24 



States and denuded the dominant tree in the ecosystem, chestnuts. 

 Is that correct; we did not know about it? 



Ms. LORIMER. That is correct. 



Mr. DeFazio. So I guess that is the concern. I like science and 

 scientists. I consider them sort of advisory to policjrmakers, and it 

 is nice that you are giving us advice and we are going to hear some 

 other advice. 



I guess I just want to ultimately apply some practicality, and I 

 return to the points I made about sort yards and other things; that, 

 apparently, there is some residual risk or we would not, after the 

 methyl bromide treatment, which we have heard will penetrate 4 

 inches, apparently there are things that can either survive that on 

 the surface or things further into the log about which we have 

 some concern, that are known, let alone unknown, or we would not 

 require heat treatment at all; is that correct? 



There must be some reason we are requiring heat treatment on 

 this side of the ocean or is it just sort of like icing on the cake and 

 we can do away with it? 



Ms. LORIMER. I think it is just another overlapping safety meas- 

 ure. 



Mr. DeFazio. So the methyl bromide will eliminate everything 

 we are aware of? 



Ms. LORIMER. The logs are going to be cut up and kiln dried any- 

 way and having them done within a certain period of time is just 

 an extra measure of safety plus destroying the sawdust is just an 

 extra measure of safety. 



Mr. DeFazio. Extra measure. That must mean there is some 

 risk, some little risk in that sawdust in not drying, because we do 

 sell two by fours and whatever that are not kiln dried. There is 

 green stuff in this country. You would not want to try to put a nail 

 in it, but you can buy it. So there must be some residual risk after 

 the methyl bromide. 



Ms. LORIMER. The whole process is designed to bring the risk 

 down as low as possible. 



Mr. DeFazio. So the heat treatment is an integral part of that 

 process to bring it down. 



Ms. LORIMER. Kiln drying and burning the sawdust, yes. 



Mr. DeFazio. It is heat treatment of everything we can identify 

 in a slightly different form, in a slightly different form than was 

 proposed for the Siberian logs. 



And again I would just return to the earlier point and I guess 

 I would like to know what went into the agency's thinking in terms 

 of disregarding those recommendations regarding the Siberian logs 

 to lower the risk as much as possible and by doing the thorough 

 heat treatment? 



Everybody, I can go down to the Springfield plywood mill and 

 watch the heat treatment. It is not like this is exotic, expensive 

 technology. They do it in order to peel logs better, but it is some- 

 thing that is regularly done to the logs for purposes other than 

 pests. It does not ruin the log. Thank the Chair. 



Mr. Rose. Just let me say to you all that I strongly support Mr. 

 DeFazio's concerns, and I think most Members, not all Members, 

 but most Members of this subcommittee do, and I hope you will be 



