Form letters to Representatives to print and send

[shadowplay]

The following are form letters addressed to local Representatives and agency heads individuals can use to express concern about the Federal role in gypsy moth suppression efforts. The letters can simply be individually printed, signed and sent to the address provided. It is important that these efforts be done before the end of the year.




Representative Shelley Moore Capito
431 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Representative Capito,

Our forests in the West Virginia Panhandle are beset with the Gypsy Moth infestation that destroys trees and diminishes recreation value of private, state and federal lands (viz. the Appalachian Trail). Spray programs to suppress this voracious pest target limited areas based on surveys of egg masses created in the prior year. Surveys are done by the West Virginia Department of Agriculture and in the past public (federal, state and county) and private funds shared costs for consequent spraying. FUTURE SPRAYING MAY NOT BE AFFORDABLE WITHOUT FEDERAL COST SHARING. Money for the surveys alone may also be in jeopardy but most alarmingly federal lands in this area have not consistently joined the survey/spray programs. Even if adjacent private lands get treatment it can be for naught when the pests blow in from those public lands.

In the coming years we will face almost insurmountable hurdles in terms of citizens’ abilities to control gypsy moths. If the cooperative survey and suppression programs are not funded private landowners’ cost will double. If Federal lands are not included such private efforts may be defeated by blow-in and crawl-in from National Park Service and US Forest Service land. In addition to this and of equal concern is the loss of technical support from WVDA as operational funding shrivels. WVDA will be unable to do egg mass surveys, mapping, contracting for spraying, coordination of spraying, etc. that are essential precursors to any spraying.

SUPPRESSION EFFORTS HAVE WORKED IN THE PAST. LOSS OF PUBLIC COST SHARING WILL BE “PENNY WISE, POUND FOOLISH” and have broad effects in public as well as private forest. Please work to maintain Federal money in next and future years’ budgets for:

(1) State and /or County Gypsy Moth egg mass surveys and other technical support cost share,

(2) cost share money for Gypsy Moth spraying so that the entire burden is not on private landowners, and

(3) mandated USFS and NPS participation in survey and suppression efforts on Federal land adjacent to private forest with known Gypsy Moth infestation, without which private efforts may be nullified.

Sincerely,





Representative Norman D. Dicks
2467 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Representative Dicks,

Our forests in the West Virginia Panhandle are beset with the Gypsy Moth infestation that destroys trees and diminishes recreation value of private, state and federal lands (viz. the Appalachian Trail). Spray programs to suppress this voracious pest target limited areas based on surveys of egg masses created in the prior year. Surveys are done by the West Virginia Department of Agriculture and in the past public (federal, state and county) and private funds shared costs for consequent spraying. FUTURE SPRAYING MAY NOT BE AFFORDABLE WITHOUT FEDERAL COST SHARING. Money for the surveys alone may also be in jeopardy but most alarmingly federal lands in this area have not consistently joined the survey/spray programs. Even if adjacent private lands get treatment it can be for naught when the pests blow in from those public lands.

In the coming years we will face almost insurmountable hurdles in terms of citizens’ abilities to control gypsy moths. If the cooperative survey and suppression programs are not funded private landowners’ cost will double. If Federal lands are not included such private efforts may be defeated by blow-in and crawl-in from National Park Service and US Forest Service land. In addition to this and of equal concern is the loss of technical support from WVDA as operational funding shrivels. WVDA will be unable to do egg mass surveys, mapping, contracting for spraying, coordination of spraying, etc. that are essential precursors to any spraying.

SUPPRESSION EFFORTS HAVE WORKED IN THE PAST. LOSS OF PUBLIC COST SHARING WILL BE “PENNY WISE, POUND FOOLISH” and have broad effects in public as well as private forest. Please work to maintain Federal money in next and future years’ budgets for:

(1) State and /or County Gypsy Moth egg mass surveys and other technical support cost share,

(2) cost share money for Gypsy Moth spraying so that the entire burden is not on private landowners, and

(3) mandated USFS and NPS participation in survey and suppression efforts on Federal land adjacent to private forest with known Gypsy Moth infestation, without which private efforts may be nullified.

Sincerely,





Robert D. Mangold
Director, USDA-FS Forest Health Protection
Forest Service-USDA
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-1110

Dear Director Mangold,

Our forests in the West Virginia Panhandle are beset with the Gypsy Moth infestation that destroys trees and diminishes recreation value of private, state and federal lands (viz. the Appalachian Trail). Spray programs to suppress this voracious pest target limited areas based on surveys of egg masses created in the prior year. Surveys are done by the West Virginia Department of Agriculture and in the past public (federal, state and county) and private funds shared costs for consequent spraying. FUTURE SPRAYING MAY NOT BE AFFORDABLE WITHOUT FEDERAL COST SHARING. Money for the surveys alone may also be in jeopardy but most alarmingly federal lands in this area have not consistently joined the survey/spray programs. Even if adjacent private lands get treatment it can be for naught when the pests blow in from those public lands.

