PARKS CANADA ANNOUNCES
A DECISION TO APPROVE THE WASKESIU COMMUNITY COUNCIL'S PROPOSAL
TO SPRAY FORAY 48B TO PROTECT SPRUCE TREES IN THE COMMUNITY
OF WASKESIU
Following a thorough environmental
assessment and considerable public consultations, Parks
Canada today announced that it will approve a proposal by
the Waskesiu Community Council to spray the microbial pest
control product, Bacillus thuringiensis, kurstaki (Btk)
in the community of Waskesiu in an effort to protect spruce
trees.
This decision comes following
the conclusion of a thorough, third party, environmental
assessment to investigate concerns related to possible human
health and environmental impacts associated with the spraying
proposal. This environmental assessment found no significant,
unmitigable, adverse human health or environmental impacts.
Foray 48B, is registered
for aerial application in residential areas by the Pest
Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) of Health Canada. The
PMRA does not recommend that the public take any special
precautions during spraying as the pesticide, which is used
on certified "organic" food crops, is only toxic
to caterpillars of moths and butterflies. However because
of high levels of airborne particles during and shortly
after spraying, those who are normally affected by smoke
or pollen should take similar precautions. The following
PMRA website contains additional information on Btk:
Fact
Sheet on the Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies kurstaki
(Health Canada)
This proposal is consistent
with National Parks legislation and policy as ecological
integrity will be maintained. Ecological impacts will be
minimal, short-term and extremely localized as the area
to be sprayed comprises only 0.1% of Prince Albert National
Park. The objective is not to eliminate spruce budworm,
however with effective interventions, we can prevent the
premature and synchronous death of approximately 13,000
spruce trees within the community. This will allow more
time to implement a community vegetation management plan
focussed on moving towards an urban forest of mixed species
and ages, representative of the surrounding boreal forest.
Such a forest will be more resilient to future outbreaks
of spruce budworm.
For more information:
Information:
Bill Hunt
Communications Advisor,
Office of the Executive Director, Mountain Parks
Parks Canada
(403) 762-1568
Updated 29 April 2003
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