AAM-16-10-00033-P Ash Trees, Nursery Stock, Logs, Green Lumber, Firewood, Stumps, Roots, Branches and Debris of a Half Inch or More

4/21/10 N.Y. St. Reg. AAM-16-10-00033-P

NEW YORK STATE REGISTER

VOLUME XXXII, ISSUE 16

April 21, 2010

RULE MAKING ACTIVITIES

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND MARKETS

PROPOSED RULE MAKING

HEARING(S) SCHEDULED

 

I.D No. AAM-16-10-00033-P

Ash Trees, Nursery Stock, Logs, Green Lumber, Firewood, Stumps, Roots, Branches and Debris of a Half Inch or More

PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE State Administrative Procedure Act, NOTICE is hereby given of the following proposed rule:

Proposed Action:

Addition of Part 141 to Title 1 NYCRR.

Statutory authority:

Agriculture and Markets Law, sections 18, 164 and 167

Subject:

Ash trees, nursery stock, logs, green lumber, firewood, stumps, roots, branches and debris of a half inch or more.

Purpose:

To establish an Emerald Ash Borer quarantine to prevent the spread of the beetle to other areas.

Public hearing(s) will be held at:

11:00 a.m., June 17, 2010 at Department of Agriculture and Markets, 10B Airline Dr., Albany, NY.

Interpreter Service:

Interpreter services will be made available to hearing impaired persons, at no charge, upon written request submitted within reasonable time prior to the scheduled public hearing. The written request must be addressed to the agency representative designated in the paragraph below.

Accessibility:

All public hearings have been scheduled at places reasonably accessible to persons with a mobility impairment.

Text of proposed rule:

Part 141

Control of the Emerald Ash Borer

(Statutory Authority: Agriculture and Markets Law sections 18, 164 and 167)

Section 141.1. Definitions.

For the purpose of this Part, the following words, names and terms shall be construed respectively, to mean:

(a) Certificate of inspection. A valid form certifying the eligibility of products for intrastate movement under the requirements of this Part.

(b) Compliance agreement. An approved document, executed by persons or firms, covering the restricted movement, processing, handling or utilization of regulated articles not eligible for certification for intrastate movement.

(c) Emerald Ash Borer. The insect known as the Emerald Ash Borer, Agrilus planipennis, in any stage of development.

(d) Firewood. This term applies to any kindling, logs, chunkwood, boards, timbers or other wood cut and split, or not split, into a form and size appropriate for use as fuel.

(e) Infestation. This term refers to the presence of the Emerald Ash Borer in any life stage or as determined by evidence of activity of one or more of the life stages.

(f) Inspector. An inspector of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, or cooperator from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) or the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), when authorized to act in that capacity.

(g) Limited permit. A valid form authorizing the restricted movement of regulated articles from a quarantine area to a specified destination for specified processing, handling or utilization.

(h) Moved; movement. Shipped, offered for shipment to a common carrier received for transportation or transported by a common carrier, or carried, transported, moved or allowed to be moved into or through any area of the State.

(i) Nursery stock. This term applies to and includes all trees, shrubs, plants and vines and parts thereof.

(j) Quarantine Area. This term applies to Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties.

(k) Regulated article. This terms applies to firewood from any species of tree, and any trees and all host material, living, dead, cut or fallen, inclusive of nursery stock, logs, green lumber, stumps, roots, branches and debris of the following genera: White Ash (Fraxinus Americana); Green Ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica); Black Ash (Fraxinus nigra); and Blue Ash (Fraxinus quadrangulata), and any wood material that is commingled and otherwise indistinguishable from the regulated article.

Section 141.2. Quarantine area.

Regulated articles as described in section 141.3 of this Part shall not be shipped, transported or otherwise moved from any point within Chautauqua and Cattaragus Counties to any point outside of said counties, except in accordance with this Part.

Section 141.3 Regulated articles.

(a) Prohibited movement.

(1) The intrastate movement of living Emerald Ash Borer in any stage of development, whether moved independent of or in connection with any other article, except as provided in section 141.9 of this Part.

(2) The intrastate movement of nursery stock from the quarantine area to any point outside the quarantine area.