In the coming years we will face almost insurmountable hurdles in terms of citizens’ abilities to control gypsy moths. If the cooperative survey and suppression programs are not funded private landowners’ cost will double. If Federal lands are not included such private efforts may be defeated by blow-in and crawl-in from National Park Service and US Forest Service land. In addition to this and of equal concern is the loss of technical support from WVDA as operational funding shrivels. WVDA will be unable to do egg mass surveys, mapping, contracting for spraying, coordination of spraying, etc. that are essential precursors to any spraying.

SUPPRESSION EFFORTS HAVE WORKED IN THE PAST. LOSS OF PUBLIC COST SHARING WILL BE “PENNY WISE, POUND FOOLISH” and have broad effects in public as well as private forest. Please work to maintain Federal money in next and future years’ budgets for:

(1) State and /or County Gypsy Moth egg mass surveys and other technical support cost share,

(2) cost share money for Gypsy Moth spraying so that the entire burden is not on private landowners, and

(3) mandated USFS and NPS participation in survey and suppression efforts on Federal land adjacent to private forest with known Gypsy Moth infestation, without which private efforts may be nullified.

Sincerely,

[shadowplay]

A continuation of the letters...



Representative Alan B. Mollohan
2302 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Representative Mollohan,

Our forests in the West Virginia Panhandle are beset with the Gypsy Moth infestation that destroys trees and diminishes recreation value of private, state and federal lands (viz. the Appalachian Trail). Spray programs to suppress this voracious pest target limited areas based on surveys of egg masses created in the prior year. Surveys are done by the West Virginia Department of Agriculture and in the past public (federal, state and county) and private funds shared costs for consequent spraying. FUTURE SPRAYING MAY NOT BE AFFORDABLE WITHOUT FEDERAL COST SHARING. Money for the surveys alone may also be in jeopardy but most alarmingly federal lands in this area have not consistently joined the survey/spray programs. Even if adjacent private lands get treatment it can be for naught when the pests blow in from those public lands.

In the coming years we will face almost insurmountable hurdles in terms of citizens’ abilities to control gypsy moths. If the cooperative survey and suppression programs are not funded private landowners’ cost will double. If Federal lands are not included such private efforts may be defeated by blow-in and crawl-in from National Park Service and US Forest Service land. In addition to this and of equal concern is the loss of technical support from WVDA as operational funding shrivels. WVDA will be unable to do egg mass surveys, mapping, contracting for spraying, coordination of spraying, etc. that are essential precursors to any spraying.

SUPPRESSION EFFORTS HAVE WORKED IN THE PAST. LOSS OF PUBLIC COST SHARING WILL BE “PENNY WISE, POUND FOOLISH” and have broad effects in public as well as private forest. Please work to maintain Federal money in next and future years’ budgets for:

(1) State and /or County Gypsy Moth egg mass surveys and other technical support cost share,

(2) cost share money for Gypsy Moth spraying so that the entire burden is not on private landowners, and

(3) mandated USFS and NPS participation in survey and suppression efforts on Federal land adjacent to private forest with known Gypsy Moth infestation, without which private efforts may be nullified.

Sincerely,









Senator John D. Rockefeller IV
531 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Senator Rockefeller,

Our forests in the West Virginia Panhandle are beset with the Gypsy Moth infestation that destroys trees and diminishes recreation value of private, state and federal lands (viz. the Appalachian Trail). Spray programs to suppress this voracious pest target limited areas based on surveys of egg masses created in the prior year. Surveys are done by the West Virginia Department of Agriculture and in the past public (federal, state and county) and private funds shared costs for consequent spraying. FUTURE SPRAYING MAY NOT BE AFFORDABLE WITHOUT FEDERAL COST SHARING. Money for the surveys alone may also be in jeopardy but most alarmingly federal lands in this area have not consistently joined the survey/spray programs. Even if adjacent private lands get treatment it can be for naught when the pests blow in from those public lands.

In the coming years we will face almost insurmountable hurdles in terms of citizens’ abilities to control gypsy moths. If the cooperative survey and suppression programs are not funded private landowners’ cost will double. If Federal lands are not included such private efforts may be defeated by blow-in and crawl-in from National Park Service and US Forest Service land. In addition to this and of equal concern is the loss of technical support from WVDA as operational funding shrivels. WVDA will be unable to do egg mass surveys, mapping, contracting for spraying, coordination of spraying, etc. that are essential precursors to any spraying.

