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There are several congressional actions that could be considered. Once cleared and 

 transmitted to Congress, we believe APHIS' proposed legislative package that con- 

 solidates and streamlines our plant quarantme laws and animal quarantine laws 

 will be favorably considered by Congress. These legislative proposals, often called 

 the Consolidated Statutes, clarify and enhance APHIS' authority in a number of im- 

 portant ways that would define roles better and improve responses. 



Question. What new legislation would be required to give additional funding and 

 adequate authority to handle emergency infestations of damaging alien species? 



Quick access to funds is a key element of success in pest eradication or control 

 and we would be pleased to explore with Congress any new ideas for addressing dif- 

 ficult funding issues. In addition, changing our user fee authority to provide better 

 access to funds for staffing at ports of entry would enhance exclusion activities. 

 APHIS may consider requesting a larger appropriation for its contingency fund, 

 which would allow access to emergency response resources more quickly. 



5. Americans generally object to inspection delays of first class mail or luggage. 



Question. How would the Department of Agriculture accomplish improved detec- 

 tion and quarantine efforts witnout totfd inspection of incoming luggage, cargo and 

 mail to Hawaii? 



Currently, inspections are conducted by screening luggage, cargo, and mail. Total 

 inspection is not practical, so APHIS concentrates efforts on risk evaluation, main- 

 taining data on pests, and continuously refining the information. An extremely help- 

 ful detection tool is our Beagle Brigade, which is comprised of specially trained dogs 

 that detect meat and plant materials in passenger bags and belongings. The detec- 

 tor dogs have a success rate in excess of 80 percent and serve a dual purpose: thev 

 allow program effectiveness to improve, and serve as a constant reminder to travel- 

 ers of the importance of our agncultural quarantine laws. Also, APHIS continues 

 to effectively use X-ray machines for screening air passengers' baggage arriving at 

 international airports. Improvements in our ongoing proCTams and the identification 

 of the non-indigenous species of concern would aid APHIS' effort to prevent the 

 spread of plant and animal diseases and pests into Hawaii. 



6. APHIS failed to promptly respond to the 1987 Florida infestations of varroa 

 mites in honey bee colonies, only to see the pest spread to 30 States by 1991. 



Question. What eu-e some of the mistakes that were made in the case of the varroa 

 mite infestation, and what are the economic consequences if this problem continues? 



APHIS was very aware of the varroa mite and its potential impact on agriculture. 

 In 1982, as part of its routine program to detect exotic pests, APHIS conducted a 

 nationwide survey for varroa mite. More than 200,000 bee samples fi"om 44 States 

 were examined. All samples were negative. In addition to this survey, each year 

 State Apiary Inspectors examine thousands of honey bee colonies looking for honey 

 bee pests and diseases. All of these inspections were negative until September 1987. 



ApHIS took immediate action to determine the extent of the infestation. Coopera- 

 tive survey efforts resulted in the detection of varroa mites in a total of 66 counties 

 in 9 States indicating the pest was already widespread. 



APHIS worked continuously with its State cooperators and the affected industry 

 to develop Federal regulations which would prevent the interstate spread of varroa 

 mites. APHIS convened a varroa mite Negotiated Rulemaking Advisory Committee 

 to help develop workable proposed Federal regulations. All attempts to provide Fed- 

 eral regulations for v£irroa mite proved to be unworkable because of tne lack of a 

 method to eliminate the mites in colonies. 



When varroa mites were first detected, economic analyses indicated that varroa 

 mites could cause a one-third drop in honey production and significant crop losses 

 due to a decrease in honey bee pollination services. These loss estimates have now 

 been greatly reduced due, in part, to cooperative efforts between Federal agencies 

 and stakeholders in the honey bee industry and the development of safe pesticides 

 that effectively deal with the varroa mite in managed colonies. 



APHIS continues to work with the States to assist them in implementing the Na- 

 tional Honey Bee Certification Plan developed by the National Association of State 

 Departments of Agriculture (NASDA). APHIS also continues to work with its coun- 

 terparts in Canada and Mexico to restore fi*ee trade in honev bees. We were success- 

 ful in reopening the Canadian market to queen honey bees from Hawaii. 



7. Amending the Federal Noxious Weed Act would seem to be a prudent choice 

 for combating these non-indigenous plants. Congress could sdso require stricter 

 screening for invasiveness, or could direct more funds to weed management on pub- 

 lic lands. 



Question. Please comment on how you would approach the solution, given these 

 alternatives. 



As funding becomes available, APHIS would be in a position to conduct risk as- 

 sessments for a large number of weed species coming into the United States. The 



