Press Releases

Meghan Thomas (301) 734-3266
Jerry Redding (202) 720-6959

USDA QUARANTINES COUNTIES IN CALIFORNIA AND OREGON FOR SUDDEN OAK DEATH

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13, 2001—The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service today announced that it is quarantining 10 counties in the state of California and a portion of one county in Oregon because of the presence of Phytophthora ramorum, a harmful fungal disease of trees, commonly known as sudden oak death or sudden oak mortality syndrome.

USDA took this action on an emergency basis to prevent the spread of P. ramorum to noninfected areas of the United States. A public hearing, where USDA will accept comments on this regulation, will be held in San Rafael, Calif., on a date and time to be announced shortly.

Since its discovery in Marin County in 1995, P. ramorum has killed thousands of mature oaks in Alameda, Mendocino, Monterey, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano and Sonoma counties in California and in Curry County, Ore. There is currently no known treatment for infected plants that kills the fungus but allows plants to survive.

P. ramorum is a fungus that has been found in arrowwood, big leaf maple, black oak, California bay laurel, California buckeye, California coffeeberry, California honeysuckle, coast live oak, huckleberry, madrone, manzanita, rhododendron, Shreve's oak, tan oak and Toyon. Oaks infected with the fungus typically die within a few months after symptoms—leaf yellowing and trunk bleeding being the most common--appear. Other hosts are not usually killed by the fungus.

Persons or panels wishing to speak at the public hearing may register in advance by fax or e-mail. Faxes and e-mails must clearly state the registrant's name, telephone number and organization and, if registering for a panel, the name and organization for each member. Fax to APHIS plant protection and quarantine regulatory coordination staff at 301-734-8693. E-mail to peggy.a.torney@aphis.usda.gov. For more information, contact Jonathan Jones, operations officer, invasive species and pest management, plant protection and quarantine, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 134, Riverdale, Md. 20737, (301) 734-8247.

Notice of this action is scheduled for publication in the Feb. 14 Federal Register. APHIS documents published in the Federal Register and related information, including the names of organizations and individuals who have commented on APHIS dockets, are available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html.

Consideration will be given to comments postmarked, commercially delivered or submitted via the Internet on or before April 15. Please send an original and three copies of postal or commercial delivery comments to: Docket No. 01-054-1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3C71, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737- 1238. Please state that your comment refers to Docket No. 01-054-1. To submit a comment electronically, please visit http://comments.aphis.usda.gov.

Comments may be reviewed at USDA, Room 1141, South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C., between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Persons wishing to review comments are requested to call ahead on (202) 690-2817 to facilitate entry into the comment reading room. Comments may also be reviewed online at http://comments.aphis.usda.gov