<br><font size=3 face="sans-serif">Excuse the cross-postings but it looks
like there is something in this for everyone!</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="sans-serif">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</font>
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<br>
<br><font size=3><tt>SUMMARY: We are advising the public that the Animal
and Plant Health <br>
Inspection Service (APHIS) is hosting an electronic public discussion <br>
on methods that can be used to evaluate the potential of imported <br>
plants to become invasive species if they are introduced into the <br>
United States. Any interested person can register for the electronic <br>
discussion, which will allow participants to upload files and interact
<br>
with other participants and with APHIS staff.<br>
</tt></font>
<br><font size=3><tt>DATES: The electronic public discussion will be held
from November 27, <br>
2006 to January 26, 2007.<br>
<br>
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Polly Lehtonen, Senior Staff <br>
Officer, Commodity Import Analysis and Operations, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 <br>
River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 734-8758.<br>
</tt></font>
<br><font size=3><tt>QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION: We would like participants
in the </tt></font>
<br><font size=3><tt>electronic discussion to specifically address the
following six questions, </tt></font>
<br><font size=3><tt>although general comments on the issue of evaluating
invasiveness will </tt></font>
<br><font size=3><tt>be accepted as well.<br>
1. What criteria, other than whether the plant has a history
of <br>
invasiveness elsewhere, are most useful to determine the invasiveness <br>
of a plant introduced into the United States for the first time?<br>
2. When there is little or no existing scientific literature
or <br>
other information describing the invasiveness of a plant species, how <br>
much should we extrapolate from information on congeners (other species
<br>
within the same genus)?<br>
3. What specific scientific experiments should be conducted
to best <br>
evaluate a plant's invasive potential? Should these experiments be <br>
conducted in a foreign area, in the United States, or both?<br>
4. How should the results of such experiments be interpreted?
<br>
Specifically, what results should be interpreted as providing <br>
conclusive information for a regulatory decision?<br>
5. If field trials are necessary to determine the invasive
<br>
potential of a plant, under what conditions should the research be <br>
conducted to prevent the escape of the plant into the environment?<br>
6. What models or techniques are being used by the nursery
<br>
industry, weed scientists, seed companies, botanical gardens, and <br>
others to screen plants that have not yet been widely introduced into <br>
the United States for invasiveness? What species have been rejected by
<br>
these evaluators as a result of the use of these evaluation methods?<br>
</tt></font>
<br><font size=3><tt>ACCESSING THE ELECTRONIC DISCUSSION:<br>
While anyone can access the discussion and read the comments,
<br>
registration is required in order to participate in the discussion. You
<br>
will be asked to register at the time you post your comment. Participants
</tt></font>
<br><font size=3><tt>will be required to enter their name and e-mail address.
Affiliation and </tt></font>
<br><font size=3><tt>mailing address are optional. Only the participant
names will be publicly displayed. </tt></font>
<br>
<br><font size=3><tt>The discussion will be accessible through a link on
Plant Protection and <br>
Quarantine's Web page for the nursery stock revision, </tt></font><a href="http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/Q37/revision.html"><font size=3 color=blue><tt><u>http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/Q37/revision.html</u></tt></font></a><font size=3><tt>.<br>
<br>
</tt></font>