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Jacob Hegeman
State
Liaison, APHIS
Legislative
and Public Affiars
202-720-6794
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Secretary Vilsack recently held a roundtable discussion with stakeholders representing the full spectrum of views on the National Animal Identification System (NAIS). The event, held at USDA headquarters in Washington, DC, on April 15th kicked off a series of opportunities for stakeholders to provide information and input to the Secretary as he looks to make decisions about the future of animal traceability in the United States.
First initiated in 2004 by APHIS’ Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) program and the Michigan Department of Agriculture, Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Awareness Week was designed to increase public awareness regarding the risk associated with moving firewood and the spread of EAB. Indiana, Michigan and Ohio were the first States to participate. This year, 15 States are participating in the week-long awareness effort that runs from May 17-23 and coincides with the Memorial holiday weekend when many people go camping and spend time outdoors. Governors from participating States will issue proclamations and press releases, and volunteers will post more than 16,000 yard signs promoting EAB awareness. The yard signs and other promotional materials include the slogan “Burn It Where You Buy It,” conveying the program’s goal of reducing the human-assisted spread of EAB. Firewood is a primary pathway for the transfer of invasive forest pests like EAB. States will also host other individual EAB awareness week activities and events. Participating States include those that already have EAB (Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin) as well as 5 unaffected-border States (Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota and New York). EAB is an exotic beetle that was discovered in southeastern Michigan near Detroit in the summer of 2002. Since its discovery, EAB has killed tens of millions of ash trees in numerous States, caused regulatory agencies and APHIS to enforce quarantines to prevent its spread, and cost municipalities, property owners, nursery operators and forest products industries tens of millions of dollars. For more information on EAB, please visit www.stopthebeetle.info or for more information about EAB Awareness Week, contact Sharon Lucik at 810-844-2713 or by email at sharon.e.lucik@aphis.usda.gov.
Recognizing the ongoing threat invasive pests pose to California agriculture, an APHIS sponsored Website was recently launched in order to provide a single point of information on this important topic. The site www.hungrypests.com went live in late March and will be the online presence of the Hungry Pests coalition - a growing group of stakeholders interested in invasive pest issues. Among the items featured on the Hungry Pests site are information pages on California’s main invasive pests - including the Asian citrus psyllid, gypsy moth, and light brown apple moth - as well as information on pest control measures, an interactive pest tracker, and a photo and video gallery. In addition to these informational tools, the site is also harnessing Web 2.0 technologies to promote discussion among coalition members and interested stakeholders. Using Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, the site links users together through these popular tools and also features a blog with regular postings by Helene Wright, APHIS’ State Plant Health Director in California. To increase the visibility of the invasive pest issue and to drive traffic to the Website, APHIS will be launching a robust print, radio and TV advertising campaign throughout California in the coming months. APHIS anticipates that over time the site will become the primary online meeting place for discussion among stakeholder groups interested in taking a stand against non-native, invasive pests in California. By providing a neutral forum for dialogue, the site is expected to yield new and more collaborative approaches to the issue. If you’re interested in developing a similar site in your State, or are interested in the coalition in general, simply log on to the site at: www.hungrypests.com for more information.
On May 1, APHIS finalized its Emergency Mobilization Guide (MOB Guide), a document that will assist the Agency’s efforts to effectively and efficiently respond to every conceivable agricultural and homeland security emergency situation. Under a declaration of “Total Mobility” all APHIS employees are considered available for direct assignment in the event of an emergency. This means that they may be called to deploy to the site of an emergency where they will be required to work irregular hours and perform duties beyond their normal job description to support the response effort. The MOB Guide spells out how APHIS employees will be selected for service and addresses all issues concerning their deployment from reporting requirements and notifications to the procedures for how an employee will receive mobilization instructions. The MOB Guide also establishes the length of a standard assignment and the maximum period of time an assignment can be extended. The first APHIS employees to be deployed in the event of an emergency will be those who volunteer and are motivated and committed to meeting the outlined objectives. In the event of a long-term or large-scale emergency response effort where additional assistance is needed, APHIS employees will be called to duty according to an existing system, known as the Resource Ordering and Status System (ROSS), which details the capabilities of all employees. ROSS dispatchers track the status of all APHIS employees during an incident. The MOB Guide ensures that APHIS will respond consistently to all emergencies and that employees will know what to expect if they are called upon to deploy. It also provides guidance on demobilization procedures that must be followed by employees leaving an emergency situation and returning to their regular position. Because APHIS employees will be working alongside State partners during an emergency, the MOB Guide is also a good resource for State regulatory officials. To read the MOB Guide in its entirety, please visit: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/emergency_response/
Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath provided countless lessons to State and Federal Agencies about emergency response planning and preparedness. APHIS’ Animal Care (AC) program saw firsthand the devastation that resulted at several animal research facilities after employees evacuated the area believing they would return in a day or two. In reality it was more than a week before facility personnel were able to reenter their buildings and many animals has already died or were in such poor condition they had to be humanely euthanized.
The APHIS Wildlife Services (WS) Contaminants Response Work Group recently completed a training series for oil spill first responders in Lafayette, Louisiana. The April 20-24 training was conducted in conjunction with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and consisted of 40 hours of both classroom and hands-on experience. WS has made a strong effort to leverage their unique expertise in wildlife capture by assisting with emergency situations such as oil spills. They previously assisted with capture and rescue following the July 2008 Barge 931 oil spill in New Orleans, amongst others. This in turn has led to increased collaboration with State and Federal agencies, such as the FWS, Coast Guard, and Army Corps. Two WS State Directors developed this innovative training as a means to bring these collaborative efforts into focus and help first responders become better qualified to respond to an oil or contaminant spill. The week-long series provided a rare opportunity for first responders to learn the best and latest tools and techniques for wildlife rescue, and to enhance coordination amongst the different agencies. A range of topics were covered, from APHIS’ roles and capabilities, to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) training, to different response structures, all taught by veteran responders. On the final day, participants even had the chance to experience capturing simulated oiled wildlife using a helicopter and boats. WS participants will also be Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) certified as a result of the training. With the knowledge and skills they have gained from this experience, WS will continue to help facilitate improved contaminant response and coordination. For more information about WS’ expertise, please contact WS’ Wisconsin State Director Jason Suckow at 608-837-2727.