(3) The intrastate movement of regulated articles other than nursery stock from the quarantine area to any point outside the quarantine area, except as provided in section 141.5 of this Part.

(b) Regulated movement.

(1) Regulated articles shall not be moved from the quarantine area to any point outside the quarantine area, except under a limited permit or unless accompanied by a certificate of inspection indicating freedom from infestation.

(2) Regulated articles may be moved through the quarantine area if the regulated articles originated outside the regulated area and:

(i) the points of origin and destination are indicated on a waybill accompanying the regulated article; and

(ii) the regulated articles, if moved through the quarantined area during the period of May 1 through August 31 or when the ambient air temperature is 40 degrees F or higher, are moved in an enclosed vehicle or are completely covered to prevent access by the Emerald Ash Borer; and

(iii) the regulated articles are moved directly through the quarantined area without stopping, except for refueling and traffic conditions, or have been stored, packed, or handled at locations approved by an inspector as not posing a risk of infestation by the Emerald Ash Borer.

Section 141.4. Conditions governing the intrastate movement of regulated articles.

(a) Movement from quarantine area. Unless exempted by administrative instructions of the Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets of the State of New York, regulated articles shall not be moved intrastate from the quarantine area to or through any point outside thereof unless accompanied by a valid certificate or limited permit issued by an inspector, authorizing such movement.

Section 141.5. Conditions governing the issuance of certificates and permits.

(a) Certificates of inspection. Certificates of inspection may be issued for the intrastate movement of regulated articles when they have been inspected and determined to have been:

(1) treated, fumigated, or processed by approved methods; or

(2) grown, produced, manufactured, stored, or handled in such a manner that, in the judgment of the inspector, no infestation would be transmitted thereby, provided that subsequent to certification, the regulated articles shall be loaded, handled, and shipped under such protection and safeguards against reinfestation as are required by the inspector.

(b) Limited permits. Limited permits may be issued for the movement of noncertified regulated articles to specified destinations for specified processing, handling, or utilization. Persons shipping, transporting, or receiving such articles may be required to enter into written compliance agreements to maintain such sanitation safeguards against the establishment and spread of infestation and to comply with such conditions as to the maintenance of identity, handling, processing, or subsequent movement of regulated products and the cleaning of cars, trucks and other vehicles used in the transportation of such articles, as may be required by the inspector. Failure to comply with conditions of the agreement will result in its cancellation.

(c) Cancellation of certificates of inspection or limited permits. Certificates or limited permits issued under these regulations may be withdrawn or canceled by the inspector and further certification refused whenever in his or her judgment the further use of such certificates or permits might result in the dissemination of infestation.

Section 141.6. Inspection and disposition of shipments.

Any car or other conveyance, any package or other container, and any article or thing to be moved, which is moving, or which has been moved intrastate from the quarantine area, which contains, or which the inspector has probable cause to believe may contain, infestations of the Emerald Ash Borer, or articles or things regulated under this quarantine, may be examined by an inspector at any time or place. When articles or things are found to be moving or to have been moved intrastate in violation of these regulations, the inspector may take such action as he deems necessary to eliminate the danger of dissemination of the Emerald Ash Borer. If found to be infested, such articles or things must be free of infestation without cost to the State except that for inspection and supervision.

Section 141.7. Assembly of regulated articles for inspection.

(a) Persons intending to move intrastate any regulated articles shall make application for certification as far in advance as possible, and will be required to prepare and assemble materials at such points and in such manner as the inspector shall designate, so that thorough inspection may be made or approved treatments applied. Articles to be inspected as a basis for certification must be free from matter which makes inspection impracticable.

(b) The New York State Department of Agriculture will not be responsible for any cost incident to inspection, treatment, or certification other than the services of the inspector.

Section 141.8. Marking requirements.

Every container of regulated articles intended for intrastate movement shall be plainly marked with the name and address of the consignor and the name and address of the consignee, when offered for shipment, and shall have securely attached to the outside thereof a valid certificate (or limited permit) issued in compliance with these regulations: provided, that:

(a) for lot freight shipments, other than by road vehicle, one certificate may be attached to one of the containers and another to the waybill; and for carlot freight or express shipment, either in containers or in bulk, a certificate need be attached to the waybill only and a placard to the outside of the car, showing the number of the certificate accompanying the waybill; and

(b) for movement by road vehicle, the certificate shall accompany the vehicle and be surrendered to consignee upon delivery of shipment.

