Proposed Protocol for Effective Abatement of the Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter with Public Participation

A Supplement to the Sonoma County GWSS Workplan

6/6/01 Final Draft

The objectives of this proposal are to keep the exotic glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS) pest out of Sonoma County while addressing the concerns expressed by many individuals and organizations about the use of synthetic pesticides on properties without the resident’s/owner’s consent.

This proposal has emerged from a series of discussions between members of the grape grower, organic farming and environmental communities, and the Agricultural Commissioner. Representatives of the following organizations have been involved with the dialogue: Sonoma County Grape Growers Association, No Spray Action Network, Community Alliance with Family Farmers, Sonoma Valley Vintners and Growers Alliance, Occidental Arts and Ecology Center, Sonoma Group of Sierra Club, California Certified Organic Farmers, Protecting Land for Agriculture and Nature, and the Sonoma County Agricultural Commissioner.

This committee has agreed to become a new Sonoma County GWSS Task Force. The Task Force will be made up of nine individuals, with alternates, representing the organizations involved in the negotiations, and will meet regularly to work with the Agricultural Commissioner to monitor, advise and assist with the implementation of the protocol outlined in this document for control of the GWSS (see Appendix I).

All parties agree on the need for continued exclusion of GWSS, and to work toward its earliest possible detection and eradication. The State of California has mandated that each county develop an effective GWSS treatment program, and by state law, the county Agricultural Commissioner has the authority to seek a court order to abate a finding of GWSS. While all parties acknowledge this authority, the parties, including the Agricultural Commissioner and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), have agreed to approach GWSS abatement using the protocol below.

The existing work plan requires that if there is an infestation of GWSS found in Sonoma County the Agricultural Commissioner will consult with the County’s Public Health Officer and CDFA. Based on discussions with representatives of the organizations listed above, the Agricultural Commissioner would administer the work plan in accordance with this protocol should an infestation occur in a specific area of the county:

1) Residents/property owners will be notified when GWSS is found in their neighborhood. During notification, residents will be given a list of treatments that may be used for GWSS control, safety information for those treatments, and information from the County Public Health Department outlining public health issues for residents. The information on health issues will include a list of medical conditions that could make an individual especially vulnerable to the pesticides being considered for use. Residents/property owners will be informed in writing during this notification that if they have any such conditions they have the right to be notified before any pesticides are applied to nearby properties, and can make that request at the time of this visit or by calling the office of the Agricultural Commissioner. The Sonoma County GWSS Task Force will also be notified by phone and e-mail as soon as the Agricultural Commissioner finds GWSS life stages.

2) Permission to inspect and place traps, in order to monitor for the presence of GWSS will be requested of the residents/property owners.

3) A meeting will be held with the residents/property owners outlining all of the control options that could be used to eradicate GWSS, including the preferred treatment option of the Agricultural Commissioner. Public health issues will also be outlined in this meeting, including a list of medical conditions that would make an individual particularly vulnerable to the pesticides being considered for use. The control options presented will focus on the most effective and least toxic materials appropriate for use at that specific site and situation under the direction of the Agricultural Commissioner to eradicate the GWSS. Such options might include:

a. Mechanical removal of the insects and or eggs (by hand or vacuum), and of the infested parts of plants;

b. Organic control options, which can include combinations of organic insecticides and various deterrents or repellents that meet the standards of the USDA National Organic Program and have been approved for use by organic growers by the Organic Materials Review Institute (either by brand name or generic ingredients), with information on their relative safety provided;

c. Synthetic insecticides, with information on their relative safety provided;

d. Physical removal of infested plant materials from the property.

4) If the resident/property owner allows inspection and GWSS life stages are found to be present, and the resident/property owner does not wish the Agricultural Commissioner to treat on their property, the Agricultural Commissioner may issue an abatement notice requiring the resident/property owner to abate the life stages of GWSS on the property. The notice will specify a timeframe for the abatement to occur. The timeframe given to the resident/property owner will depend on the size and type of infestation. A larger infestation suggests GWSS has established in the area and may provide for greater timeframes in which the above procedure could be accomplished. At the end of the timeframe the Agricultural Commissioner may inspect and trap the property.

