USDA CONSIDERS ACTION TO STOP SPREAD OF PINE SHOOT BEETLE

USDA CONSIDERS ACTION TO STOP SPREAD OF PINE SHOOT BEETLE    The U.S. Department of Agriculture has prepared a draft environmental assessment concerning various actions to address the spread of the pine shoot beetle into noninfested areas of the United States.
   USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has regulated the interstate movement of host material from areas within the United States that are known to be infested by the pine shoot beetle, but APHIS has not established specific regulations prohibited or restricting host material into the United States from foreign countries.
   Such a regulation would parallel requirements recently implemented by Canada with respect to the export of pine shoot beetle host material from the United States
   The beetles were brought into the United States through host material imported from Canada. The beetles tunnel into the center of pine shoots, causing stunted and distorted growth, and can also carry several diseases of pine trees.
   The draft environmental assessment can be viewed on the Internet, at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/es/ppg/psbcan/pdf . Comments are due by April 5. Send an original and three copies to Docket No. 00-073-1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Suite 3C03, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, Md. 20737-1238.
   for information, contact Jonathan Jones, operations officer, program support, PPQ, APHIS, at (301) 734-8247.