Pest Management Survey, Fort Gordon, GA, 27 February - 3 March 1989 DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY U.S. Army Environmental Hygiene Activity - South Fort McPherson, Georgia 30330-5000 [Seal of Department of Defense, United States of America] REPLY TO ATTENTION OF: HSHB-AS-P (40-5f) 5 APR 1989 MEMORANDUM FOR Commander, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, ATTN: ATMD, Fort Monroe, VA 23651-5451 Commander, U.S. Health Services Command, ATTN: HSCL-P, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234-6000 SUBJECT: Pest Management Survey No. 16-62-0541-89, Fort Gordon, GA, 27 February - 3 March 1989 1. REFERENCES. A list of references is included in enclosure 1. 2. AUTHORITY. Memorandum, USAEHA, HSHB-M, 21 September 1988, SUBJECT: USAEHA Schedule of Field Services, FY 89. 3. PURPOSE. To review the Installation Pest Management Program (IPMP) with emphasis on the health related aspects and to provide technical assistance on the adequacy, safety, effectiveness and efficiency of the program. 4. GENERAL. a. Dr. Peter J. Egan, the Survey Officer, discussed findings and recommendations with key installation personnel at Fort Gordon, GA. A list of personnel contacted is in enclosure 2. b. This survey was conducted based upon guidance contained in Armed Forces Pest Management Board, Technical Information Memorandum (TIM) Number 18, (Enclosure 1, reference 6) with emphasis on the following installation activities: Preventive Medicine Services (PVNTMED Svc) and Veterinary Services, Dwight David Eisenhower Army Medical Center (DDEAMC); Pest Control, Environmental and Natural Resources Management Office (ENRMO), Directorate of Installation Services (DIS); Golf Course, Directorate of Personnel and Community Activities (DPCA); the Commissary Store and Pan American World Service, Inc. (Pan Am), Fort Gordon Support Project, Martinez, GA. The components of IPMP evaluated during this survey included: the pest surveillance, integrated pest management measures, pesticide storage and mixing facilities, health and safety procedures and disposal practices. 5. FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION. a. Medical Surveillance and Protective Equipment. The Occupational Health Clinic is screening the military working dog handlers for exposure to pesticides. The handlers had rubber gloves, but did not have respirators or protective clothing, for use while applying pesticides to control fleas, ticks and/or mange mites. Pest control on Fort Gordon was being conducted under contract with Pan Am. Contract personnel have protective equipment and are being screened for pesticide exposure. b. Pest Surveillance. Surveillance for pests was being conducted prior to application of pesticides for nonchemical control measures. (1) Mosquitoes. The PVNTMED Svc was conducting routine surveillance using light traps for adult mosquitoes and oviposition traps for Aedes albopictus, the recently introduced Asian Tiger mosquito. This mosquito has been shown to be capable of vectoring dengue fever and encephalitis. Its presence represents an increased threat of disease transmission over that of native mosquito species because of its competitiveness for breeding habitats and because certain diseases (e.g., dengue) can be passed on to its offspring through the egg. Red paper oviposition strips are sent to this Activity for identification of the mosquitoes reared from these collections. The Office of the Surgeon General (OTSG) has requested this Activity to continue to support installation PVNTMED Svc in this surveillance (Enclosure 1, reference 7). (2) Cockroaches. Cockroach surveillance was being conducted using sticky traps, aerosol pyrethrin and visual sightings. Results and time spent in surveillance were being forwarded to Pest Control, ENRMO. (3) Ticks. Surveillance was being conducted on a complaint basis. One case of Rocky Mountain spotted fever caused by Rickettsia rickettsii had been reported from Fort Gordon in both 1985 and 1986. Lyme Disease, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi had been reported from Fort Gordon in 1988 (Enclosure 1, reference 8). Ehrlichiosis, believed to be tick borne, caused by Ehrlichia canis or other closely related rickettsii, has recently been identified from patients in the southeast including Georgia. These three diseases currently appear to be the principal vector borne diease threats at Fort Gordon. (4) Termites. All buildings were being inspected annually by the contractor, Pam Am, for possible termite infestation. The Pest Control Section, ENRMO keeps all the records of surveillance. (5) Stored Product Pest surveillance. Time spent and results found by Veterinary food inspectors were not being forwarded to Pest Control Section for inclusion in the monthly DA Form 1532. (6) Animal Control. The contractor was responsible