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Plant Health

Asian Longhorned Beetle

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Chronology 1996 - 1999

1999

  • October 25, 1999 – An Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) are prepared and signed regarding the use of soil and/or tree injection of systemic pesticides in research plots to protect trees from attack by ALB.
  • October 22, 1999 – USDA announces a final rule, effective May 21, 1999, that adds the Eastern portion of Queens to the quarantine and expands the existing quarantines in Brooklyn, Central Long Island, and Western Queens in New York. The New York quarantine is now 48 square miles.
  • September 8, 1999 – ALB found in Islip, Long Island, NY.
  • September 1, 1999 – A new infestation is detected in Park Ridge, Illinois. This is a satellite of the Ravenswood infestation.
  • August 17, 1999 – New ALB infestation found in Ruppert's Playground within a mile east of central park. This is the first infestation detected in Manhattan.
  • August 7, 1999 – New ALB infestation is found in Flushing, Queens, NY
  • August 2, 1999 – A new infestation is detected in Loyola, Illinois, just north of the Ravenswood infestation.
  • July 14, 1999 – A new infestation in detected in Kilbourn Park outside of the Ravenswood quarantine in Chicago, Illinois.
  • July 7, 1999 – APHIS publishes a proposed rule advising the public of the preparation of an environmental impact statement in connection with regulations being considered regarding the importation of unmanufactured solid wood packing material. This notice identifies potential regulatory alternatives and issues to be analyzed in the environmental impact statement and requests public comment to further delineate the scope of the alternatives and issues.
  • June 30, 1999 – Pilot project to develop a national survey for ALB at high-risk locations developed.
  • June 1, 1999 – Final rule, effective November 6, 1998, published for quarantine of three areas of Illinois. The areas are the Ravenswood community of Chicago and the village of Summit as well as an area in DuPage County near Addison, IL. The Illinois quarantine is 14 square miles.
  • May 27, 1999 – Interim rule, effective May 21, 1999, announced by USDA to amend the ALB quarantine to include the Woodside area in Queens and the Lindenhurst area in Central Long Island. A new quarantine area in Bayside is also included. The New York quarantine is now 48 square miles.
  • April 27-28, 1999 – APHIS initiated and hosted a research meeting to discuss and set priorities amongst the Forest Service, ARS, Canadian FS, and several universities conducting ALB research. Topics discussed included chemical control methods, attractant identification, behavior, biocontrol, dispersal, host stress affects on susceptibility to ALB and potential pathogens.
  • March 22, 1999 – State of New York expands the quarantined area to include the Woodside area in Queens and the Lindenhurst area in Central Long Island. A new quarantine area in Bayside is delineated and added.
  • March 9, 1999 – USDA Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman signs "Declaration of Emergency Because of Asian Longhorned Beetle." Published in Federal Register March 15, 1999.
  • February 10, 1999 – An ALB infestation in Queens County, NY, is detected outside of the Brooklyn/Queens quarantine area. The closest infested trees are approximately 7 miles to the west.
  • January 20, 1999 – APHIS publishes an advance notice of proposed rulemaking to solicit public suggestions concerning more global regulatory action concerning solid wood packing materials.

1998

  • December 17, 1998 – APHIS amends an interim rule on Solid Wood Packing Material from China published in the Federal Register on September 18, 1998, and effective December 17, 1998. The interim rule amends the regulations for importing logs, lumber, and other unmanufactured wood articles by adding treatment and documentation requirements for solid wood packing material imported from the Peoples Republic of China, including the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
  • November 13, 1998 – USDA announced an interim rule, effective November 6, 1998, adding three areas in and around Chicago, IL, to the current Federal quarantine for the Asian longhorned beetle. The areas are the Ravenswood community of Chicago and the village of Summit as well as an area in DuPage County near Addison, IL. The Illinois quarantine is 14 square miles.
  • October 16, November 3, and November 5, 1998 – USDA/APHIS holds public hearings in Washington, DC, Seattle, WA, and Long Beach, CA, respectively, where interested parties are able to comment on the rule regarding importation of untreated solid wood packing materials and ask questions.
  • September 18, 1998 – The interim rule, effective December 17, 1998, on the importation of untreated solid wood packing materials is published in the Federal Register for public comment.
  • September 14, 1998 – The Science Panel convenes in Chicago to discuss the ALB outbreak in Illinois.
  • September 11, 1998 – Secretary Glickman announces USDA's decision to issue an interim rule that bans the importation of untreated solid wood packing material from China.
  • August 4, 1998 – An infestation of ALB is discovered in Summit, Cook County, Illinois.
  • July 30, 1998 – An infestation of ALB is discovered in Addison, DuPage County, Illinois.
  • July 28, 1998 – The Illinois Department of Agriculture and USDA held a public meeting for individuals concerned about and interested in ALB.
  • July 28, 1998 – Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Becky Doyle establishes a quarantine around the Ravenswood area for ALB.
  • July 13, 1998 – ALB is first detected in Chicago's Ravenswood area. Illinois is now the second US state with an ALB infestation.
  • May 1998 – APHIS' PPQ officials met with Chinese Animal and Plant Health Inspection Department officials to relate concerns about wood-boring pests in solid wood packing materials from China.
  • January 16, 1998 – In cooperation with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets and the City of New York Parks and Recreation's Forestry Department, USDA holds a public meeting in Brooklyn.

1997

  • December 6, 1997 – USDA completes environmental assessment for the proposed program to eradicate the ALB infestation in Brooklyn and Long Island, New York.
  • November 13, 1997 – Final rule for the New York quarantine announced with one change, effective December 15, 1997, for a small section of the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens in the city of New York and an area in Central Long Island for ALB. The New York quarantine is 28 square miles.
  • October 17, 1997 – The ALB is found in Lindenhurst, Suffolk County, New York, immediately east of the Amityville infestation. This is the fourth county detected with ALB infestations.
  • October 1997 – APHIS' PPQ officials met with Chinese Animal and Plant Health Inspection Department officials to relate concerns about wood-boring pests in solid wood packing materials from China.
  • September 1997 – The Science Panel convened to discuss the outbreak of ALB in New York.
  • July 18, 1997 – APHIS' Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) issues a pest alert to all PPQ work units, informing them of new interim procedures for ALB.
  • March 1997 – Asian Longhorned Beetle detected in Queens County, New York. This is the third county found with ALB infestations.
  • March 7, 1997 – USDA announced an interim rule, effective February 28, 1997, quarantining a small section of the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens in the city of New York and an area in Central Long Island, New York for ALB.
  • January 24, 1997 – The Eastern Plant Board meets to discuss the ALB issue and options for eradication.

1996

  • December 11, 1996 – New York Governor George Pataki signs an emergency ALB quarantine for a small section of the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens in the city of New York and an area in Central Long Island, New York.
  • September 25, 1996 – The New Pest Advisory Group meets to consider options for eradicating the ALB.
  • September 21, 1996 – The ALB is detected in Nassau County in the vicinity of Amityville, New York.
  • August 19, 1996 – The Asian Longhorned Beetle is first detected in the United States in the Greenpoint Section of Brooklyn, Kings County, New York.
Last Modified: February 1, 2007