Melissa O’Dell (301) 734-5222
Jerry Redding (202) 720-6959
USDA AMENDS MOVEMENT RESTRICTIONS ON PINE BARK PRODUCTS FROM QUARANTINED AREAS
WASHINGTON, March 20, 2006--The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has amended its regulations to allow pine bark products produced from trees felled from July 1 to October 31 to be moved interstate from pine shoot beetle-quarantined areas with a movement certificate.
This action will relieve restrictions on the interstate movement of pine bark products such as bark mulch and bark chips during the four months of the year when pine shoot beetles are not present in pine bark. Throughout this time period, life stages of the pine shoot beetle are only found in pine branch shoots where they feed. Additionally, research indicates that mechanical processing and, in some cases, composting are effective at killing pine shoot beetles that may be present in pine bark products.
Based on these new research findings, no specific risk mitigation measures are necessary for pine bark products produced from trees felled during the months of July through October and moved intestate from a quarantined area. Previous restrictions did not allow the movement of pine bark products from infested areas to uninfested areas year-round unless the article was treated or inspected to ensure it was free of pine shoot beetle.
This rule also establishes a management method that allows pine bark products to be moved interstate if they are produced and processed in accordance with the new method. The management method serves as an alternative to methyl bromide treatment previously required by the quarantine regulations.
Pine shoot beetle is a pest of pine trees that can cause stunted and distorted growth in host trees. This beetle is also a carrier of several diseases injurious to pines. Pine shoot beetle hosts include all pine species, with hard pine species being the preferred host. The pine shoot beetle is established in 15 states--Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
This final rule is published in the March 20 Federal Register and becomes effective April 19.
#
Note to Reporters: USDA news releases, program announcements and media advisories are available on the Internet. Go to the APHIS news release page at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/newsroom/. Also, anyone with an e-mail address can sign up to receive APHIS press releases automatically. Send an e-mail message to lyris@mdrdlyriss10.aphis.usda.gov and leave the subject blank. In the message, type subscribe press_releases.