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Jacob Hegeman
State
Liaison, APHIS
Legislative
and Public Affiars
202-720-6794
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Spanning three days in mid-June, APHIS’ Veterinary Services (VS), National Veterinary Stockpile (NVS) teamed with the Multi-State Partnership for Security in Agriculture (MSPSA) and Canadian partners to conduct a four day, multi-state exercise focusing on an intentional introduction of foot-and-mouth Disease (FMD) virus into multiple Midwest States.
Information technology (IT) systems are critical for efficiently and effectively responding to animal health emergencies and conducting daily business. In July, Veterinary Services (VS) will unveil its 86-page 2009 IT Roadmap that explains how the program’s IT systems operate and integrate, how they will be built in the future, and how they are protected through security practices. The roadmap is considered a planning document and will continue to evolve in order to meet the needs of VS and its stakeholders. The creation of the roadmap was recommended by the National Animal Health Information Technology Board, which is comprised of Federal, State and University experts. The board felt that this document would help VS employees and stakeholders better understand VS’ IT systems and plan for the future. Currently, VS maintains eight independent IT systems, including the Emergency Management Response System and the National Animal Health Laboratory Network. VS’ long-term goal, however, is to develop a national disease and surveillance management database that will replicate data from multiple diverse systems into a repository that can be used by VS and States to obtain mission critical information. Ultimately, the repository would be able to quickly sort through hundreds of millions of animal records loaded from VS databases, State partner databases, industry partner databases and even foreign government databases. During the development of the IT roadmap, VS surveyed 20 State Animal Health Officials regarding their current databases and future IT needs. The survey respondents expressed a willingness for data sharing and collaboration between VS and State partners. State Veterinarians will soon be receiving a hard copy of the roadmap in the mail.
An unexplained die off of wild birds could be the first indication that highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is present in the United States. Wildlife Services’ cadre of field biologists monitors the health of birds and other wildlife species to provide an early warning system to help protect people as well as animals against diseases like HPAI, the bubonic plague and tularemia. To ensure they are up to the challenge, WS’ field biologists are required to take necropsy training every three years. The most recent training session was held June 15-17, and approximately 20 WS field biologists completed the three-day course that was presented by the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study. The first day of training focused on birds and day two was all about mammals. The course combined classroom instruction with hands-on training involving necropsies of a variety of birds and mammals. During the training, the field biologists learned how to identify possible lesions associated with disease, determine what samples to collect, and how to properly prepare them for shipping to a laboratory. On the third day, the field biologists donned full personal protective equipment and put their training to the test during a real-world exercise out in the field. “Our field biologists are a resource for APHIS as well as the States when it comes to wildlife disease surveillance,” said Dale Nolte, Assistant Coordinator for WS’ National Wildlife Disease Program. “This training teaches our biologists how to monitor the knowns and be prepared to respond to the unknowns.” The necropsy training was preceded by WS’ National Wildlife Disease Program annual meeting. WS’ biologists in attendance at the meeting also received training in emergency response and learned about new technologies and methods for conducting surveillance, sampling, carcass disposal and biological risk management. For more information about the National Wildlife Disease Program, please visit: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_damage/nwdp/.
Florida and North Carolina have joined Biotechnology Regulatory Services’ (BRS) State Inspection Program and will conduct inspections of biotech field trials during the 2009 season. Arkansas and Kansas will also be a part of the 2009 program continuing their inspection efforts, which began in 2007. The inspection program is the result of a cooperative agreement between BRS and the National Plant Board that allows participating States to conduct their own inspections of regulated genetically engineered (GE) crop field trials. The program first began as a pilot in 2006 allowing State inspectors, trained by BRS, to inspect field trials of low-risk GE crops approved under BRS’ notification system. The program has since expanded and trained State participants can now inspect permitted field trials for higher-risk GE crops, including those for plants designed to produce pharmaceutical and industrial compounds. This spring 16 inspectors from Florida and North Carolina completed the required training and will begin conducting inspections along with previously trained inspectors from Arkansas and Kansas. Under the fiscal year 2007 cooperative agreement, Kansas and Arkansas inspectors conducted a total of 26 inspections last year. APHIS’ Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) program performs the majority of inspections for regulated GE field trials, but the cooperative State inspection program provides an additional cadre of trained inspectors. This resource could prove especially valuable if PPQ were faced with a significant pest outbreak that temporarily shifted resources away from inspections. In addition, some States such as Arkansas, accompany PPQ inspectors on all field trial inspections, so providing them with the necessary training to conduct their own inspections maximizes resources. Participating States bill the NPB for all inspection services and they are reimbursed through the cooperative agreement. For the 2009 inspection season, BRS has also developed memorandums of understanding with each of the States that clearly define roles and responsibilities for inspectors, and specify inspection requirements. A report detailing the results of the 2007-2008 State Inspection Program will soon be available on the National Plant Board Web site at: www.nationalplantboard.org. For more information on the cooperative program, please contact Gwen Burnett, BRS’ State and Tribal Liaison, at 301-734-0668 or by email at gwendolyn.burnett@aphis.usda.gov.
As you know from reading this publication, APHIS takes communications with its partners very seriously. In a continuation of this effort, APHIS Administrator Cindy Smith has launched a new email address to allow States, industry and the public to send thoughts, ideas, and questions regarding APHIS program and emergency preparedness activities to the Agency. The new address, APHIS24/7@aphis.usda.gov is up and running and will be an easy way for all stakeholders to contact the Agency at any time. Issues raised through this email address will help guide the content of this newsletter and ensure that timely, pertinent information is made available each month.
