carriers arriving from foreign 
origins. These specialists also 
identify organisms from domestic 
APHIS surveys such as the 
agency’s virtually nationwide 
examination of wheat for the 
presence of the fungus that 
causes Karnal bunt. PPQ special- 
ists also perform pest risk assess- 
ments for foreign agricultural 
commodities to determine the risks 
associated with importing them. 
PPQ classifies organisms as 
quarantine pests using pest 
analysis models to help prevent 
the establishment of exotic plant 
pests in the United States and to 
facilitate international trade. PPQ 
manages a pest-interception data 
base to maintain a record of 
potential pest introductions to the 
United States, provide information 
necessary to formulate PPQ and 
APHIS policy, and provide 
information to APHIS customers. 
Scientists also support emergency 
response efforts by conducting 
genetic identification of pests that 
can often point to their origin. For 
example, a test could determine if 
the genetic material of a trapped 
fruit fly matches the material from 
a previous outbreak or has been 
introduced from somewhere else. 
Each activity undertaken by PPQ 
is examined within the context of 
the National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA), the Endangered 
Species Act (ESA), and the 
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, 
and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). 
NEPA requires Federal agencies 
to prepare a detailed statement, 
which must be signed by a 
responsible official, on the 
environmental impact of every 
major Federal action significantly 
PPQ employs expert staff for 
environmental monitoring and 
services related to biotechnology. 
(USDA file photo.) 
affecting the quality of the human 
environment (i.e., an environmen- 
tal assessment or environmental 
impact statement). Frequently, 
PPQ programs require careful 
environmental assessment and 
public notification before opera- 
tions can start. The ESA requires 
an examination of the potential 
impact of Federal activities on 
federally listed threatened and 
endangered species. Overseen by 
the Environmental Protection 
Agency (EPA), FIFRA regulates 
the use of pesticides. As needed, 
PPQ seeks special-use permits for 
some of these pesticides—a 
permitting process managed by 
EPA. PPQ maintains the National 
Monitoring Residue and Analysis 
Laboratory and employs expert 
staff who conduct environmental 
monitoring and documentation. 
The Laboratory’s activities are a 
part of compliance with these 
environmental statutes and ensure 
the success of PPQ’s control and 
eradication programs. Consulta- 
tions between the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service (FWS), EPA, and 
other Federal cooperators and 
PPQ resolve potential interagency 
disagreement before it can affect 
program delivery. 
11 
