CDC Issues Draft Plan to Assist in Zika Efforts

Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), issued a notice to request public comment on a draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (Draft PEA) for mosquito control activities funded by HHS/CDC to combat Zika virus transmission in the United States.

 

In response to requests from territories, tribes, states, and localities for additional support to combat Zika virus through enhanced mosquito control activities, CDC prepared the draft PEA to review and address the potential impacts of activities that might be supported directly via CDC contract mechanisms or through cooperative agreements to other organizations. This draft PEA will be used to facilitate CDC’s compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) by providing a framework to address the potential environmental impact of such activities.

The draft PEA details how the CDC will support these efforts either directly or through technical and/or financial assistance mosquito control activities of territorial, tribal, state and local governments.   The focus of efforts will include: (1) Conducting mosquito surveillance; (2) Removing habitats where mosquitoes lay eggs; (3) Controlling the aquatic immature life stages; (4) Controlling adult mosquitoes; (5) Monitoring control programs; and (6) Supporting public outreach and risk communication efforts.

 

The draft PEA specifically includes the use of pesticides and the functions performed by the structural pest management industry.  NPMA will be providing comments to ensure states and territories that need services understand how the structural pest management industry can assist.