A first-ever programmatic environmental impact report drafted by the Marin/Sonoma Mosquito and Vector Control District assessing the district’s current practices is open for public comment. The report contains all documents pertaining to the district’s activities, which range from education outreach to chemical control with herbicides and pesticides. It details four alternatives—no program at all, a reduced chemical program, a no-chemical program and the current program, the last of which is the preferred alternative. “This is kind of a one-stop-shop,” said Phil Smith, the district’s general manager. “It’s a round up of all our subsidiary documents, such as our best management practices. The document brings everything together under one format.” Mr. Smith explained that the report does not detail any new practices that the district plans on instituting, but rather a laundry list of existing practices. Possible upcoming changes in district operations—caused by a failed assessment levy that district voters shot down in May—are not factored into the report, and ultimately it is too soon to tell what those changes might be, he said. Additionally, the report makes no mention of the West Marin Mosquito Council or the agreement it has with the district to keep out nearly all chemicals, particularly methoprene and triclopyr. The district is currently in negotiations with the council to potentially renew the agreement, which expires at the end of this year. One of the report’s appendices outlines the known environmental effects of a slew of chemicals that the district uses in brick, liquid and airborne spray forms to manage mosquito populations. For each of these chemicals, the district returned a finding of “less than significant” environmental impacts per California Environmental Quality Act guidelines. Public comment ends on Oct. 1; email [email protected] or send mailed comments to 595 Helman Lane, Cotati, CA. 94931.