Not listed
1. AWARD PURPOSE: THE PURPOSE OF THIS AGREEMENT IS TO INCREASE THE ABILITY TO IDENTIFY ISOLATED INFESTATIONS OF GYPSY MOTH THAT OCCUR AS A RESULT OF HUMAN ASSISTED SPREAD AND TO ASSIST IN DETERMINING THE MAJOR ROUTES OF ARTIFICIAL SPREAD. 2. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: THE AGREEMENT WITH THE GM STS FOUNDATION, INC. ALLOWS FOR FUNDS TO BE TRANSFERRED TO THE FOLLOWING STATES: ILLINOIS, MINNESOTA, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN. THE GM STS FOUNDATION, INC. WILL DECIDE THE FUNDING ALLOTMENTS FOR EACH OF THE FOLLOWING PARTICIPATING STATES. MOREOVER, THE PARTICIPATING STATES AGREE TO COMPLETE THE FIVE REGULATORY OBJECTIVES: A. IDENTIFY, CLASSIFY, AND CATALOGUE HIGH-RISK SITES WITHIN THE GM SIS PROGRAM AREA FOR FUTURE REFERENCE. TYPICAL HIGH-RISK LOCATIONS INCLUDE CAMPGROUNDS, PARKS, TOURIST ATTRACTIONS, LARGE COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION SITES, SHIPPING AND RECEIVING COMPANIES, LOG TIMBER, AND LUMBER PROCESSING FACILITIES. THESE ASSESSMENTS WILL HELP TO IDENTIFY THE PATHWAYS GYPSY MOTH MAY MOVE AND TO OUTLINE WAYS TO ELIMINATE OR MINIMIZE THAT MOVEMENT. B. UTILIZE EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGNS TO ASSIST IN REDUCING THE ARTIFICIAL SPREAD FOR THE GYPSY MOTH. PUBLIC AWARENESS DISPLAYS AND PRESENTATIONS, PRESS RELEASES, AND DISTRIBUTION OF INFORMATIONAL BROCHURES AND HANDOUTS WILL BE COMPONENTS OF THE PROGRAM. C. ESTABLISH AND UTILIZE COMPLIANCE AGREEMENTS TO FACILITATE COMMERCE. D. MONITOR THE INTERSTATE AND INTRASTATE MOVEMENT OF GYPSY MOTH REGULATED ARTICLES IN PARTICIPATING STATES. VIOLATIONS WILL BE PROCESSED THROUGH STATE AND/OR FEDERAL AUTHORITIES. E. RECORD PROGRAM DATA BASED ON PROTOCOLS MUTUALLY ESTABLISHED BY THE GM SIS FOUNDATION AND THE USDA, APHIS, PPQ 3. DELIVERABLES AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES: ILLINOIS: OUR EMPHASIS WILL BE ON THE INSPECTION AND COMPLIANCE OF REGULATED PLANT INDUSTRY BUSINESSES THAT BRING REGULATED MATERIALS FROM QUARANTINED COUNTIES INTO NON-QUARANTINED COUNTIES IN ILLINOIS. PROGRAM STAFF WILL INSPECT BUSINESSES (BOTH PLANT MATERIAL AND COMPLIANCE DOCUMENTS), EDUCATE AFFECTED INDUSTRY STAFF ON SPONGY MOTH IMPACTS AND IDENTIFICATION, AND WORK ON COMPLIANCE AS APPROPRIATE. GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION: THE ACTIVITIES OF THIS PROGRAM MAY OCCUR IN ANY ILLINOIS COUNTY, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THE LEADING EDGE OF THE IN FESTATION/QUARANTINE AND BEYOND. GENERALLY SPEAKING, THERE WILL BE MORE CHRISTMAS TREE DEALER ACTIVITIES IN LARGER URBAN AREAS, SO WE EXPECT TO SEE HIGHER INSPECTION NUMBERS IN AREAS LIKE THE QUAD CITIES, PEORIA, BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL, SPRINGFIELD, AND THE ILLINOIS SIDE OF ST. LOUIS, WHERE THEY ALSO DOUBLE AS AN EDUCATION AND OUTREACH TOOL. MINNESOTA: MONEY ALLOCATED TO THE MINNESOTA LYMANTRIA DISPAR REGULATORY PROGRAM BY THE STS FOUNDATION WILL BE USED TO PAY A PORTION OF THE SALARIES AND BENEFITS FOR MDA REGULATORY PERSONNEL, INCLUDING A PORTION OF TRAVEL EXPENSES INCURRED WHILE CONDUCTING REGULATORY SITE VISITS. AWARDED FUNDS WILL ALLOW THE MDA TO REVIEW AND UPDATE ALL PROGRAM MATERIALS WITH THE CHANGE OF THE COMMON NAME TO SPONGY MOTH. THE MDA WILL COLLABORATE WITH STAKEHOLDERS IN THE WOOD PRODUCTS INDUSTRY TO REVIEW AND UPDATE COMPLIANCE AGREEMENT TEMPLATES AND POLICIES. MINNESOTA COMPLIANCE AGREEMENTS AND POLICIES WERE ESTABLISHED PRIOR TO THE QUARANTINE IN 2014. A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW MUST BE CONDUCTED TO ENSURE MDA REGULATORY EFFORTS MEET THE ACTUAL IMPLEMENTATION