2007 News

August 8 , 2007

Pennsylvania Dep Officials To Spray Bucks County Delaware River Basin For Black Flies Aug. 9
Helicopters to Be Visible between Slateford, PA and Yardley, PA

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, as a public-safety measure of its routine environmental treatment program, will conduct a black fly suppression operation on Thursday, Aug. 9, beginning at 8:00 a.m. The helicopter applicators will start in Northampton County and continue south and west throughout the day.

Residents of Delaware River communities should be advised that helicopter pilots may use several landing sites during this operation, including the Riegelsville Landing Zone in Durham Twp., the Erwinna/Delaware Valley Fire Co. Landing Zone in Tinicum Twp., the New Hope/Eagle Fire Co. Landing Zone in New Hope, and the Slack Road Farm Landing Zone in Upper Makefield Twp.

The operation will include a light gray and blue Bell UH-1H helicopter with the tail number N658HA. Pilots will be applying VECTOBAC 12AS to the waterways to reduce the numbers of adult black flies that hatch from the river and streams. The product is a brown, slightly sticky liquid with a fish like odor. Its active ingredient is a naturally occurring soil bacterium and not a synthetic pesticide. A product label is available upon request.

For additional information about black fly suppression, please visit the website www.depweb.state.pa.us/blackfly