for capturing all feral cats and wildlife species in the cantonment area. Feral cats were living under portions of the old hospital complex. These animals were being live trapped in accordance with animal control regulations (Enclosure 1, reference 3) and taken to the Post Veterinarian for humane disposition. c. Pest Control Operations. Pesticides have been applied by the contractor, Pan AM, the Golf Course, the military working dog handlers, and quarter's occupants, through the self-help program. Mechanical control methods for pest control such as drainage of ditches and cleaning of storm sewers for mosquito control, repair of buildings to exclude rodents and insects, and other preventive and habitat modification measures are done by various engineer sections. (1) Pesticide Storage. Recent changes in the Fort Gordon program had resulted in the consolidation and storage of all pesticides on post into building 2052. Approximately 500 pounds of potassium permanganate, a powerful oxidizing agent used by the Fisheries Section, was stored with the pesticides. The nature of this material, as an oxidizing agent in combination with the pesticides, create a potentially serious toxic gas fire hazard. It was recommended another storage facility be found; the material was immediately removed to another storage facility. Some pesticides were found that were old and had not been used for some time. Among these materials were: Sevin (EPA REG No. 769-271), Fintrol (USDA Reg No. 8991-7) and Daconil (EPA Reg No. 677-229-AA). (2) Golf Course. The storage, handling and mixing facilities at the golf course were inadequate for the safety of the applicators, storage of pesticides, and mixing of pesticides. Pest management operations had recently been terminated because there were no qualified applicators on the golf course staff. (3) Military Working Dog Kennel. The above ground concrete dip tank at the military working dog kennel was a 250-gallon tank used to treat approximately 10 dogs for fleas, ticks and sarcoptic mange mites. The Veterinary Service, DDEAMC was supplying Paramite [Registered] pesticide for the dog handlers to mix and treat their dogs. After treating the dogs, leftover pesticide was drained from the tank onto a grassy area within the kennel area: this is an environmentally unacceptable disposal method. A new kennel was planned and the design included a new 250-gallon dip tank. Instead of being drained onto the ground, the excess pesticide would be drained into a 55-gallon drum for disposal by the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office. This method, a significant environmental improvement over the previous method of disposal, still involves making a quantity of considerably more pesticide than is needed to effectively treat the dogs. A treatment method that generates more pesticide than required for a particular job, creates the increased possibility for pesticide handling or disposal accidents. ---------- [Registered] Paramite is a registered trademark of Vet-Kem Corp, Dallas TX. Use of trademarked names does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Army, but is intended only to assist in identification of a specific product. 6. RECOMMENDATIONS. a. PVNTMED SVc, DDEAMC, Fort Gordon - U.S. Army Health Services Command (HSC). (1) Coordinate with Veterinary Svc and the Provost Marshal Office (PMO) to assist the military working dog handlers in obtaining protective equipment for the safe application of pesticides (AR 40-5, para 10-5). (2) Include tick surveys as a routine part of the surveillance program, because of the increasing threat of tick borne diseases (AR 40-5, para 10-7). b. Veterinary Svc, DDEAMC, Fort Gordon - HSC. (1) Report time spent on surveillance for stored products pests and rodents to the ENRMO, DIS for inclusion into the monthly DD Form 1532 (AR 40-5, para 10-5 and TG 102). (2) Provide training, guidance and supervision to the military working dog handlers on the safe handling, application, and disposal of pesticides (AR 40-5, para 10-4 and 10-6). c. ENRMO, DIS, Fort Gordon - U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC). (1) Store insecticides and herbicides separately within the pesticide storage building to avoid cross-contamination or unsafe reactions (AR 420-76, para 4-1b). (2) Coordinate with PVNTMED Svc, Veterinary Svc, and the PMO to develop a more efficient and safer method of treating dogs for ectoparasites and the disposal of excess pesticide treatment wastes (AR 420-76, para 4-1 and 4-2). (3) Where possible, utilize in accordance with label instructions older pesticide materials in storage. This should reduce the inventory and associated potential hazards due to label and/or container deterioration (AR 420-76, para 4-1). d. PMO, Fort Gordon - TRADOC. Coordinate with PVNTMED Svc, Veterinary Svc and ENRMO, DIS for assistance in the acquisition of pesticide safety equipment, training and guidance in the safe handling, application and disposal of pesticides (AR 420-76, para 4-1 and AR 40-5, para 10). e. Golf Course, Community Operations Division, DPCA, Fort Gordon - TRADOC. Continue to contract for pest management services for the golf course until adequate storage, mixing and safety facilities can be provided. Adequate facilities must be constructed at the golf course before a safe in-house pest management program can be implemented (AR 420-76, para 4-1 and TIM No. 17). 