National Plant Board

National Plant Board Representatives on Non-NPB Committees

Interagency Communications Committee

Formed to improve communication of relevant information between Plant Protection and Quarantine and the National Plant Board, and to strengthen the State-Federal relationship.
Co-Chairs: Gray Haun, NPB; Paula Henstridge, APHIS, PPQ


USDA APHIS PPQ BRS Cooperative Agreement Model/Template Development Working Group

Lead: Judy Garrison, APHIS, BRS


USDA APHIS PPQ BRS Developing Regulating GMO Educational Materials Working Group

Lead: Clint Nesbit, APHIS BRS


USDA APHIS PPQ BRS Directory Contact List Working Group

Work Completed.


USDA APHIS PPQ BRS Key Electronic Data Management Issues (i.e.E-Permits) Working Group


USDA APHIS BRS Pilot Inspection Program Steering Committee

The purpose of this committee is to oversee the second phase of the BRS Pilot Inspection Program. The second phase will further examine state inspections of BRS field trials. This will be accomplished by working with two or three pilot states to resolve some of the issues identified by NASDA and BRS in the initial pilot project. During this second phase of the pilot inspection project, NPB will help determine if it is feasible for states to inspect introductions of GE organisms and to develop a model for a larger scale implementation of a state BRS inspection program. Some of the issues to be evaluated include: 1) Confidential Business Information (CBI); 2) Training and Reference Materials; 3) Roles and Responsibilities; 4) Communication Chains and Work Flow; 5) Sufficient Lead Time; 6) Availability of State Resources; 7) Priority of BRS inspections to state work; and 8) Choice of individual states to participate or not. Co-Chairs: Keith Menchey, BRS and Robin Pruisner IA


USDA APHIS PPQ BRS Permit Concurrence Committee

This committee will provide input into the permit authorization process.

Work Completed.

USDA APHIS PPQ BRS Regulatory Process Training Development Working Group

Work Completed.


USDA APHIS PPQ Center for Plant Health Science and Technology (CPHST) Board of Directors

Required to ensure a State perspective on critical science and technology issues affecting Federal and State cooperation/coordination. Chair: Vic Harabin, PPQ CPHST


USDA APHIS PPQ CPHST National Plant Protection Laboratory Accreditation Program (NPPLAP) Committee

This planning committee will provide input and feedback on the development and implementation of the NPPLAP.  Dr. Phil Berger, APHIS National Science Program Leader, is the contact (919-855-7412).


USDA APHIS PPQ Compliance Agreement Committee

The goal of this committee is to review Compliance Agreements used by USDA as a whole and determine if improvements are needed and if so, make recommendations for improvement. Co-Chairs: Phil Garcia, PPQ and Gray Haun, NPB President


USDA APHIS PPQ Export Board of Advisors

The Export Board of Advisors (BOA) provides oversight to the entire Export Program and will meet on a quarterly basis. As part of its responsibilities, the BOA will assume the roles and responsibilities of the EXCERPT Advisory Committee (EAC). The BOA will be made up of the following representatives: Phytosanitary Issues Management staff – PIM Deputy Director, Senior Export Specialist; Regions – Regional Program mangers (one from each Region); Professional Development Center – Director; Permits, Registrations, Imports and Manuals staff– Head of Manuals Unit; and one National Plant Board representative. When needed, the BOA will form Ad Hoc groups composed of experts to work on specific issues that need to be resolved. These Ad Hoc groups will be temporary in nature and will be dissolved when their work has been completed. Chairperson is Narcy Klag, PPQ, narcy.g.klag@aphis.usda.gov.

Ad Hoc Committees: EXCERPT:

Risk Based Inspections: Work completed


USDA APHIS PPQ Phytosanitary Certification, Inspection and Tracking Working Group (PCIT)


USDA APHIS PPQ Pine Shoot Beetle Working Group

This group is composed of regional PPQ personnel, Forest service, OTIS Plant Methods Center, and regional Plant Board members.  The purpose of the working group is to provide direction and leadership for the PSB program, review and revise PSB regulations and policies, and oversee the PSB management compliance program.  Chairperson is Matt Royer, PPQ (301-734-7819).