Section 141.9. Shipments for experimental and scientific purposes.

Regulated articles may be moved intrastate for experimental or scientific purposes, on such conditions and under such safeguards as may be prescribed by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. The container of articles so moved shall bear, securely attached to the outside thereof, an identifying tag issued by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets showing compliance with such conditions.

Text of proposed rule and any required statements and analyses may be obtained from:

Kevin S. King, Director, Division of Plant Industry, NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets, 10B Airline Drive, Albany, New York 12235, [phone]

Data, views or arguments may be submitted to:

Same as above.

Public comment will be received until:

45 days after publication of this notice.

This action was not under consideration at the time this agency's regulatory agenda was submitted.

Regulatory Impact Statement

1. Statutory authority:

Section 18 of the Agriculture and Markets Law provides, in part, that the Commissioner may enact, amend and repeal necessary rules which shall provide generally for the exercise of the powers and performance of the duties of the Department as prescribed in the Agriculture and Markets Law and the laws of the State and for the enforcement of their provisions and the provisions of the rules that have been enacted.

Section 164 of the Agriculture and Markets Law provides, in part, that the Commissioner shall take such action as he may deem necessary to control or eradicate any injurious insects, noxious weeds, or plant diseases existing within the State.

Section 167 of the Agriculture and Markets Law provides, in part, that the Commissioner is authorized to make, issue, promulgate and enforce such order, by way of quarantines or otherwise, as he may deem necessary or fitting to carry out the purposes of Article 14 of said Law. Section 167 also provides that the Commissioner may adopt and promulgate such rules and regulations to supplement and give full effect to the provisions of Article 14 of the Agriculture and Markets Law as he may deem necessary.

2. Legislative objectives:

The proposed regulations accord with the public policy objectives the Legislature sought to advance by enacting the statutory authority in that it will help to prevent the spread within the State of an injurious insect, the Emerald Ash Borer.

3. Needs and benefits:

The Emerald Ash Borer, Agrilus planipennis, an insect species non-indigenous to the United States, is a destructive wood-boring insect native to eastern Russia, northern China, Japan and the Korean peninsula. It was first discovered in Michigan in June 2002, and has since spread to twelve other states as well as to two provinces in Canada. The most recent detection of this pest occurred on June 16, 2009 in the Town of Randolph, New York which is located in southwestern Cattaraugus County and is adjacent to Chautauqua County.

The Emerald Ash Borer can cause serious damage to healthy trees by boring through their bark, consuming cambium tissue, which contains growth cells, and phloem tissue, which is responsible for carrying nutrients throughout the tree. This boring activity results in loss of bark, or girdling, and ultimately results in the death of the tree within two years.

The average adult Emerald Ash Borer is 3/4 of an inch long and 1/6 of an inch wide and is a dark metallic green in color, hence its name. The larvae are approximately 1 to 1 1/4 inches long and are creamy white in color. Adult insects emerge in May and June and begin laying eggs in crevasses in the bark about two weeks after emergence. One female can lay 60 to 90 eggs. After hatching, the larvae burrow into the bark and begin feeding on the cambium and phloem, usually from late July or early August through October, before overwintering in the outer bark. The larvae emerge as adult insects the following spring, and the life cycle begins anew. Evidence of the presence of ther Emerald Ash Borer includes loss of tree bark, S-shaped larval galleries, or tunnels, just beneath the bark, small, D-shaped exit holes through the bark and dying and thinning branches near the top of the tree.

Ash trees, nursery stock, logs, green lumber, firewood, stumps, roots, branches and debris of a half inch or more in diameter are subject to infestation. Materials at risk of attack and infestation by the Emerald Ash Borer include the following species of North American ash trees: White Ash (Fraxinus Americana); Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica); Black Ash (Fraxinus nigra); and Blue Ash (Fraxinus quadrangulata).

