SCOPING MEETINGS SET FOR THE LIGHT BROWN APPLE MOTH PROGRAM ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT

Public meetings scheduled for Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Francisco and Oakland

SACRAMENTO –The California Department of Food and Agriculture has scheduled public meetings to receive agency and public comments on the scope and content of the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Light Brown Apple Moth Eradication Program.

The schedule of scoping meetings is as follows: 

Monterey
Wednesday, February 20, 2008, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Monterey Peninsula College
Lecture Forum 103
980 Fremont Street
Monterey, CA 93940

Santa Cruz
Thursday, February 21, 2008, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
University Inn & Conference Center
Sierra & Dawn Room
611 Ocean Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95060

San Francisco
Monday, February 25, 2008, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
San Francisco County Fair Building Auditorium
Golden Gate Park
9th Avenue & Lincoln Way
San Francisco, CA 94122

Oakland
Tuesday, February 26, 2008, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Ellis M Harris State Building Auditorium
1515 Clay St.
Oakland, CA 94612

Oral and written comments will be accepted. The deadline for written comments is March 20, 2008. They may be sent to:

Jim Rains, Staff Environmental Scientist
CA Department of Food and Agriculture
Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services
1220 N Street, Room A-316
Sacramento, CA 95814

The EIR will evaluate the effects of eradication strategies and methods for the light brown apple moth in portions of the state where infestations have been identified. Environmental issues raised during the meetings will be incorporated into a public scoping report and made available to the public and preparers of the EIR

More information, including an action plan for light brown apple moth eradication, can be found at http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/PDEP/lbam/lbam_main.html

The light brown apple moth is native to Australia and is found in New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Hawaii.  The range of host plants is broad with more than two-thousand plant species known to be susceptible to attack by this pest. It threatens California’s environment—including cypress, redwood and oak trees—by destroying, stunting or deforming young seedlings and damaging new growth in the forest canopy. The moth also feeds on host plants favored by a number of endangered species; spoils the appearance of ornamental plants; and injures citrus, grapes, and deciduous fruit tree crops.

A USDA study indicates that, if California becomes generally infested, the moth would cause between $160 million and $640 million in crop damage annually. Additionally, it would hinder export opportunities and interstate commerce due to quarantine restrictions. Already, Mexico and Canada have imposed export regulations on California because of the LBAM infestation.      

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