Environmentalists Sue To Stop Moth Spray

Thu., June 8, 2000

By Dan Hansen danh@spokesman.com

A coalition of environmental groups is suing to block the government from spraying to fight a tree-eating insect.

The U.S. Forest Service last week announced plans to spray as much as 628,000 acres of Eastern Washington and Eastern Oregon to stem an expected outbreak of Douglas fir tussock moth. The agency expects to spray 40,000 to 60,000 acres this summer.

Environmental groups, including the Spokane-based Lands Council, contend the Forest Service wrongly characterized the situation as an emergency. By doing so, the agency was able to speed up its decision-making process.

The moths, whose larvae devour Douglas fir trees, are native to the Northwest. The Forest Service plans to fight the infestation in recreation areas, critical habitat for endangered species and selected other areas, including some municipal watersheds.

The agency plans to use aircraft to spray with a naturally occurring virus. When moth infestations are allowed to run their course, the virus naturally kicks in, killing off most of the larvae - after they’ve stripped trees of needles.

But the government has only enough of the virus to spray 250,000 acres. If more ground must be sprayed, the agency will use a second formula that can harm other butterflies and moths, in addition to the tussock moth.

The suit was filed late last week in U.S. District Court in Portland. In addition to The Lands Council, the groups involved are the Kettle Range Conservation Group; Northwest Ecosystem Alliance; Blue Mountains Biodiversity Project; Hells Canyon Preservation Council; Oregon Natural Resources Council; and the American Lands Alliance.

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