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 We believe this formal pest risk assessment process is an effective 

 means of identifying and quantifying risk. The risk assessment team, 

 comprised of experts in entomology, pathology, and economics, first 

 assembles a data base of scientific knowlege on the trees and pests of 

 the country of origin. The team then proceeds with a formal process 

 to analyze the pote; tial risks of a pest becoming established in the 

 United States. 



Mitigation 



The pest mitigation treatments in the proposed regulations address the 

 risks identified in the pest risk assessments. Treatments such as 

 heating logs to a specified temperature for a specified length of 

 time, de-barking, insecticide and fungicide applications, and 

 prescribing times between harvest and shipment, are often adequate to 

 minimize the pest risk. 



International Cooperation 



In addition to the concern for unprocessed log imports to the United 

 States, the Forest Service has also worked with APHIS in an ongoing 

 program to harmonize log import regulations and to share the pest risk 

 assessment process with our continental neighbors, Canada and Mexico. 



