Press Release

Dore Mobley

(301) 734-7255

USDA EXPANDS JAPANESE BEETLE QUARANTINE AREA

WASHINGTON, July 6, 2004—The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service today announced it is adding the state of Arkansas to its list of quarantined states for Japanese beetles.

Recent trapping surveys indicate that Arkansas now is infested with Japanese beetles. Adult Japanese beetles feed on fruits, vegetables and ornamental plants and cause damage to more than 300 potential hosts. Efforts to control the Japanese beetle cost an estimated $460 million annually.

Aimed at preventing the spread of this pest to the western United States via aircraft, the Japanese beetle quarantine regulates the interstate movement of articles from regulated airports and prescribes strict loading, inspection and treatment requirements for departing aircraft. The western states protected by the Japanese beetle quarantine are Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington.

Notice of this interim rule will be published in the July 6 Federal Register and becomes effective upon publication. 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 received on or before Sept. 7. Comments can be submitted by postal mail, commercial delivery or by e-mail. Send an original and three copies of postal mail or commercial delivery comments to Docket No. 04-032-1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3C71, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238 or e-mail comments to regulations@aphis.usda.gov. E-mail comments must be contained in the body of the message; do not send attached files. Please include your name and address in the message and type “Docket No. 04-032-1" on the subject line. To submit comments online, go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for locating this docket and submitting comments.

Comments received can be reviewed at USDA, Room 1141, South Building, 14th St. and Independence Ave., SW, Washington, D.C., between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. To facilitate entry into the comment reading room, please call (202) 690-2817.

Note to Reporters: USDA news releases, program announcements and media advisories are available on the Internet. Go to the APHIS home page at http://www.aphis.usda.gov and click on the "News" button.