OF MITIGATION PRACTICES TO BOTH SMALL AND LARGE FACILITIES AS A WHOLE. CHANGES SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED AT TIME OF QUARANTINE EXPANSION, THE MDA WILL CONTINUE TO FOCUS OUTREACH AND QUARANTINE COMPLIANCE EFFORTS ON THE TIMBER INDUSTRY, SINCE QUARANTINE RESTRICTIONS HAVE THE LARGEST IMPACT ON THIS INDUSTRY. AWARDED FUNDS WILL CONTINUE CURRENT REGULATORY EFFORTS INCLUDING FACILITATING COMMERCE THROUGH THE RENEWAL AND ESTABLISHMENT OF COMPLIANCE AGREEMENTS, PROVIDING LOCAL TRAINING WORKSHOPS FOR LOGGERS AND COMPLIANCE AGREEMENT HOLDERS, UPDATING, AND EXPANDING THE TRAINING PLATFORM AND A REGULATORY DATABASE OF HIGH-RISK SITES, AS WELL AS MONITORING HIGH RISK SITES. REGULATORY ACTIVITIES WILL CONTINUE TO BE COORDINATED WITH APPROPRIATE AGENCIES TO AVOID OVERLAPPING ENFORCEMENT AND TO PROMOTE INTERSTATE COMMERCE. DUE TO DECREASED USDA, APHIS COOPERATIVE FUNDING FOR DETECTION AND DELIMIT SURVEYS, THERE MAY BE A NEED TO UTILIZE AWARDED FUNDS TO ENSURE ALL DELIMIT, REGULATORY, COMPLIANCE AGREEMENT SURVEY DETECTION TRAPS ARE PLACED, MONITORED AND REMOVED FROM THE FIELD. AUGMENTING THE STATEWIDE EARLY DETECTION SURVEY PROGRAM. AWARDED FUNDS WILL EXPAND THE MDA'S LYMANTRIA DISPAR REGULATORY PROGRAM THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPLIANCE AUDITS. UNANNOUNCED VISITS TO COMPLIANCE AGREEMENT HOLDERS AND POTENTIAL ROAD-SIDE INSPECTION BLITZES ALONG QUARANTINE BOUNDARIES, CONDUCTED IN COOPERATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, MAY BE IMPLEMENTED TO ENSURE THAT THE MOVEMENT OF REGULATED ARTICLES ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH QUARANTINE RESTRICTIONS, INCLUDING THE COMPLETE AND ACCURATE COMPLETION OF REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION. AWARDED FUNDS WILL ENHANCE OUTREACH EFFORTS WITHIN MINNESOTA'S LYMANTRIA DISPAR REGULATORY PROGRAM. THE MDA WILL CONTINUE TO PRESENT INFORMATION AT VARIOUS PROFESSIONAL/TRADE ORGANIZATION CONFERENCES AND MEETINGS, LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCIL HEARINGS, TRIBAL AFFILIATES, AND THE VAST NUMBER OF UNAFFILIATED FOREST PRODUCTS ENTREPRENEURS. OUTREACH EFFORTS WILL BE EXPANDED BY INCREASING OUTREACH EFFORTS TO PRIVATE CAMPGROUNDS AND USING THE MN TREE CARE REGISTRY TO IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES. THE MDA'S LYMANTRIA DISPAR WEBSITE WILL BE UPDATED AND WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE AS A RESOURCE FOR OUTREACH EFFORTS. OUTREACH EFFORTS WILL BE EXPANDED THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, INCLUDING THE PRINTING AND DISTRIBUTION OF MATERIALS, BILLBOARD, AND RADIO ADVERTISEMENTS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO STAKE HOLDERS. ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS MAY INCLUDE NEW TRAINING MATERIALS AND KITS, ONLINE VIDEOS DEMONSTRATING VISUAL INSPECTION METHODS, AND EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION TARGETED TO TOURISTS AND HOMEOWNERS. PUBLIC AWARENESS AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS WILL BE CONDUCTED IN CONJUNCTION WITH COOPERATING FEDERAL AND STATE AGENCIES. WHERE PRACTICAL, OUTREACH METHODS WILL CONNECT TO EXISTING APHIS CAMPAIGNS. WEST VIRGINIA: THE PREDICTED START UP TIME FOR THIS PROGRAM IS JULY 1, 2024. MONEY ALLOCATED FOR THIS PROGRAM BY THE SLOW THE SPREAD FOUNDATION WILL BE USED TO PAY A PORTION OF THE SALARIES AND BENEFITS FOR WVDA REGULATORY PERSONNEL AS WELL AS TRAVEL COSTS FOR VISITS TO NURSERIES, LOG YARDS, SAWMILLS, MOBILE HOME DEALERS, MOVING COMPANIES AND WEIGH STATION INSPECTIONS. LYMANTRIA DISPAR OUTREACH MATERIALS, EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION, HANDOUTS, DISPLAYS