Skip wrote:
<<Do you have a list of which Nat. Forests are under consideration?>>
Sure do.

                            Fact Sheet

                   Final Environmental Impact Statement

                         Douglas-fir Tussock Moth


Purpose: Release of a Final EIS for Douglas-fir Tussock Moth  (DFTM) is
planned for April 21, 2000.  The Record of Decision will be issued during the
week of

May 22, 2000.


Areas of Impact:

Nine national forests in eastern Oregon and Washington; Colville, Fremont,

Malheur, Ochoco, Okanogan, Umatilla, Wallowa-Whitman, Wenatchee, and

Winema.


Background:

     The Douglas-fir Tussock Moth (DFTM) is a native defoliator of

     Douglas-fir and true firs trees.  It is known to cause significant

     defoliation and tree mortality. Once significant defoliation occurs,

     it is too late to respond with any short-term management option.

     The last widespread DFTM outbreak was in 1974, affecting approximately

     700,000 acres in eastern Oregon and Washington.  More localized

     outbreaks occurred in the Blue Mountains in 1989.  Outbreaks tend to

     occur every 7 to 13 years, lasting 2-4 years.

     Historically only 15 to 20 percent of areas susceptible to

     infestations have actually reached outbreak levels.

     A Douglas-fir Tussock Moth"early warning system" was developed over 20

     years ago and was designed to inform managers of potential outbreaks

     early enough so decisions could be made about what action the agency

     might take to minimize impacts.

     This early warning system indicates that in 2000-2003 eastern Oregon

     and Washington could experience significant outbreaks of the DFTM.

     The proposed short-term treatment is aerial spraying with a natural

     virus (TM-BioControl) that is specific to the DFTM, or a biological

     agent (Btk, Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki).  Spraying does not

     completely eliminate the native insect, but can prevent significant

     defoliation and undesirable impacts within the treated areas when

     application is done in a timely manner.

     There is some concern for public health.  The bodies of the larvae and

     the cocoons are covered with irritating hairs.  Exposure to these

     hairs can cause welts, rashes and other reactions in many people.

     About one-third of the people exposed to the larvae have some level of

     allergic reaction.

     Treatment under the action alternatives would only occur on lands

     where through additional monitoring tussock moth defoliation is

     present and outbreak levels of larvae have been verified.

Alternatives being considered in the Final EIS are:

   ·        No Action Alternative ? Would allow the anticipated outbreak to

   run its natural course without treatment.  With this alternative, the

   potential of widespread defoliation and mortality exists.

   ·        Proposed Action Alternative ? Protects approximately 628,000

   acres identified as areas of concern.  These areas include habitat for

   fish and wildlife species, campgrounds and recreation sites, scenic

   vistas, and municipal watersheds.

   ·        Expanded Protection Alternative ? Protects the areas of concern

   in the Proposed Action and, in addition, expands the treatment area to

   include approximately 2 million additional acres of Douglas-fir and true

   fir host type where forest products would lose significant value, cause

   significant visual change, or cause increased fuel buildup.

   ·        TM-BioControl Only Alternative ? Protects the same acres that

   are in the Proposed Action, but only uses the insecticide TM-BioControl.