APHIS Expands Quarantine Area for the Imported Fire Ant (Solenopis invicta, S. richteri, and hybrids of these species) in Oklahoma and Tennessee

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FOR INFORMATION AND ACTION
DA-2024-06
February 14, 2024

Subject:  APHIS Expands Quarantine Area for the Imported Fire Ant (Solenopis invicta, S. richteri, and hybrids of these species) in Oklahoma and Tennessee 

To:  State, Tribal, and Territory Agricultural Regulatory Officials 

Effective immediately, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is issuing a Federal Order that expands the existing imported fire ant (IFA; S. invicta, S. richteri, and hybrids of these species) quarantine areas in Oklahoma and Tennessee. 

The following list describes the action in this Federal Order:

  • Oklahoma: Extends the IFA quarantine area to the entire county for Haskell County.
  • Tennessee: Extends the IFA quarantine area to the entire county for Clay, Claiborne, Campbell, Greene, Hancock, Hawkins, Jackson, Macon, Overton, Pickett, Robertson, and Scott Counties. 

APHIS is taking these actions based upon verification from the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry and Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s Division of Consumer and Industry Services that IFA is present and established in the areas listed. APHIS will follow this action by publishing a Notice in the Federal Register. 

The full lists designating IFA quarantine areas and regulated articles are published on the APHIS IFA webpage. 

For additional information on the Federal IFA regulatory program, please contact the IFA National Policy Manager, Ron Weeks, at Ron.D.Weeks@usda.gov or 919-559-4311.

 

/s/

Dr. Mark L Davidson
Deputy Administrator
Plant Protection and Quarantine 

Attachment: Federal Order