AND OTHER APPLICABLE ITEMS MAY BE PURCHASED RELATIVE TO THE STS REGULATORY PROGRAM. GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION (WEST VIRGINIA) - WHEN IT IS IN THE INTEREST OF SLOWING OR PREVENTING THE MOVEMENT OF LYMANTRIA DISPAR INFESTED ARTICLES, THE PLANT INDUSTRIES STAFF ASSIGNED TO REGULATORY WORK WILL TRAVEL TO ANY PART OF THE STATE TO CONDUCT LYMANTRIA DISPAR REGULATORY ACTIVITIES. HOWEVER, THE 11 UNREGULATED COUNTIES WILL BE THE MAIN FOCUS. WISCONSIN: THE EMPHASIS WILL BE ON THE EDUCATION, INSPECTION AND COMPLIANCE OF REGULATED PLANT INDUSTRY BUSINESSES THAT TRANSPORT REGULATED MATERIALS FROM QUARANTINED COUNTIES TO NON-QUARANTINED COUNTIES IN WISCONSIN AND IN OTHER STATES. PROGRAM STAFF WILL INSPECT BUSINESSES, EDUCATE AFFECTED INDUSTRY EMPLOYEES ON SPONGY MOTH ID AND DETECTION PROCEDURES, AND ISSUE COMPLIANCE AGREEMENTS AS APPROPRIATE. FOLLOW-UP VISITS WILL DETERMINE IF BUSINESSES ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS. GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION (WISCONSIN) - THE ACTIVITIES OF THIS PROGRAM MAY OCCUR IN ANY WISCONSIN COUNTY, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON PLACES ALONG THE LEADING EDGE OF THE INFESTATION, ESPECIALLY IF TRAP NUMBERS HAVE BEEN ELEVATED IN RECENT YEARS, INCLUDING GREEN INDUSTRY BUSINESSES IN LA CROSSE AND TEMPEALEAU COUNTIES. WE WILL DO TARGETED OUTREACH TO LOGGERS, FIREWOOD DEALERS, AND LANDSCAPERS IN DOUGLAS COUNTY TO ENSURE INDUSTRY UNDERSTANDS THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE RECENT QUARANTINE THAT WAS PUT IN PLACE IN APRIL 2023. 4. INTENDED BENEFICIARY(IES): THE US FOREST SERVICE ESTIMATES THAT AT LEAST 898 MILLION ACRES OF FORESTED LAND ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO GM FEEDING AND DAMAGE. THE GM PROGRAM PROTECTS THIS VITAL NATIONAL RESOURCE FROM THE PEST'S DESTRUCTION, PRESERVING TIMBER AND PROPERTY VALUES. HOWEVER, LEFT UNCHECKED, THE SPREAD OF GM WOULD LEAD TO SEVERE DAMAGE TO FOREST TREES, IRREVERSIBLY ALTERING AND DEGRADING THE FORESTS' ECOLOGY, BIODIVERSITY, AND PRODUCTIVITY IN IMPACTED AREAS. IN URBAN AND SUBURBAN AREAS, HOME AND PROPERTY OWNERS WOULD INCUR SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC COSTS THROUGH LOSS OF CANOPY COVER, INCREASED HEATING AND COOLING BILLS, AND LOWERED PROPERTY VALUES. GM OUTBREAKS ALSO RESULT IN A NUISANCE FACTOR FOR PEOPLE IN AFFECTED COMMUNITIES DUE TO LARVAE AND FRASS LITTERING SIDEWALKS AND LAWNS. BUSINESSES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WOULD ALSO FACE ADDITIONAL BURDENS. NURSERIES AND CHRISTMAS TREE FARMS WOULD INCUR ELEVATED COSTS TO PROTECT THEIR INVENTORIES FROM DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE PEST. PROTECTING TREES IN PUBLIC SETTINGS SUCH AS PARKS AND GREEN AREAS WOULD REQUIRE SIGNIFICANT EXPENDITURES FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. THE LOSS OF CANOPY COVER WOULD LEAD TO A DEPRECIATED QUALITY OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS AND INCREASED WATER RUNOFF THAT WOULD PLACE ADDITIONAL STRESSES ON STORM AND SEWAGE WATER SYSTEMS. INCREASED EROSION DUE TO TREE LOSSES ON WATERSHEDS FEEDING DRINKING WATER RESERVOIRS WOULD REQUIRE EXPENSIVE ADDITIONAL FILTRATION AND PURIFICATION SYSTEMS AND CAPACITIES. HUMAN HEALTH IMPACTS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE, WITH SOME PEOPLE EXHIBITING ALLERGIES TO THE FINE HAIRS COVERING GM LARVAE. 5. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES, IF KNOWN OR SPECIFIED AT THE TIME OF AWARD: SEE NUMBERS 2 AND 3 ABOVE
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