New Search
<br /> 01/08/04 THU 16:59 FAX 503 986 4786 ODA YLAN'1' D1V. t~J]003 <br /> CITY OF <br /> ASH LAN D <br /> nication <br /> Council Commu <br /> TITLE: Request from the Oregon Department of Agriculture for City approval of <br /> low-flying aircraft for a gypsy moth eradication program. <br /> DEPT: Administrative Services <br /> DATE: April 17, 2001 <br /> SUBMITTED BY: Dick Wanderscheid <br /> APPROVED BY: Greg Scoles <br /> Synopsis: The Oregon Department of Agriculture is proposing to apply an insecticide to <br /> 160 acres south of Southern Oregon University between Glenwood Drive and Indiana <br /> Street to eradicate a gypsy moth infestation. Federal Aviation Administration rules <br /> require prior written approval from the governing body for low-flying aircraft over <br /> targeted areas. The Department is formally requesting this approval from the City of <br /> Ashland where the majority of 160 acres is located. <br /> Recommendation: Staff recommends the Council direct the City Administrator to provide a letter <br /> of approval authorizing low-flying aircraft over the subject area for a <br /> maximum of three spray applications in April and May, 2001. <br /> Fiscal Impact: None <br /> Background: In 1999, four gypsy moths, as well as additional life stages, were <br /> found in Ashland. Aground eradication program on ten acres was conducted using <br /> the biological insecticide Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki (Btk) in the spring of 2000. <br /> Follow up trapping last summer detected six gypsy moths outside of the original <br /> treatment area. The Oregon Department of Agriculture is proposing a second <br /> eradication program, this time by three aerial applications, to 160 acres to prevent the <br /> infestation from spreading any further (see attached map). <br /> The Department has held two public informational meetings at SOU to <br /> discuss this proposal with interested citizens. It would like to apply the <br /> Btk insecticide on Apri124, May 7 and May 17. These dates could be <br /> moved back a little bit but there is a concern that the treatment must be <br /> completed in a timely maruier before the moths can spread to a larger area. <br /> Federal regulation 14 CFR 137.51 requires that approval of low-flying aircraft <br /> be granted by the governing body of the political subdivision over which <br /> the operations are conducted before they can be approved by the Federal <br /> Aviation Administration. <br /> ~r <br /> <br />