Since the Emerald Ash Borer is not considered established in the State, moving infested nursery stock, logs, green lumber, firewood, stumps, roots, branches and debris of a half inch or more in diameter poses a serious threat to susceptible ash trees in forests as well as in parks and yards throughout the State.

To date, 39 infested trees in and around the Town of Randolph in Cattaraugus County have been cut and chipped. As the inspection and survey of susceptible ash trees continues in and around the Town of Randolph, the establishment of a quarantine in Cattaraugus County and in neighboring Chautauqua County is the most effective means of preventing the artificial spread of the Emerald Ash Borer. The proposed regulations establishing the quarantine would help ensure that as control measures are undertaken, the Emerald Ash Borer infestation does not spread beyond those areas via the movement of infested trees and materials.

The proposed regulations would prohibit the movement of any article infected with Emerald Ash Borer, regardless of where the articles are located in the State. Otherwise, only the movement of regulated articles, i.e. trees, firewood and all host material living, dead, cut or fallen, inclusive of nursery stock, logs, green lumber, stumps, roots, branches and debris of the White Ash, Green Ash, Black Ash and Blue Ash genera susceptible to the pest, is restricted under the proposal. The extent of the restrictions depends on the regulated articles in question.

In the case of nursery stock, the proposed regulations would prohibit the following: the intrastate movement of these articles from the quarantine area to any point outside the quarantine area.

In the case of all other regulated articles, the proposed regulations would prohibit the following: the intrastate movement of these articles from the quarantine area to any point outside the quarantine area, except under a limited permit or unless accompanied by a certificate of inspection indicating freedom of infestation.

In the case of all regulated articles, the proposed rule would permit movement of these articles through the quarantine area if the regulated articles originate outside the quarantine area and the point of origin of the regulated articles is on the waybill or bill of lading; a certificate of inspection accompanies the regulated articles; the vehicle moving the regulated articles does not stop in the quarantine area except for refueling or traffic conditions; and the vehicle moving the regulated articles during the period May 1 through August 31 is either an enclosed vehicle or is completely covered by canvas, plastic or closely woven cloth.

Under the proposed regulations, certificates of inspection may be issued when the regulated articles have been inspected and found to be free of infestation or have been grown, produced, stored or handled in such a manner that, in the judgment of the inspector, no infection is present in the articles.

Limited permits may be issued for the movement of noncertified regulated articles from the quarantine area to a specified destination outside the quarantine area for specified processing, handling or utilization.

Under the proposal, certificates of inspection and limited permits may be withdrawn or canceled whenever an inspector determines that further use of such certificate or permit might result in the spread of infestation.

The proposed regulations would also provide that persons shipping, transporting, or receiving regulated articles may be required to enter into written compliance agreements. These agreements would allow the shipment of these articles without a state or federal inspection. They are entered into by the Department with persons who are determined to be capable of complying with the requirements necessary to insure that Emerald Ash Borer is not spread.

The proposed regulations are necessary, since the effective control of the Emerald Ash Borer within the limited areas of the State near and where this insect has been found is important to protect New York's nursery and forest products industry. The failure of states to control insect pests within their borders can lead to federal quarantines that affect all areas of those states, rather than just the infested portions. Such a widespread federal quarantine would adversely affect the nursery and forest products industry throughout New York State.

4. Costs:

(a) Costs to the State government: None. Annual surveys would be required to monitor the natural spread of the beetle at a cost of $200,000 to $250,000. However, it is anticipated that this survey program would be funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) through a continuing cooperative agreement with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).

(b) Costs to local government: None.

(c) Costs to private regulated parties:

There are 51 nurseries in Cattaraugus County and 28 nurseries in Chautauqua County which would be affected by the quarantine set forth in the proposed regulations. However, it is anticipated that fewer than half of these establishments carry regulated articles. There are also approximately 600 firewood dealers and other forest products businesses in these counties. There is no approved protocol for ash nursery stock. Regulated parties exporting regulated articles (exclusive of nursery stock) from the quarantine area established under the proposed regulations, other than pursuant to compliance agreement, would require an inspection and the issuance of a federal or state certificate of inspection. This service is available at a rate of $25 per hour. Most inspections will take one hour or less. It is anticipated that there will be 25 or fewer such inspections each year with a total annual cost of less than $1,000.00.