Different climates, geographies and industries may make a plant pest a problem in one State but not another. APHIS’ Plant Protection and Quarantine program recognizes that for some pests there’s not a one size fits all strategy. To address these unique cases, PPQ is working with the National Plant Board to develop a State managed Official Control program that would enable State-level pest control and exclusion activities to be Federally recognized in the absence of a Federal program. In order to be considered for the program, which is still under development, States will have to petition PPQ for recognition of their program. States with a common interest can collaborate and apply together. In order to be considered for the program, State regulatory officials will have to provide, among other things, evidence that the pest is either present or absent in their State, that the pest could enter or become established, and that the pest could cause economic and/or environmental harm. Once a State’s Official Control petition is approved, PPQ will provide protection at ports of entry across the nation to ensure that the pest is prevented from entering that State through international commerce. In late 2009, PPQ will begin piloting the Official Control program with a series of exercises and drills involving scenarios at ports of entry. These exercises will be conducted with States and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection to identify any potential issues and correct them before the program is implemented. PPQ is also vetting the program with international trading partners. In addition, Diane Schuble, PPQ’s National Coordinator for Official Control, is working to build the necessary infrastructure within PPQ to review and process State petitions and implement the appropriate controls at ports of entry. Once these critical steps are complete, PPQ can finalize the program and make it available to States. The target year for implementation is 2010 with technological enhancements to be phased in through 2012. For more information about official control, please contact Diane Schuble at
Name: Paul Chaloux
Title: National Program Manager, Emerald Ash Borer Program Tell us about your program: The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Program is one of Plant Protection and Quarantine’s (PPQ) domestic programs, with survey and detection activities being conducted in 48 States this year. EAB is an exotic wood boring beetle, native to Asia, which most likely arrived in the United States hidden in wood packaging material (pallets, crating and dunnage) in the early 1990s. The beetle was first detected in the Detroit area in 2002 when it was determined to be the cause of the dead and declining ash trees being reported in the area. Since that time, infestations have been found in ten States. EAB larvae damage ash trees by tunneling under the bark and feeding on a tree’s phloem. This feeding disrupts the movement of water and nutrients in the tree. Infested trees typically die in three to four years as a result. In addition to the survey activities already mentioned, the EAB program battles this problem pest by conducting regulatory activities to enforce quarantine requirements in and around infested areas and engages in high profile outreach and public awareness activities, including the “Promise” public awareness campaign, which is designed to educate the public about the pest risks associated with the movement of firewood. This multimedia campaign is being conducted in States impacted by EAB and features radio and television spots, mobile and stationary billboards and a site on the Web (www.stopthebeetle.info). Regulatory and outreach activities are aimed at preventing human assisted movement of EAB in high-risk items like firewood, saw logs and wood packaging materials. In 2002, little was known about EAB, in part because it is not considered a serious pest within its native range. As a result, supporting research into the biology, ecology and behavior of the insect has been, and continues to be a priority for the program. The advances in understanding that have resulted from this research have served as a solid foundation for many developments, including a lure-baited purple prism trap and the identification of several species of stingless parasitic wasps that have the potential to serve as biological control agents for EAB. A rearing facility for the parasitic wasps has been established in Brighton, Michigan, and the program plans to begin releases to control EAB infestations in 2010. The EAB program will continue to be a dynamic program as new knowledge and technologies are developed. Future plans include deploying the parasitic wasps, working to develop additional pest management tools that can be deployed across large areas, continuing outreach work to raise public awareness, and maintaining an effective regulatory presence in and around infested areas. The EAB program presents many challenges and even more rewards, and I consider it a privilege to work with the program’s many cooperators and its dedicated and enthusiastic staff. How long have you worked at APHIS: My career with APHIS began in January 2000 as a Plant Pathologist with the Citrus Canker Eradication Program (now the Citrus Health Response Program) in Florida. Two and a half years later I became the Supervisory Officer at the CHRP’s Palm Beach County office, a position I held until I assumed my current duties last March. Education: I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Protection and a Master’s Degree in Plant and Soil Science with a focus on Forest Pathology, both from West Virginia University. Most Memorable APHIS experience: There are so many… Spending a week shadowing PPQ’s Deputy Administrator certainly stands out. Priorities for the coming months: Working to ensure that the EAB program’s trapping activities are successful this year, developing release protocols and refining strategies for the parasitic wasps, and enhancing the already synergistic interactions the EAB program has with APHIS’ other forest pest programs. Last good book read: On the lighter side, the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher, on the more serious side, Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. Favorite movie: The Gods Must Be Crazy, directed by Jamie Uys Hobbies: Disc golf, mountain biking and reading
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: Regulatory Policy Specialist Position: Supervisory IT Specialists (Branch Chief/CTO) Position: Information Technology Specialist (Security) Position: Interdisciplinary Lab Dir (Chemist, Entomologist, Agricult) Position: Interdisciplinary Supervisory VMO/Microbiologist Position: Supervisory Biological Scientist Position: Supervisory Chemist Position: Supervisory Veterinary Medical Officer (AVIC) |
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