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State, federal agencies seek permission to treat spotted lanternfly on conservation land; commission requests method details
Summary
Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources and USDA requested permission to treat spotted lanternfly infestations on conservation land at no cost to the city; commissioners asked that agencies provide treatment-method details before any application.
Staff informed the commission that the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources and the U.S. Department of Agriculture are conducting studies in Springfield and have asked for permission to treat large spotted lanternfly infestations on conservation land if needed. "They might need to treat, the property is no cost to us," staff said, and added agencies would reach out beforehand if treatment were an option.
Commissioners said they want more information on the treatment method and requested that the agencies provide details before any application of insecticide. The transcript does not record the exact type of insecticide or the proposed method of treatment; staff said they did not know the exact chemical and that agencies would notify the city before action.
Commissioners also discussed the pest's potential impacts on trees and noted that heavy infestations can quickly harm susceptible trees. No formal authorization to treat was recorded in the transcript; the item was presented as informational and the commission asked staff to obtain method details prior to any treatments.
