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Melissa O'Dell (301) 734-5222
Jerry Redding (202) 720-4623

USDA ALLOWS THE INTERSTATE MOVEMENT OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE FROM HAWAII TO THE U.S. MAINLAND

WASHINGTON, Aug. 22, 2006‑‑The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service today announced it will allow, under certain conditions, the interstate movement of municipal solid waste (MSW) from Hawaii to the continental United States for disposal.

APHIS will require that all MSW, excluding agricultural or yard waste, moved interstate from Hawaii to any area of the continental United States be:

• Processed, packaged, safeguarded and disposed of in a landfill using an APHIS‑approved method to prevent the introduction or dissemination of plant pests into noninfested areas of the United States;
• Moved under a compliance agreement between APHIS and the person handling or disposing of the garbage and in accordance with any conditions stipulated to address particular pest risks or environmental hazards; and
• Moved in compliance with all applicable environmental protection laws.

The rule was developed in response to requests from private waste disposal companies and is based on the scientific evidence from a pest risk and environmental assessment. This action provides Hawaii additional waste disposal options, while continuing to protect against the introduction of animal or plant pests into the continental United States.

APHIS regulates the importation and interstate movement of garbage that may pose a risk of introducing or disseminating animal or plant pests that are new or not widely distributed within the United States.

The final rule is scheduled for publication in the Aug. 23 Federal Register. While the final rule will be effective Sept. 22, no municipal solid waste will move interstate from Hawaii to the mainland until site‑specific pest risk and environmental assessments are conducted and compliance agreements with waste disposal companies are in place.

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
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