Serious issue

Hi gang,

I have not seen mention on this list about the pending Draft Action
Plan for the Noxious Weed Program, so I am going to copy and past a
post I sent to Perennial list in reply to one about it.  Apologies to
those of you on both lists for the duplication.  I do feel this is
such an important issue for all of us.

Here goes:

Linda,

There is a good deal of fact in this information.  It is NOT an Urban
Legend, but a very serious issue that, if implemented in its present
form, will adversely affect all gardeners in this country.  What you
have posted comes from the J. L. HUDSON, SEEDSMAN site:

http://www.jlhudsonseeds.net/USDAComment.htm#Letter to Congress

and refers to the Draft Action Plan for the Noxious Weed Program,
which can be read in .pdf format (you need Adobe Acrobat plugin)
here:

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/weeds/weedsjan2002-pub.pdf

The USDA currently has the power, vested in the Plant Protection Act
that was signed into law by President Clinton a couple years ago, to
restrict through regulation and permit requirements the shipment of
plants, seeds, plant parts, and propagules interstate.  They are not,
currently doing this with the exception of known and listed noxious
weeds, but they have the power and if this Draft plan is implemented,
I fear the day when they use this power will not be far off.  Should
they choose to exercise it, they have the right to fine any of us for
sending seeds or plants across state lines.  At the moment, this only
relates to known and listed noxious weeds, but if this Draft proposal
is implemented, it will soon include all plants that have not made it
onto their 'clean' list.

More worrying to me are the proposals in this draft that would
implement risk assessment and weediness screening of ALL plants and
the development of what is termed a "modified clean list", which
means that any plant NOT on this list could not be sold, traded or
given away by anybody.  In reality, it is not possible to screen
every plant now known or yet to be discovered for every ecosystem in
this country.  This means, in reality, that any new plants would
simply be banned, as well as many now in cultivation.

The really scary part is that in order to implement risk assessment,
they would likely use a model proposed by Dr. Sara Reichard of the
University of Washington, USDA advisor on invasive plants.  This
model would ban (according to a post by Tony Avent who talked to her)
40% of the plants that we commonly grow in our gardens, and which are
not invasive.  It would also mean that a plant that is invasive in
Hawaii would be banned throughout the US, whether it had a chance of
survival in other climates or not.  We all know that one person's
weed is another's treasure, depending on where you are trying to grow
the plant.  One size does not fit all the climates in this vast
country.

Further, such policies require adequate, scientifically verified
methods of predicting which species would be "invasive" and all
scientific attempts at such predictions have failed.

USDA is moving steadily ahead in implementing restrictive regulations
in the guise of controlling weeds and invasive plants.  They are not
dealing with the causes, only with implementing restrictions that
will, ultimately, result in banning all plants that are not on a
list.  Currently, they maintain a list of known, proven noxious
weeds.  This is perfectly adequate.  They also propose guidelines for
adding and removing plants from this list...I have no quarrel with
those.

I do feel, however, very strongly about a 'clean' or 'white' list and
subjecting all plants to some sort of 'risk assessment'.  It is not a
practical, feasible matter and, if implemented, will end our freedom
to grow what we want; to buy, trade and send seeds and plants as we
see fit.  Noxious weeds and invasive plants are not caused by
ornamental gardening.

There is one week left for public comment on this Draft proposal.  I
urge EVERYBODY to send email and copies to your legislators and the
USDA.  The Hudson seed site has made this very easy to do.  It
provides links to find your legislators and a guide letter to use.

I urge everybody to educate themselves on these issues.  But, if you
simply cannot spend that time, at least copy and send the guide
letter if you care about biological diversity and our right as
citizens and gardeners to send and receive and grow the plants that
we want to grow.

This is very serious and time is growing short.  They have not
allowed enough time for public comment, nor has USDA made sufficient
effort to inform the public.  They do not include representatives of
the gardening world among their advisors or stakeholders; they are
simply ignoring the impact on gardeners and the nurseries that supply
us with our plants.

The Time To ACT is NOW!

Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@hort.net
Editor:  Gardening in Shade
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