Most shipments would be made pursuant to compliance agreements. Services required prior to shipment of host materials, including inspection of the materials, taking and analyzing soil samples and reviewing shipping records, are available at a rate of $25 per hour.

Tree removal services would have the option of leaving host materials within the quarantine area or transporting them outside of the quarantine area under a limited permit to a federal/state disposal site for processing.

(d) Costs to the regulatory agency:

(i) The initial expenses the agency will incur in order to implement and administer the regulation: None.

(ii) It is anticipated that the Department would be able to administer the quarantine with existing staff.

5. Local government mandate:

None.

6. Paperwork:

Regulated articles inspected and certified to be free of Emerald Ash Borer moving from the quarantine area established by the proposed rule would have to be accompanied by a state or federal certificate of inspection and a limited permit or be undertaken pursuant to a compliance agreement.

7. Duplication:

None.

8. Alternatives:

The failure of the State to establish a quarantine in Cattaraugus and Chautauqua Counties in and near where the Emerald Ash Borer has been observed could result in exterior quarantines by foreign and domestic trading partners as well as a federal quarantine of the entire State. It could also place the State's own natural resources (forest, urban and agricultural) at risk from the spread of Emerald Ash Borer that could result from the unrestricted movement of White Ash, Green Ash, Black Ash and Blue Ash from the quarantine areas. In light of these factors, there does not appear to be any viable alternative to the quarantine set forth in this proposal.

9. Federal standards:

The proposed regulations do not exceed any minimum standards for the same or similar subject areas.

10. Compliance schedule:

It is anticipated that regulated persons would be able to comply with the proposed regulations immediately.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

1. Effect on small business:

The small businesses affected by the proposed regulations establishing an Emerald Ash Borer quarantine in Cattaraugus and Chautauqua Counties are the nursery dealers, nursery growers and landscaping companies located within those counties. There are 79 such businesses in those counties. However, it is anticipated that fewer than half of these establishments carry regulated articles. Furthermore, it is anticipated that the appearance of the Emerald Ash Borer and its destructive potential is likely to reduce or eliminate the market for ash nursery stock as ornamental, street and park plantings. There are also approximately 600 firewood dealers and other forest products businesses in these counties. An undetermined number of these businesses are small businesses.

It is not anticipated that local governments would be involved in the shipment of regulated articles from the quarantine area.

2. Compliance requirements:

There is no approved protocol to diagnose or treat nursery stock, since approved methods (e.g. debarking) would kill the plants. All regulated parties in the quarantine area established by the proposed regulations would be required to obtain certificates and limited permits in order to ship other regulated articles (e.g. firewood and forest products) from that area. In order to facilitate such shipments, regulated parties may enter into compliance agreements.

It is not anticipated that local governments would be involved in the shipment of regulated articles from the quarantine area.

3. Professional services:

In order to comply with the regulations, small businesses shipping regulated articles from the quarantine area would require professional inspection services, which would be provided by the Department, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) or the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

It is not anticipated that local governments would be involved in the shipment of regulated articles from the quarantine area.

4. Compliance costs:

(a) Initial capital costs that will be incurred by a regulated business or industry or local government in order to comply with the rule: None.

(b) Annual cost for continuing compliance with the rule:

There are 79 nurseries in Cattaraugus and Chautauqua Counties which would be affected by the quarantine set forth in the proposed regulations. However, it is anticipated that fewer than half of these establishments carry regulated articles. There are also approximately 600 firewood dealers and other forest products businesses in these counties. There is no approved protocol to diagnose or treat nursery stock, since approved methods (e.g. debarking) would kill the plants. Regulated parties exporting other types of host materials (e.g. firewood and forest products) from the quarantine area established under the proposed regulations, other than pursuant to compliance agreement, would require a federal or state certificate of inspection. This service is available at a rate of $25 per hour. Most inspections would take one hour or less. It is anticipated that there would be 25 or fewer such inspections each year with a total annual cost of less than $1,000.00.

Most shipments would be made pursuant to compliance agreements. Services required prior to shipment of host materials, including inspection of the materials, taking and analyzing soil samples and reviewing shipping records, are available at a rate of $25 per hour.

