Overview

The Vector Control and Wetlands Management Long-Term Plan has established a sustainable framework for protecting public health, reducing pesticide usage, and restoring marshes.  This Final Generic Environmental Impact Statement (FGEIS) is associated with the third major revision of the Long-Term Plan.  That draft Plan was first issued in September, 2005, and was revised in May 2006 in response to significant environmental review and advisory committee comments.  The Plan benefited from an extensive collaboration of stakeholders, including agencies, non-profit institutions, and citizens.  As part of this process, 15 committee meetings were held (Citizens Advisory, Technical Advisory, and Steering).

The May 2006 Plan improved the September 2005 version in many ways.  For example, several technical clarifications were made (e.g., 75 percent larvicide reduction applies to total acreage larvicided), a brief executive summary was prepared, and a public-friendly abstract on risk assessment was produced.  More specificity was provided on actions.  Threshold criteria for adulticiding were added, and the document better addressed the distinction between vector control (i.e., “public health nuisance control”) vs. emergency response.  Objectives for public education and outreach were also bolstered.

The revised Plan and FGEIS were formally released for public comment on May 17, 2006.  A total of 114 submissions were made, resulting in 1,544 comments.  All comments received a response in this FGEIS.  Every attempt was made to make this FGEIS user-friendly, including meticulous indexing, the preparation of an Executive Summary, and discussion of key issues.

Many FGEIS comments have resulted in further Plan improvements.  For example, the October 2006 Plan clarifies that every adulticide application will be preceded by an objective (numeric) threshold measurement of mosquitoes.  Further additions on education and outreach were made, such as targeted education (e.g., schools, homeowner associations).  Criteria for further environmental review have been clarified.  Also, the draft triennial report format has been included in the Plan (including goals, performance measures, indicators of success, etc.).

Perhaps most significantly, the wetlands strategy has been revamped.  The 15-acre threshold which would trigger further review for minor Best Management Practices (BMPs) has been eliminated.  All but the most benign BMPs (e.g., hand ditch maintenance; culvert replacement) will receive strict environmental review.  As part of the program, no new ditches will be created, and routine machine ditch maintenance has ceased.  During the first triennial implementation period, the program will focus on minor water management, such as replacing culverts and restoring tidal circulation.  The confusing term “Open Marsh Water Management” has been eliminated, in favor of “Integrated Marsh Management.”  Wetlands health will be the paramount objective for all projects.  The Wetlands Stewardship Committee membership (four non-profits) and jurisdiction (most wetland BMPs) have expanded.

Other comments resulted in extensive responses and clarifications, but not major substantive changes to the Plan itself.  These comments include the distinction between public health nuisance and disease control, modeling of West Nile Virus effects in the absence of vector control, and non-target impacts of methoprene.

This latest Plan and FGEIS are the beginning, not the end, of the Long-Term Plan.  The collaborative process of adaptive management will proceed, as the Steering Committee and its advisory committees will continue to meet regularly.  Ultimately, the Wetlands Stewardship Committee strategy will address the assessment and management needs of all 17,000 acres of tidal wetlands in Suffolk, irrespective of whether those wetlands pose Vector Control concerns.  Results of Stewardship Committee efforts will be reflected in the first triennial plan update.