[MPWG] Electronic Public Discussion: Evaluating the Invasive Potential of Imported Plants

[Patricia_DeAngelis at fws.gov]

Excuse the cross-postings but it looks like there is something in this for 
everyone!

This discussion is already underway!  A summary of the purpose and how you 
can participate is below.  To see the full notice, see: 
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/E6-18768.htm

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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service (APHIS) is hosting an electronic public discussion 
on methods that can be used to evaluate the potential of imported 
plants to become invasive species if they are introduced into the 
United States. Any interested person can register for the electronic 
discussion, which will allow participants to upload files and interact 
with other participants and with APHIS staff.

DATES: The electronic public discussion will be held from November 27, 
2006 to January 26, 2007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Polly Lehtonen, Senior Staff 
Officer, Commodity Import Analysis and Operations, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 
River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 734-8758.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION: We would like participants in the 
electronic discussion to specifically address the following six questions, 

although general comments on the issue of evaluating invasiveness will 
be accepted as well.
    1. What criteria, other than whether the plant has a history of 
invasiveness elsewhere, are most useful to determine the invasiveness 
of a plant introduced into the United States for the first time?
    2. When there is little or no existing scientific literature or 
other information describing the invasiveness of a plant species, how 
much should we extrapolate from information on congeners (other species 
within the same genus)?
    3. What specific scientific experiments should be conducted to best 
evaluate a plant's invasive potential? Should these experiments be 
conducted in a foreign area, in the United States, or both?
    4. How should the results of such experiments be interpreted? 
Specifically, what results should be interpreted as providing 
conclusive information for a regulatory decision?
    5. If field trials are necessary to determine the invasive 
potential of a plant, under what conditions should the research be 
conducted to prevent the escape of the plant into the environment?
    6. What models or techniques are being used by the nursery 
industry, weed scientists, seed companies, botanical gardens, and 
others to screen plants that have not yet been widely introduced into 
the United States for invasiveness? What species have been rejected by 
these evaluators as a result of the use of these evaluation methods?

ACCESSING THE ELECTRONIC DISCUSSION:
    While anyone can access the discussion and read the comments, 
registration is required in order to participate in the discussion. You 
will be asked to register at the time you post your comment.  Participants 

will be required to enter their name and e-mail address. Affiliation and 
mailing address are optional. Only the participant names will be publicly 
displayed. 

The discussion will be accessible through a link on Plant Protection and 
Quarantine's Web page for the nursery stock revision, 
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/Q37/revision.html.

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