Tree removal services would have the option to leave host materials within the quarantine area or transport them outside of the quarantine area under a limited permit to a federal/state disposal site for processing.

It is not anticipated that local governments would be involved in the shipment of regulated articles from the quarantine area.

5. Minimizing adverse impact:

The Department has designed the proposed rule to minimize adverse economic impact on small businesses and local governments. This is done by limiting the quarantine area to only those parts of New York State near or where the Emerald Ash Borer has been detected; and by limiting the inspection and permit requirements to only those necessary to detect the presence of the Emerald Ash Borer and prevent its movement in host materials from the quarantine area. As set forth in the regulatory impact statement, the proposed regulations provide for agreements between the Department and regulated parties that permit the shipment of regulated articles without state or federal inspection. These agreements, for which there is no charge, are another way in which the proposed rule was designed to minimize adverse impact. The approaches for minimizing adverse economic impact required by section 202-a(1) of the State Administrative Procedure Act and suggested by section 202-b(1) of the State Administrative Procedure Act were considered. Given all of the facts and circumstances, it is submitted that the proposed regulations minimize adverse economic impact as much as is currently possible.

6. Small business and local government participation:

The Department has had ongoing discussions with representatives of various nurseries, arborists, the forestry industry, and local governments regarding the general needs and benefits of the Emerald Ash Borer quarantine.

On June 25, 2009, the Department sent a letter to licensed nursery growers and nursery dealers, providing information regarding the threat the Emerald Ash Borer is posing to the State's ash trees and the State's response to that threat.

On July 9, 2009, the Department hosted an informational meeting on the Emerald Ash Borer and the needs and benefits of a quarantine to control the artificial spread of this pest. Representatives of the Empire State Forrest Products Association, New York State Nursery Landscape Association and New York State Arborist Association attended the meeting on behalf of their constituencies, which are regulated parties. Representatives of DEC and USDA also attended the meeting.

On July 14, 2009, the Empire State Forrest Products Association hosted an informational meeting on the Emerald Ash Borer in Randolph, New York. Approximately 90 people attended this informational meeting. A general public meeting on the Emerald Ash Borer was held following the informational meeting. Approximately 150 people attended the public meeting.

Those in attendance at the meetings on July 9th and July 14th appeared to understand the threat posed by the Emerald Ash Borer and expressed support for the proposed regulations. Outreach efforts will continue.

7. Assessment of the economic and technological feasibility of compliance with the rule by small businesses and local governments:

The economic and technological feasibility of compliance with the proposed rule by small businesses and local governments has been addressed and such compliance has been determined to be feasible. Regulated parties shipping regulated articles (exclusive of nursery stock) from the quarantine area, other than pursuant to a compliance agreement, would require an inspection and the issuance of a certificate of inspection. Most shipments, however, would be made pursuant to compliance agreements.

Rural Area Flexibility Analysis

1. Type and estimated numbers of rural areas:

The proposed regulations establishing an Emerald Ash Borer quarantine in Cattaraugus and Chautauqua Counties would affect the nursery dealers, nursery growers and landscaping companies located within those counties. There are 79 such businesses in these counties. There are also approximately 600 firewood dealers and other forest products businesses in these counties. All of these businesses are in rural areas as defined by section 481(7) of the Executive Law.

2. Reporting, recordkeeping and other compliance requirements; and professional services:

There is no approved protocol to diagnose or treat nursery stock, since approved methods (e.g. debarking) would kill the plants. All regulated parties in the quarantine area established by the proposal would be required to obtain certificates and limited permits in order to ship other regulated articles (e.g. firewood and forest products) from that area. In order to facilitate such shipments, regulated parties may enter into compliance agreements.

