come to a council meeting in January to explain the process and the funding.