 

USDA APHIS PPQ, PHP, PRIM Permitting Board of Advisors (BOA)

The purpose of the BOA is to provide for direction, oversight, advice, and support on PRIM’s permitting functions to ensure that PRIM’s work is well balanced between organism safety and trade, and that PRIM provides the type of customer service and image necessary to ensure organizational health and support.


USDA APHIS PPQ R-5 Technical Task Force

The purpose of the committee is to to review and make recommendations to the Netherlands preclearance pest manual.


USDA APHIS PPQ Official Control Working Group


USDA APHIS PPQ SITC (Smuggling Interdiction and Trade Compliance) Board of Advisers


USDA APHIS PPQ Soybean Rust Technical Committee


USDA APHIS PPQ Weed Policy

Tries to meet monthly to discuss weed issues.  Al Tasker, APHIS Weed Coordinator, is the team leader (301-734-5708).


USDA FS Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team Steering Committee

Chair: Frank Sapio, Fort Collins, CO, 970.295.5840


 

USDA National CAPS Committee

The Cooperative Agriculture Pest Survey (CAPS) Program is a cooperative early detection effort between PPQ and States to survey for the presence of exotic, harmful pests. The National CAPS committee provides State input into overarching policy and procedures for federal-State cooperation. Chair, William Newton (Interim National Survey Coordinator - 301-734-8717), 1 representative from each PPQ region, 4 representative from the NPB, 2 CAPS cooperators (non-NPB), 1 CPHST representative, 1 PPQ IT representative, 1 NAPIS representative.


 

USDA National CAPS Advisory Group

Purpose is to make recommendations for improvement of CAPS program. Lead: Matt Royer, APHIS PPQ

Work Completed.


USDA APHIS PPQ CAPS Diagnostic Support Committee


USDA Technical Advisory Group for Biological Control of Weeds

The TAG's mission is to facilitate biological control of weeds in North America by providing guidance to researchers and recommendations to regulating agencies for or against the release of biological control agents, based on considerations of potential nontarget impacts and conflicts of interest.  Alfred Cofrancesco, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is the chairperson (601-634-3182); Sam Johnson, PPQ is Executive Secretary (301-734-5055).


USDA APHIS PPQ Plant Health Information System (PHIS)

The PHIS supports PPQ and cooperating state agencies in managing information related to domestic and emergency plant pest programs. NPB representatives will participate in development of the PHIS project as it relates to integration with existing systems as well as future system functionality and needs.

Executive Steering Committee (ESC)

Configuration Control Board (CCB)


Chilli Thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis) Interagency Working Group

NPB representatives and APHIS PPQ staff from impacted states and regions will work together in designing and implementing necessary operational plans to prevent or minimize Chilli Thrips effects on the various industries. The working Group will be taking into consideration the following issues: 1) Industry concerns and needs; 2) Economic implications of the pest; 3) Technical recommendations; 4) practical options to limit the spread and impact of Chilli Thrips; and 5) Assist in the registration of needed insecticides. Lead: Bill Grefenstette.


CBP and APHIS Agricultural Quarantine Inspection Partnership Council (AQIPC)

The purpose of the AQIPC is to provide direction, advice, and open communication to the Joint APHIS/CBP Task Force charged with improving the agricultural activities of both agencies. AQIPC will support the activities of the Joint Task Force by monitoring the action plans generated by the Task Force and provide advice and guidance that reflects the interests and concerns of the American agricultural and environmental communities and stakeholders. AQIPC will concentrate on issues relating to the policies, protocols, procedures, decision-making, and organizational management of the agricultural quarantine mission of CBP and APHIS. Co-Chairs are: PPQ Deputy Administrator Rebecca Bech and CBP, Assistant Commissioner of the Office of Field Operations Thomas S. Winkowski.