SUPPRESSION EFFORTS HAVE WORKED IN THE PAST. LOSS OF PUBLIC COST SHARING WILL BE “PENNY WISE, POUND FOOLISH” and have broad effects in public as well as private forest. Please work to maintain Federal money in next and future years’ budgets for:

(1) State and /or County Gypsy Moth egg mass surveys and other technical support cost share,

(2) cost share money for Gypsy Moth spraying so that the entire burden is not on private landowners, and

(3) mandated USFS and NPS participation in survey and suppression efforts on Federal land adjacent to private forest with known Gypsy Moth infestation, without which private efforts may be nullified.

Sincerely,







Senator Robert C. Byrd
311 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator Byrd,

Our forests in the West Virginia Panhandle are beset with the Gypsy Moth infestation that destroys trees and diminishes recreation value of private, state and federal lands (viz. the Appalachian Trail). Spray programs to suppress this voracious pest target limited areas based on surveys of egg masses created in the prior year. Surveys are done by the West Virginia Department of Agriculture and in the past public (federal, state and county) and private funds shared costs for consequent spraying. FUTURE SPRAYING MAY NOT BE AFFORDABLE WITHOUT FEDERAL COST SHARING. Money for the surveys alone may also be in jeopardy but most alarmingly federal lands in this area have not consistently joined the survey/spray programs. Even if adjacent private lands get treatment it can be for naught when the pests blow in from those public lands.

In the coming years we will face almost insurmountable hurdles in terms of citizens’ abilities to control gypsy moths. If the cooperative survey and suppression programs are not funded private landowners’ cost will double. If Federal lands are not included such private efforts may be defeated by blow-in and crawl-in from National Park Service and US Forest Service land. In addition to this and of equal concern is the loss of technical support from WVDA as operational funding shrivels. WVDA will be unable to do egg mass surveys, mapping, contracting for spraying, coordination of spraying, etc. that are essential precursors to any spraying.

SUPPRESSION EFFORTS HAVE WORKED IN THE PAST. LOSS OF PUBLIC COST SHARING WILL BE “PENNY WISE, POUND FOOLISH” and have broad effects in public as well as private forest. Please work to maintain Federal money in next and future years’ budgets for:

(1) State and /or County Gypsy Moth egg mass surveys and other technical support cost share,

(2) cost share money for Gypsy Moth spraying so that the entire burden is not on private landowners, and

(3) mandated USFS and NPS participation in survey and suppression efforts on Federal land adjacent to private forest with known Gypsy Moth infestation, without which private efforts may be nullified.

Sincerely,

[campbell]

It really is important that people write "in mass." The more people that write, the more the politicos will listen. For example, some folks in Greenbriar County wrote a ton of letters and the U.S. Reps really paid attention and contacted the WVDA with questions. They need to hear from us that gypsy moths remain a major threat to our county. It just takes a minute to print, sign and send!

[KatherineA]

Thanks ShadowPlay! Now that the appropriations process will be starting up again, it is important to write.

[shadowplay]

Thanks ShadowPlay!

I can take credit for posting the letters, but not for writing them. Now here's a link I can't take credit for finding. :)

http://www.farmanddairy.com/news/over-81000-acres-in-west-virginia-defoliated-by-gypsy-moth-caterpillars/ (http://www.farmanddairy.com/news/over-81000-acres-in-west-virginia-defoliated-by-gypsy-moth-caterpillars/)

[campbell]

I received a letter from Rockefeller today. The Cooperative Lands Forest Health Management budget was drastically reduced from 46 ml in 2008 to 10 ml. for 2009. This program provides financial assistance to states for detection and suppression of many other insects and disesases besides just gypsy moths. Due to the extreme threat posed to WV by the gypsy moth, Rockefeller and 7 of his colleagues wrote to the chair of the Appropriations Agriculture subcommittee encouraging them to fund at 56 ml. Unfortunately the letter that was supposed to be enclosed was not, so I don't know any more than this. He ended by sharing his frustration about the administration's unwillingness to fund vital programs such as this while giving huge tax breaks to the rich. Surprise, surprise!
If you haven't written your representatives, I encourage you to do so. The letters are here for you and all you have to do is print, sign and send. They need to hear from us in large numbers.

[campbell]

I received a letter from Robert Mangold today, Director or Forest Health Protection, US Forest Service. He stated that pending final appropriations, the Forest Service is planning on providing techical and financial assistance for suppressing gypsy moth populations at a level comparable to the FY 2008 funding level. In 2008, the Federal Cost Share was 20%. This certainly is not as good as what it used to be (50%), but at least it is something. It is so important that we keep sending in letters so that our members of congress continue to be reminded about the ongoing gypsy moth threat. They have to balance many competing priorities and fund suppression of other insect pests that don't affect us, so that's why we need to keep gypsy moths in the forefront!