7. CONCLUSIONS. The Pest Management Program at Fort Gordon is a well run program, which can be improved further through implementation of the above recommendations. The pesticide storage facility contains some materials that are old and have not been used in some time. These materials should be used, where possible, until stocks on hand are exhausted. The golf course does not have adequate storage or mixing and handling facilities and should not perform pest control services until adequate facilities are provided. The treatment of the military working dogs for ectoparasites needs to use less quantities of pesticide and generate less pesticide waste. Veterinary Svc needs to report stored product pests surveillance time to ENRMO. The Veterinary Officer needs to monitor the application of pesticides by the handlers of the military working dogs. 8. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. Consultation concerning the findings and recommendations of this report may be obtained by telephone from this Activity, Fort McPherson, AUTOVON 572-2564. Requests for services should be directed through appropriate command channels to the requesting activity through the Commander USAEHA, to the Commander, USAEHA-S, Fort McPherson, GA 30330-5000, with an information copy furnished the Commander, U.S. Army Health Services Command, ATTN: HSCL-P, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234-6000. An AEHA Form 250 should be completed when requesting services. Copies of the form and assistance in its completion can be obtained from this Activity. [signature] DARWIN B. PALMER, JR. LTC, MS Commanding 2 Encls Enclosure 1 REFERENCES 1. AR 420-76, 3 June 1986, Facilities Engineering Pest Management Program. 2. AR 40-5, 30 August 1986, Medical Services Preventive Medicine. 3. AR 40-905, 1 September 1985, Veterinary Health Services. 4. Armed Forces Pest Management Board, TIM No. 17, November 1983, Pest Control Facilities. 5. U.S. Army Environmental Hygiene Agency, TG 102, September 1977, Guide for the Conduct of Installation Pest Surveillance Programs. 6. Armed Forces Pest Management Board, TIM No. 18, February 1987, Installation Pest Management Program Guide. 7. Letter, OTSG, DASG-PSP, 21 May 1986, subject: New Dengue Vector in the United States. 8. RCS MED-16 (R4) Report, 1984 - January 1989, January 1989. Enclosure 2 PERSONNEL CONTACTED 1. LTC Dobrozsi, Deputy Director, DIS, Fort Gordon.*, ** 2. Mr. Willard, C, ENRMO, DIS, Fort Gordon.*, ** 3. Mr. Waller, ENRMO, DIS, Fort Gordon.*, ** 4. SGT White, Preventive Medicine NCO, PVNTMED Svc, DDEAMC, Fort Gordon.*, *** 5. COL Dorsey, DCA/CS, DDEAMC, Fort Gordon.*** 6. LTC Mally, Executive Officer, DDEAMC, Fort Gordon.*** 7. MAJ Perry, ESO, PVNTMED Svc, DDEAMC, Fort Gordon.*** 8. SGT Perkins, Preventive Medicine NCO, PVNTMED Svc, DDEAMC, Fort Gordon. 9. Mr. Hall, Pest Controller, Pan Am, Martinez, GA. 10. Mr. Roemmich, Pest Controller, Pam Am, Martinez, GA. 11. Mr. Cawley, Lead Pest Controller, Pan Am, Martinez, GA. 12. COL Fruin, Deputy Commander for Veterinary Svc, DDEAMC, Fort Gordon. 13. W01 Jech, Veterinary Food Inspector, Veterinary Svc, DDEAMC, Fort Gordon. 14, SSG Little, Veterinary Food Inspector NCOIC, Veterinary Svc, DDEAMC, Fort Gordon. 15. SGT White, Veterinary Food Inspector NCO, Veterinary Svc, DDEAMC, Fort Gordon. 16. SPC Elson, Veterinary Food Inspector, Veterinary Svc, DDEAMC, Fort Gordon. 17. SSG Carmichael, Kennelmaster, PMO, Fort Gordon. 18. MSG King, Operation (OP) NCOIC, PMO, Fort Gordon. 19. CPT Gonnering, OP Officer, PMO, Fort Gordon. 20. Mrs. Willing, RN, Occupational Health Nurse, PVNTMED Svc, DDEAMC, Fort Gordon. 21. CPT Livingston, Veterinarian, Veterinary Svc, DDEAMC, Fort Gordon. 22. Mr. Cranford, Commissary Warehouse Manager, Southeast Commissary Region, Fort Gordon. 23. Mr. Rodriguez, Supervisor, Troop Issue Subsistence Activity (TISA), Supply Support Section, DIS, Fort Gordon. 24. Mr. Morales, Lead Service Supply Clerk, TISA, Supply Support Section, DIS, Fort Gordon. 25. Ms. Byrd, Assistant Manager, Four Seasons Store, Army and Air Force Exchange Service, Fort Gordon. 26. SFC Gilmore, NCOIC, Veterinary Svc, DDEAMC, Fort Gordon. -------- *Entrance briefing DIS, 28 February 1989. **Exit briefing, DIS, 3 March 1989. ***Exit briefing, DDEAMC, 3 March 1989.