Critical Infrastructure Partnership Advisory Council, Government Coordinating Council

The Critical Infrastructure Partnership Advisory Council (CIPAC) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) represents a partnership between government and critical infrastructure/key resource (CI/KR) owners and operators and provides a forum in which they can engage in a broad spectrum of activities to support and coordinate critical infrastructure protection. Food and Agriculture is one of 16 sectors represented in CIPAC. Within each sector, members comprise the Sector Coordinating Council (SCC), representing private enterprise, or the Government Coordinating Council (GCC), representing state, federal or tribal government agencies. The National Plant Board is represented by one member on the GCC of the Food and Agriculture Sector. CoChair: David Kaplan, PPQ


Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Pest Information Platform for Extension and Education (PIPE) Steering Committee

The steering committee (PIPE SC), comprising an array of approximately 25 stakeholders, will guide the PIPE, specifically including: coordination and assuring stakeholder input; setting policy; establishing processes for inclusion of new components; development of a business plan, management structure and an advisory council; setting goals; planning, monitoring and evaluating activities; and maintaining long term sustainability. Chair is Don Hershman, Extension, University of Kentucky.


National Gypsy Moth Management Board

The Board acts as a technical advisory group to assist in reviewing and coordinating gypsy moth activities in the United States, to make recommendations to the USDA, State agencies and private organizations, particularly regarding development and implementation of IPM programs for gypsy moth and the eradication of isolated infestations, to conduct educational programs, and to act as a focal point for nationwide concerns about the gypsy moth.


 

National Invasive Species Council, Invasive Species Advisory Committee (ISAC)

Executive Order 13112 calls for the creation of a Federal Advisory Committee to provide information and advice for consideration by the Council. The ISAC is composed of stakeholders from state organizations, industry, conservation groups, scientists, academia and other interests.


NPB/PPQ P. ramorum Working Group

Through this working group, the National Plant Board and APHIS discuss and work through issues of shared concern regarding the P. ramorum process. APHIS representation on this group includes Western and Eastern Regions, CPHST, PDMP, and ISPM. Jonathan Jones, National P. ramorum Program Manager, is the contact, jmjones@aphis.usda.gov.


National Plant Diagnostic Network (NPDN) National Operations Committee


National Plant Diagnostic Network (NPDN) Data Sharing Committee


National Plant Diagnostic Network (NPDN) Exercise Committee

 

Phytophthora ramorum BMP Steering Committee

This steering committee comprises industry, regulatory, and research representatives who will guide the development of a pilot program for demonstrating and evaluating P. ramorum BMP's in selected nurseries.


STWG (Seed Technical Working Group)

This working group is a collaboration between NPB, APHIS, ASTA, AASCO and AOSCA and directs the actions of the National Seed Health System (NSHS). The NSHS accredits non-government entities to conduct seed health testing, field inspections, sample taking and visual inspection of seed pursuant to export certification. Chairperson is John Stevens, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc/ASTA (515) 270-4032.


Potato MOU committee

The purpose of this committee is seek commitments from seed potato producing states to develop and adhere to uniform phytosanitary standards that will enhance marketing of high quality commercial potatoes grown in the United States and to enhance international marketing of quality potatoes exported from the United States. Will Wise from USDA APHIS is the PPQ member.


Potato MOU Quality Manual Review Committee 

This committee will review Potato MOU quality assurance manuals. Members include Narcy Klag and William Wise, USDA, and seed certification officials, Dr. Amy Charkowski - Wisconsin and Alan Westra - Colorado.

Committee Documents:

National Potato MOU
Signatory states: AL, ID, ME, MI, MN, MT, PA, TX, WA, WV

Quality Manual Template

Question and Answers for the State National Harmonization Program for Seed Potatoes

 

Last Modified: July 2, 2008