Pa. DEP Conducts Black Fly Spraying May 10

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), as a public safety measure of its routine environmental treatment program, will conduct a black fly suppression operation on Tuesday, May 10, beginning at 9 a.m.

According to a county release, the treatment will continue throughout the day. Aerial spraying will be conducted in Northampton and Bucks counties in Pennsylvania and Warren, Hunterdon, and Mercer Counties in New Jersey. In addition to spraying along the Delaware River, the operation will treat the Tohickon Creek between Rt. 611 and Point Pleasant.

According to the DEP website, the Neshaminy Creek in Bensalem is also on the treated stream list but will not be sprayed on May 10..

Helicopter Applicators of Gettysburg is the scheduled contractor. A black Bell 206L helicopter with tail number N651HA will be used to distribute the chemical. The chemical VECTOBAC 12AS, to be applied to the waterways, is intended to reduce the numbers of adult black flies that hatch from the rivers and streams. This product is a brown, slightly sticky liquid with an odor resembling fish oil. The active ingredient in Vectobac is Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (BTI) which is a naturally occurring soil bacterium and not a synthetic pesticide. A product label and MSDS are available upon request. Vectobac is applied perpendicular to the stream flow in multiple locations along the aforementioned rivers or streams by a low flying helicopter. The discharge comes from a boom arm attached to a large tank mounted underneath the helicopter.

Residents should be advised that several landing sites may be used during this operation. These sites may include: Reliant Energy Portland, Upper Mt. Bethel Twp., Northampton Co.; Berry Hollow Road Farm, Lower Mt. Bethel Twp. Northampton Co.; Braden Airpark (Easton Airport) Forks Twp., Northampton Co.; First Savings Bank of Perkasie, Riegelsville Branch; Erwinna/Delaware Valley Fire Co. Tinicum Twp., Bucks Co.; and Thorpe Farm, Upper Makefield Twp., Bucks Co. The Delaware River will be treated between Slateford, PA (Columbia, NJ) and Yardley, PA (Trenton, NJ).

For additional information about black fly suppression, please visit the website.