At the 77th Annual Meeting of the World Organization of Animal Health (OIE), held in Paris this May, APHIS Deputy Administrator for Veterinary Services (VS), Dr. John Clifford, was elected second Vice President of the OIE Regional Commission for the Americas. This is Dr. Clifford’s first leadership position within OIE. The other three elected Members on the Regional Commission for the Americas are Dr Emerio F. Serrano Ramírez of Cuba, as first Vice President, Dr. Hugo Corrales of Paraguay, as Secretary, and Dr. Jamil de Souza of Brazil, who continues as President. The OIE is the World Trade Organization designated international organization for establishing standards and recommendations for the safe trade of animals and animal products. Its structure includes five regional commissions, one of which is the Regional Commission for the Americas. Each Commission works to address animal health issues of importance to its region and holds a biennial meeting, the next of which for the Americas will take place in 2010 in Uruguay. The Regional Commissions make recommendations on issues of regional importance and report to OIE’s International Commission at the annual OIE meeting held every May in Paris. Dr. Clifford joins For more information on OIE’s regional commissions, please see: http://www.oie.int/Eng/OIE/organisation/en_CR.htm
Recognizing the importance of firewood as a potential pathway for the movement of invasive forest pests, APHIS is collaborating with a group of State partners to develop a series of dialog sessions on this important topic. Working with representatives of the National Plant Board (NPB) and the National Association of State Foresters (NASF), as well as the U.S. Forest Service, APHIS is looking to identify the necessary elements of a Federal program to mitigate the movement of pests such as emerald ash borer and Asian longhorned beetle in firewood. These pests, as well as many others, are believed to be spreading across State lines in both personal and commercial firewood movements and will require a multi-faceted approach to help control their movement. To ensure that this approach best reflects the needs of all stakeholders, APHIS is developing a list of possible strategies for discussion and will provide this to the NPB for discussion at its Annual Meeting this August. The goal of this meeting will be to identify the strengths and weaknesses of these strategies and begin framing out how they might fit within an overall Federal firewood program. Based on this input, APHIS plans to present an updated version to NASF at its Annual Meeting in September where a similar dialog is expected to take place. In addition to these meetings, APHIS is looking at potential events with other stakeholder groups including Industry and Non-Governmental Organizations with an interest in the issue. Ultimately, APHIS hopes to present this concept to the public through a series of listening sessions so that recreational campers, firewood producers and others with an interest in this issue have an opportunity to provide input into the strategy at an early phase of its development. If you would like more information on the issue of invasive species in firewood please visit: If you would like specific information on the upcoming dialog sessions you can email APHIS staff at: firewood@aphis.usda.gov
Title: Director, Regulatory Operations Program, Biotechnology Regulatory Services (BRS) Tell us about your program: The major functions of the Regulatory Operations Program are divided between two branches. The Document Management Branch functions include the administrative side of receiving and issuing permit applications through ePermits, handling Freedom of Information Act requests, and providing project management and audit support. This group successfully obtained ISO 9000:2000 certification for the BRS permitting function in 2008. The Compliance and Inspection Branch is responsible for conducting inspections of authorized movements and field releases of regulated genetically engineered organisms. APHIS’ Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) staff provides inspection support to BRS. An effort has been established to begin utilizing state inspectors to supplement PPQ’s field staff. Currently, four states, Arkansas, Florida, Kansas, and North Carolina are participating in this effort. BRS conducts annual biotechnology inspection training for PPQ and State inspectors. Compliance officers evaluate inspection reports and work with industry to achieve regulatory compliance. A new compliance assistance initiative was implemented in 2007 as a proactive effort to assist the regulated industry in achieving and maintaining compliance. The first component of this new effort is the Biotechnology Quality Management System (BQMS). This effort applies the principles of quality management to the implementation of regulated activities by biotechnology developers. The key component of the BQMS is an audit standard that participants use to verify their activities with their planned operations. A pilot development project is currently underway with five industry participants. How long have you worked at APHIS: 3 ½ years. Education: Bachelor of Science degree in Botany, Oklahoma State University Most Memorable APHIS experience: It’s difficult to pick just one, but the most satisfying experience to date has been the development of the BQMS effort. This went from a conceptual proposal within BRS to a full adoption and roll-out announcement by the Secretary of Agriculture in just 18 months. In addition, the initial development work was accomplished by less than three full-time equivalent positions. Another rewarding experience has been the utilization of State inspectors in the biotechnology inspection program. This effort involves State officials in the process to increase their familiarity with biotechnology issues and provides BRS and PPQ with increased flexibility for completing assigned inspections. It has also been rewarding to have just completed revising the biotechnology inspection memorandum of understanding (MOU) between BRS and PPQ. This process has taken about two years to complete with excellent participation by PPQ and BRS regional and headquarters staff. The MOU document is broadly written and is supported by a series of appendices that contain specific information about inspections, inspector training, communications, incident response, and administrative support. Priorities for the coming months: Priorities will include an evaluation of the BQMS pilot project, reviewing the current inspection selection process including a revision of the inspector manual, and making operations as effective, efficient, and credible as possible. Last good book read: Scarpetta by Patricia Cornwell Favorite movie: The Quiet Man Hobbies: I enjoy photography and tinkering with my 1966 MGB.
All Agency vacancies are posted on the APHIS Web site. To view the entire list of APHIS vacancies go to www.aphis.usda.gov. Under Related Topics click on Find a Job in APHIS. The positions highlighted below are for relevant positions that are at the GS-13 level and above. Position: Supervisory Veterinary Medical Officer (Director) Position: Supervisory Veterninary Medical Officer (Assistant Deputy Administrator) Position: Interdisciplinary Veterinary Medical Officer- Microbiologist |
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Name: Tom Sim