TEXT: USDA BOOSTS FUNDS TO BATTLE ASIAN LONGHORNED BEETLE
(Funding for research, survey and control)
Washington -- U.S. Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman has signed a declaration of emergency and is transferring $5.5 million in new funds to assist in detecting and combating the Asian Longhorned Beetle in the United States, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) says.
The additional funding will be used to detect the beetle, identifying infested areas, controlling and preventing the spread of the beetle to non-infested areas, and eradicating the pest, USDA announced March 12. In addition, Glickman said some of the funds will be used to compensate the city of Chicago and the state of New York for beetle survey and infested tree removal costs.
The Asian Longhorned Beetle, a native of Japan, South Korea, and northern China, bores into the trunks of healthy hardwood trees, lays eggs inside the trees, and feeds until larvae emerge in the spring, causing the tree to wither and die, USDA said.
Following is the text of Glickman's announcement:
(Note: in the text, "billion" equals 1,000 million.)
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U.S. Department of Agriculture
GLICKMAN ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL $5.5 MILLION TO COMBAT
March 12, 1999
ASIAN LONGHORNED BEETLE, REIMBURSE CHICAGO AND NEW YORK
FOR TREE REMOVAL COSTS
Washington -- Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman has signed a declaration of emergency, transferring $5.5 million in new funds to assist in detecting the Asian longhorned beetle, identifying infested areas, controlling and preventing the spread of the beetle to non-infested areas, and eradicating the pest. Some of the funds will be used to compensate the city of Chicago and the state of New York for beetle survey and infested tree removal costs.
"The Asian longhorned beetle is a pest that threatens trees in our forests, rural areas, and even urban neighborhoods," Glickman said. "This additional investment will enable us to further expand our priority prevention and control efforts."
The Asian longhorned beetle, a native of Japan, Korea, and northern China, bores into the trunks of healthy hardwood trees. The beetles lay eggs inside the trees and feed until larvae emerge in the spring. The affected trees later wither and die.
USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and Forest Service have been working cooperatively with the states of New York and Illinois to help eradicate the Asian longhorned beetle and assist in tree replanting efforts. The nation's only known Asian longhorned beetle infestations are located in and around Chicago and New York City.
Up to $2.5 million will be dedicated to Asian longhorned beetle activities in Illinois. This includes up to $1.4 million to compensate the city of Chicago for tree removal and survey costs. Senator Richard Durbin, Mayor Richard Daley, and other members of the Illinois Congressional delegation have requested USDA assistance.
Up to $1.46 million will be used to battle the beetle in New York. USDA will transfer an estimated $450,000 to the state of New York to compensate for the cost of tree removal.
Additional funds will allow USDA to:
-- Expand national survey efforts to determine, as quickly as possible, if other infestations exist.
-- Fund research on survey and control methods.
-- Help ensure China's compliance with restrictions on the use of solid wood packing materials.
-- Expand Asian longhorned beetle outreach and education efforts.
USDA determined that the beetle was brought to the United States in solid wood packing materials imported from China. On Dec. 17, 1998, USDA implemented an interim rule requiring all solid wood packing material from China, including Hong Kong, be heat treated, fumigated, or treated with preservatives prior to arrival in the United States.
If the Asian longhorned beetle and other wood-boring pests were to become established in this country, they could cause damage to industries that generate combined annual revenues of $138 billion.
The emergency declaration is scheduled for publication in the March 15 Federal Register. More information is on the web at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html.
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