5) At the time an abatement notice is issued the Agricultural Commissioner would provide the resident/property owner with a list of licensed Pest Control Advisors and a list of non-governmental farming, environmental and grape grower organizations serving on the GWSS Task Force who could assist the residents/property owners with decisions on treatment options.

6) Refusal by a resident/property owner to allow inspection or to participate in the abatement program when GWSS has been found or is highly suspected to exist on his/her property may result in the Agricultural Commissioner seeking court authority to proceed with inspection or abatement in accordance with this protocol and the county work plan.

7) It is the intention of this protocol and of the Agricultural Commissioner that no non-organic pesticide applications will be made on property without the owner or resident’s approval. If after abatement has been attempted and the Agricultural Commissioner determines that GWSS is still present, he will confer with the County GWSS Task Force for assistance in determining the most appropriate action to take in order to effectively treat GWSS at that site. If the Task Force is unable to make a recommendation for action within two working days of being convened by the Agricultural Commissioner, then the Agricultural Commissioner may make a decision in accordance with the State’s mandate.

8) The Agricultural Commissioner will insure that our public lands (schools, parks, hospitals, roadsides, etc) receive the same effective, least toxic approach to GWSS eradication as applies to private properties. The agencies responsible for managing public lands where GWSS has been found or is suspected to be will be consulted as we would consult a private land resident. If widespread pesticide treatment on public land is anticipated, a meeting will be held with neighboring residents/property owners and interested members of the public outlining the control options that would be used to treat GWSS, as well as public health issues regarding potential pesticide use.

Sonoma County Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter Task Force

Appendix I to Proposed GWSS Protocol • 5/25/01

The Sonoma County Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter Task Force will monitor, advise, and assist the Agricultural Commissioner with implementation of the protocol for control of GWSS. Composition will include four representatives each from the environmental and grape growing groups, plus one unaligned farming representative. Committee recommendations will require support from six or more members attending a meeting. Alternates from among those who have participated in developing the protocols will be named to insure sufficient attendance is maintained.

From Grape Grower Associations	From Environmental Organizations	From Unaligned Farming Groups
John Clendenen Sonoma County Grape Growers Association	Helen Kochenderfer No Spray Action Network	Kate Burroughs Harmony Farm Supply
Peter Haywood Sonoma Valley Vintners and Growers Alliance	Dave Henson Occidental Arts and Ecology Center / No Spray
Bob Hopkins Sonoma County Grape Growers Association	Lucy Kenyon Sonoma Group of Sierra Club
Nick Frey Sonoma County Grape Growers Association	Emile Canning No Spray Action Network
Alternates	Alternates	Alternates
Wells Wagner Sonoma County Grape Growers Association	Shepherd Bliss No Spray Action Network	Keith Abeles Community Alliance With Family Farmers
Hector Bedolla Sonoma County Grape Growers Association	Brock Dolman Occidental Arts and Ecology Center / No Spray	George Davis Protecting Land for Agriculture and Nature
	Keith Kaulum Sonoma Group of Sierra Club
	Russell Sutter No Spray Action Network

We the undersigned have negotiated this protocol in good faith and are committing to support its implementation:

______________________ John Clendenen Sonoma County Grape Growers Association	____________________ Helen Kochenderfer No Spray Action Network	_____________________ Kate Burroughs Harmony Farm Supply
____________________ Peter Haywood Sonoma Valley Vintners and Growers Alliance	_____________________ Dave Henson Occidental Arts and Ecology Center / No Spray	______________________ Keith Abeles Community Alliance With Family Farmers
______________________ Bob Hopkins Sonoma County Grape Growers Association	______________________ Lucy Kenyon Sonoma Group of Sierra Club	______________________ George Davis Protecting Land for Agriculture and Nature
______________________ Nick Frey Sonoma County Grape Growers Association	______________________ Emile Canning No Spray Action Network	_____________________ Keith Kaulum Sonoma Group of Sierra Club
______________________ Wells Wagner Sonoma County Grape Growers Association	______________________ Shepherd Bliss No Spray Action Network	______________________ Russell Sutter No Spray Action Network
______________________ Hector Bedolla Sonoma County Grape Growers Association	_____________________ Brock Dolman Occidental Arts and Ecology Center / No Spray	_____________________ John Westoby Sonoma County Agricultural Commissioner