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Melissa O’Dell     (301) 734-5222
Andrea McNally  (301) 734-0602

USDA SEEKS COMMENT ON POTENTIAL APPROACHES FOR THE INTERSTATE MOVEMENT OF WOOD PACKAGING MATERIALS
 
WASHINGTON, Aug. 27, 2009--The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is seeking information from the public on potential approaches for dealing with the interstate movement of wood packaging material (WPM).   WPM includes crates, dunnage, wooden spools, pallets and packing blocks used in domestic trade.
 
Currently, APHIS regulates the movement of logs, lumber and other unmanufactured wood articles due to the presence of wood pests such as the Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) and the emerald ash borer (EAB) within specific areas of the United States.  The artificial spread of these pests is linked to the domestic movement of WPM, which poses a serious threat to U.S. agriculture and forests.  For this reason, among others, APHIS is looking at ways to maximize its protection against the spread of ALB and EAB via the movement of WPM without placing unjustified strain on domestic commerce and shipping requirements.  APHIS is seeking comments and information on what actions would be most effective and appropriate to reduce the risk of the potential spread of these pests.

APHIS is also seeking public comment on alternative treatments to methyl bromide that could be used to reduce the risk of wood-boring pests that accompany WPM moving interstate.  APHIS plans to prepare an environmental impact statement that will examine alternatives to the use of methyl bromide and the potential impact these alternatives could pose to the human environment.
 
This notice is published in today’s Aug, 27 Federal Register.
           
Consideration will be given to comments received on or before Oct. 26.  You may submit comments by either of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal:  Go to http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2009-0016 to submit or view comments and to view supporting and related materials electronically.
• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery:  Please send two copies of your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2009-0016, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238.  Please state that your comment refers to Docket No. APHIS-2009-0016.

WPM accompanies nearly all types of commodities shipped domestically.  According to figures from the National Wooden Pallet Association, 1.2 billion pallets are currently in circulation in the United States, with 93 percent of all goods moving on those pallets.

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