Regulatory Tactics to Prevent the Spread of Emerald Ash Borer
(Agrilus planipennis)
Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA)Arrest the Pest Hotline651-201-6684 (Metro)
888-545-6684 (Greater Minnesota)
Regulation and Plant Pests
•
Big Scope— International
•
Medium Scope— National
•
Our Scope— Minnesota
Big Scope: International Focus•
Stopping spread of invasive species starts at the international level
•
Recent heightened concern & regulation
because–
people more mobile
–
world trade of goods increased•
Plants
are an important
component of world trade
International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC)
1881 5 countries signed an agreement to
control the spread of grape phylloxera1951
IPPC was formalized as part of the
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
1989 IPPC was designated standard
setter for world trade in phytosanitary (clean plant) measures
•
Each country may be a “contracting party”
to the IPPC;
currently 177 countries are signed on
•
Requirement: Must implement IPPC standards and processes
•
Benefit: Participation in world trade for plant products
“Contracting Party”•
United States, along with 176
other countries, is a contracting parties to IPPC
•
Each contracting party agrees to designate a National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO)
•
In the U.S., the NPPO is the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ)
Other IPPC Requirements•
Issue certificates to certify that plants being exported are clean
•
Conduct surveillance of growing plants for the occurrence, outbreak and spread of new pests
•
Issuance of phytosanitary regulations
National Scope: United States Department of
AgricultureUSDA Animal and Plant Inspection Service
(APHIS) Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ)
•
Plant Product Inspection (phytosanitary
regulation)
•
Starts in exporting countries•
Continues at the U.S. border
•
Is maintained across state lines (interstate)
PPQ Regulatory Options at National Level
•
Emergency Action Orders
•
Control Orders•
Confiscation
•
Quarantine
Minnesota Department of Agriculture•
Issue certificates to certify that plants being exported are clean
•
Conduct surveillance of growing plants for the occurrence, outbreak and spread of new pests
•
Issuance of phytosanitary regulations, within the state
(intrastate)
Emerald Ash Borer—
Quarantine Pest in
Minnesota
•
Quarantines common in Florida & California
•
First similar quarantine in Minnesota
Minnesota Quarantine•
Houston CountyApril 22, 2009: MDA enacted emergency quarantineApril 28, 2009: USDA APHIS PPQ enacted
parallel quarantine
•
Ramsey & Hennepin CountiesMay 15, 2009: MDA enacted emergency quarantineJune 9, 2009: USDA APHIS PPQ enacted
parallel quarantine
August 17, 2009: MDA enacted formal quarantine for all three counties
How did EAB get here?•
Native to eastern Asia
•
Suspected introduction into Michigan via solid wood packing material (SWPM) such as crating, pallets, etc. from China
•
Spread through U.S.–
Firewood
#1 culprit
–
Crates/pallets, green lumber, nursery stock, etc.
•
MN infestation site–
Industrial park area
–
Railway? Pallets? Firewood?
Ash Trees in MN: Environmentally and Economically Important
•
Highest volume of ash in the country
•
Estimated over 975 million forestland ash
•
Much of urban forests consist of ash
•
Ash was the primary replacement after Dutch elm disease took out elms along city boulevards
Minnesota Actions to Contain EAB
•
Regulatory–
Quarantine
–
Compliance Agreements
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Inspections–
Enforcement
–
State Certified Firewood
•
Outreach•
Survey
Purpose of a Quarantine
•
Reduce or eliminate spread of pest through human-assisted movement
•
Restricts movement while facilitating trade
•
Can be complicated, try to keep it simple
•
Compliance Agreements are used to bring a firm that handles a regulated article into compliance
Regulated Articles•
Emerald ash borer in any living stage of development
•
Ash trees•
Ash limbs and branches
•
Ash stumps and roots•
Ash logs
•
Ash green lumber•
Ash chips and mulch
•
Firewood of any non-coniferous species
Quarantine Movement of Regulated Articles
•
May not
move outside of a quarantined county
•
May move within a quarantined county and any adjacent quarantined county
•
May move from a non-quarantined county into a quarantined county–
Once inside a quarantined county, the regulated article then falls under the restrictions of the quarantine
J F M A M J J A S O N DImmature (under bark)Adult (free living)
LifeCycle
Free-living EAB or “Flight Season”
Current•
USDA Flight season = April 1 to September 30
•
MDA Flight Season = May 1 to August 31
Proposed•
USDA Flight Season Zone = May 1 to September 30
•
MDA will likely adopt
J F M A M J J A S O N DImmature (under bark)Adult (free living)
Transit
of Regulated Articles Through
a Quarantined County
USDA Flight Season = Apr 1 to Sept 30 orMDA Flight Season = May1 to Aug 31
–
Can be shipped in an enclosed container or cover adequate to prevent the infestation of regulated articles•
Allows for stoppage in a quarantined county (hotel, restaurant, etc.)
–
Can be shipped in an uncovered container•
NO STOPS except for traffic and re-fuel
Non-flight Season, Oct 1 –
Mar 31–
Not regulated
•
An actual document signed by firm and the MDA•
Outlines a set standard of treatment for regulated articles leaving the quarantine–
Examples: Chipping/mulching, debarking, heat treatment, composting, etc.
•
Self-certification that regulated articles meet treatment standards
•
Periodic inspections by MDA officials•
Monetary penalties and revocation of CA possible for violations
Compliance Agreements
Compliance Agreements
•
Ash Chips and Mulch
•
Firewood•
Transport
•
Receiving Facility
Ash Chips and MulchNot transporting out of quarantine?
–
No regulations; can work with regulated articles in the quarantine
Transporting out of quarantine? Need CA!
–
Produce mulch chips that comply with the•
Mulch and Chip Sampling Protocol or
•
Composting Protocol
Firewood
•
Firewood of all hardwood species require treatment if offered for sale
•
Treatments include heat treatment, kiln- drying, and debarking
•
Debarking means removing bark and ½ inch of wane
•
Heat Treatment ≠
Kiln Drying!
Heat Treatment ≠
Kiln DryingHeat Treatment•
Can be used on any size wood
•
Current standard for EAB is that the center of wood must reach 71.1°
C for 75 minutes
is
Kiln Drying•
Can only be used on wood that has a maximum thickness of 3 inches
•
Various temps and time depending on percent moisture needed
Minnesota State Certified Firewood
•
Certified for Heat Treatment
only
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May be from inside or outside the quarantine
•
NOT the same as DNR Approved
Transport and Receiving FacilityDuring Non-Flight season, regulated articles
can be transported out of the quarantine IF
1.Transporter has Compliance Agreement2.Receiving Facility has Compliance
Agreement3.Receiving Facility will conduct an
approved treatment of regulated articles before flight season begins
Outreach for Regulated Clientele
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Presentations to regulated clientele
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Electronic newsletter “EAB Regulatory Review”
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Ash identification class for brush waste sites
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Mailings to inform of upcoming deadlines, other changes
Outreach for General Public
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Public meetings–
Often held at city offices
•
Pamphlets, brochures, ID cards•
Newspaper and billboard ads
•
Word of mouth–
Through organizations such as the Minnesota Shade Tree Advisory Committee, the Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association, Master Gardeners, etc.
Contact Us
"Arrest the Pest" Hotline651-201-6684 - Metro Area
or 1-888-545-6684 - Greater Minnesota
Your local ash tree thanks you!