In order to comply with the proposed regulations, all regulated parties shipping regulated articles from the quarantine area would require professional inspection services, which would be provided by the Department, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

3. Costs:

There are 79 nurseries in Cattaraugus and Chautauqua Counties which would be affected by the quarantine set forth in the proposal. However, it is anticipated that fewer than half of these establishments carry regulated articles. There are also approximately 600 firewood dealers and other forest products businesses in these counties. There is no approved protocol to diagnose or treat nursery stock, since approved methods (e.g. debarking) would kill the plants. Regulated parties exporting regulated articles (exclusive of nursery stock) from the quarantine area established under the regulations, other than pursuant to compliance agreement, would require a federal or state certificate of inspection. This service is available at a rate of $25 per hour. Most inspections would take one hour or less. It is anticipated that there would be 25 or fewer such inspections each year with a total annual cost of less than $1,000.00.

Most shipments would be made pursuant to compliance agreements. Services required prior to shipment of host materials, including inspection of the materials, taking and analyzing soil samples and reviewing shipping records, are available at a rate of $25 per hour.

Tree removal services would have the option to leave host materials within the quarantine area or transport them outside of the quarantine area under a limited permit to a federal/state disposal site for processing.

4. Minimizing adverse impact:

In conformance with State Administrative Procedure Act section 202-bb(2), the proposed regulations were drafted to minimize adverse economic impact on all regulated parties, including those in rural areas. This is done by limiting the quarantine area to only those parts of New York State near and where the Emerald Ash Borer has been detected; and by limiting the inspection and permit requirements to only those necessary to detect the presence of the Emerald Ash Borer and prevent its movement in host materials from the quarantine area. As set forth in the regulatory impact statement, the proposed regulations would provide for agreements between the Department and regulated parties that permit the shipment of regulated articles without state or federal inspection. These agreements, for which there is no charge, are another way in which the proposed regulations were designed to minimize adverse impact. Given all of the facts and circumstances, it is submitted that the proposed rule minimizes adverse economic impact as much as is currently possible.

5. Rural area participation:

The Department has had ongoing discussions with representatives of various nurseries and arborists as well as members of the forestry industry, regarding the general needs and benefits of the Emerald Ash Borer quarantine. These regulated parties are located in rural areas.

On June 25, 2009, the Department sent a letter to licensed nursery growers and nursery dealers, providing information regarding the threat the Emerald Ash Borer is posing to the State's ash trees and the State's response to that threat.

On July 9, 2009, the Department hosted an informational meeting on the Emerald Ash Borer and the needs and benefits of a quarantine to control the artificial spread of this pest. Representatives of the Empire State Forrest Products Association, New York State Nursery Landscape Association and New York State Arborist Association attended the meeting on behalf of their constituencies, which are regulated parties. Representatives of DEC and USDA also attended the meeting.

On July 14, 2009, the Empire State Forrest Products Association hosted an informational meeting on the Emerald Ash Borer in Randolph, New York. Approximately 90 people attended this informational meeting. A general public meeting on the Emerald Ash Borer was held following the informational meeting. Approximately 150 people attended the public meeting.

Those in attendance at the meetings on July 9th and July 14th appeared to understand the threat posed by the Emerald Ash Borer and expressed support for the proposed regulations. Outreach efforts will continue.

Job Impact Statement

The proposed rule will not have a substantial adverse impact on jobs or employment opportunities and in fact, will likely aide in protecting jobs and employment opportunities for now and in the future. Forest related activities in New York State provide employment for approximately 70,000 people. Of that number, 55,000 jobs are associated with the wood-based forest economy, including manufacturing. The forest-based economy generates payrolls of more than $2 billion.

By establishing an Emerald Ash Borer quarantine in Cattaraugus and Chautauqua Counties, the proposed rule is designed to prevent the further spread of this pest to other parts of the State. There are an estimated 750-million ash trees in New York State (excluding the Adirondack and Catskill Forest Preserves), with ash species making up approximately seven percent of all trees in our forests. A spread of the infestation would have very adverse economic consequences to the nursery, forestry and wood-working (e.g. lumber yard, flooring and furniture and cabinet making) industries of the State, due to the destruction of the regulated articles upon which these industries depend. Additionally, a spread of the infestation could result in the imposition of more restrictive quarantines by the federal government, other states and foreign countries, which would have a detrimental impact upon the financial well-being of these industries.

By helping to prevent the spread of the Emerald Ash Borer, the proposed rule would help to prevent such adverse economic consequences and in so doing, protect the jobs and employment opportunities associated with the State's nursery, forestry and wood-working industries.