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Hello Folks,
>
> The following message from APHIS contains a link to the Federal Register
> announcement of the notice of proposed rulemaking and a request for > comments
> on regulating WPM used in domestic commerce:
>
> http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2009-0016
>
> I attended the first of four public meetings on this subject last week in
> Washington DC. The next three will be in Portland, OR on Sept. 2, Houston,
> TX on Sept. 15, and Grand Rapids, MI on September 29. For the location of
> these meetings, visit this link:
>
> http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2009-0066.
>
> Fifteen commenters registered before the first meeting, and total > attendance
> was around 60 people. APHIS hosted the meeting, and set the stage for the
> commenters. In summary, there was some support for the plastic > alternatives,
> but it is clear that wood will continue to be the material of choice for
> WPM. It is also clear that something must be done to prevent the spread of
> invasive pests, and native pests as well, to protect our forest resources.
> The best solution at this point appears to be the adoption of the export
> stamping program and the ISPM 15 standard, since the program is already in
> place for exports.
>
> Obviously there are many hurdles to cross. Some industry leaders think a
> program could be in place in as little as 18 months, but 2-3 years seems
> more likely, given the complexity of the task and the entities involved.
> APHIS will gather the data from the commenters at the public meetings and
> comments submitted to the Federal Register notice, and put together a plan
> for action. This process alone will take some months, and will be followed
> by publication of the proposed rule in the Federal Register for additional
> comment before the rule is adopted.
>
> I encourage those of you that are interested in the outcome of these
> proceedings to attend the public meetings and make your views known, or to
> submit comments to the Federal Register notice.
>
> Following the meeting regarding WPM in domestic commerce, there was a
> similar meeting regarding the interstate movement of firewood. The > firewood
> business has gotten quite large, and, like WPM, firewood is also being
> shipped all over the country. Industry representatives are frustrated by
> multiple and varied State laws involving quarantined areas, and are > calling
> for a nationwide regulation similar to that needed for WPM. It appears > that
> this will also go forward, using the existing model for WPM exports.
>
> As a reminder of why we need to take action to protect our forests, > remember
> that the American chestnut once was the dominant hardwood tree species in
> the East, and is now practically gone from chestnut blight. Dutch elm
> disease devastated the population of the American elm, and denuded the
> streets of many towns where they once were majestic. Both of these > diseases
> were transported into the US by beetle larvae that were imported with the
> wood. Our ash trees may be next, if we don't get the emerald ash borer > under
> control. It continues to spread at an alarming rate. There are several > other
> imported insects that have similar potential as well, including one that
> could wipe out our pine trees! The economic impact of some of these
> possibilities would be much greater than the cost of applying control
> measures.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Don Stokes
> Technical Director
> Lee Inspection & Consulting Services, Inc.
> Phone/fax (662) 539-0367 Cell (662) 316-0421
> Bossier City, LA office (800) 508-6232
>