101 



8 



(7) APHIS proposes very relaxed rescrictions on uopical hardwoods "because the 



great majority of plant pests associated with them cannot successfully become 

 established in most ru-eas of the United States due to climatic conditions". This 

 statement may or may net apply to insecis. but it does not apply to fungi. 

 Take tor example the fungus that causes late blight of potato which devastated 

 the potatoes of Ireland in the raid ISOOs. created a terrible famine, and sent 

 many Irish to our suores. Tlie funga? is native to subtropical Mexico but has 

 done vet7 w^^ ^^ climates as cool as that of Ireland. Possibly, APHIS is so 

 under-funded that it could not assign a plant pathologist to assist with diesc 

 regulauons. My recommendation is lo co.mpleteiy reassess the risks of tropical 

 and of temperate zone hardwoons befors deciding upon relaxed restrictions. 

 The reassessment should place a strong empha.sis on disease agents such as 

 fungi, and it should not reiy on the lack of repons of these organisms from the 

 reeions of ongin. Verj' few comprehensive studies have been done in those 

 regions. 



(8) Because we simply do not have the knowledge to accurately assess the risks of 

 most known forest pests, to predict the source of potentially devastating 

 unknown forest pests, ana :o properly evaluate many of the suggested 

 mitigation treatments, I believe that we should develop or fonnulatc a universal 

 treatment that will be effective against all pests in logs and unmanufactured 

 wood products from any foreign source. Canada ana northern Mexico excepted. 

 .As we develop the knowledge necessary to make sound assessments, we can 

 become less restnctive if such a change i.s in order. 



