Pest Detection / Emergency Projects

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New Invasive
Pest Response
Pest Detection / Emergency Projects Pest
Exclusion Interior California Department of Food
and Agriculture
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Purpose of this Training

• Present information on operations that occur when
  an invasive pest is detected in California
• Coordinate roles between agencies

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New Invasive Pests

• California is at risk for domestic and
  international exotic pest introductions.
• Geographic location of the state
• Infestations of pests in border countries
• Large influx from outside U.S.
• Importation of commodities from outside of the
  U.S.
• Increase in international travel
• Increase in use of air cargo

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New Invasive Pests in California

• The combination of these facts places California
  at the top of the list of states at greatest risk
  and exposure to the establishment of invasive
  pests and diseases.
• Additionally, California offers a wide variety of
  ecological niches where invasive pests can become
  quickly established.

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Recent Statewide Events

• Over the past five years, an average of 10 new
  plant pests have been detected each year in
  California, some for the first time in the state
  and nation (Asian citrus psyllid, false codling
  moth, diaprepes root weevil, white striped fruit
  fly and European grapevine moth).
• Average seven eradication projects per year.

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Pest Detection / Emergency Projects

• Pest Detection
• Trapping
• Surveys
• Emergency Projects
• Eradicative Treatments
• Medfly Preventative Release
• Sterile Insect Technique

The primary responsibility of the Branch are the
early detection and prompt eradication of
serious exotic pests from California.
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When an Invasive Pest Is Detected

• Pest and Damage Report is completed.
• Heads Up Call to PD/EP District Entomologist
• Expedite delivery of the sample to a CDFA
  laboratory for identification
• Specimens that are new to state and/or county
  that are federal actionable pests are sent to the
  USDAs Systematic Entomology Laboratory (SEL) in
  Beltsville, MD

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Emergency Projects Role

• The primary objective of the emergency project
  component is to quickly and efficiently eradicate
  incipient infestations of serious agricultural
  pests, thereby preventing permanent establishment
  and subsequent spread in California
• Emergency response is triggered when there is
  evidence of a breeding population (egg, larvae,
  mated female, multiple detections)
• CDFA maintains Action Plans for such unwanted
  agricultural pests
• Maintaining properly trained and equipped pest
  response teams situated at strategic locations
  around the State

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Establishment of Eradication Boundaries

• Follows biological, political, geographic or
  other describable lines
• Threatened Endangered species issues
• History of area (CAC involvement is crucial)

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Legal Issues

• Establishment of eradication authority for each
  pest in each county via Office of
  Administrative Law
• Promulgate emergency regulations
• Food and Agricultural Code Sections 403, 5001,
  5761-5763
• Issuance of Proclamation of an Eradication
  Project (PEP) - CDFAs Secretary of Agriculture
  approves and signs the PEP within 24 hours of an
  exotic pest detection
• Refusals - Food and Agricultural Code Section
  5401-5405 addresses abatement and inspection
  warrants
• Emergency projects are exempt from CEQA
• Multiple year projects require an Environmental
  Impact Report

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PEP PROCESS

• The PEP is faxed and sent via overnight mail to
  local and state officials representing the
  affected area and agencies concerned with the
  project .
• The PEP package includes
• Pest profile
• Map of eradication area
• Work plan describing actions to be taken

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Public Notification of Eradication Project

• Depends on the pest
• PEP is posted in the legal section of newspaper
  (when not treating private property)
• Mail (invitation to public meeting)
• Notices left door-to-door
• Public meetings
• Information is accessible via the Internet
• www.cdfa.ca.gov

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Public Affairs

• Important to make direct contact in advance with
  the CDFA Public Affairs office and plan all media
  matters
• CAC and CDFA must coordinate the press releases
• Interviews/demonstrations
• Public meetings local contacts/issues

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Public Affairs (cont)

• Select an appropriate site to demonstrate the
  program activities to the media.
  Considerations
• Safe area, out of the way area
• No children, traffic, or other complications
• Coordinate in advance with CDFA Public Affairs
  and CAC

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Public Meetings

• Central site with parking
• Open house style
• No seating or microphones for public
• Maps/Handouts/posters
• Cooperating agencies (CDPR, OEHHA, Fish and Game)
• Experts (Master gardener, local health official,
  entomologist, toxicologist, vet)
• Media spokesperson
• Security (if needed)

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Special IssuesRaised at Public Meetings

• Medical concerns OEHHA Toxicologist
• Product QAs, Health assessments
• Refusals
• Special scheduling requests
• Pest Identification

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Other Outreach

• Community meetings
• Industry meetings
• CDFA Exotic Pest Hotline

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Project Activities

• File Restricted Materials Permit and Notice of
  Intent with county
• Notify residents of scheduled treatment date
  door-to-door(24/48 hrs)
• Notify phone banks 800 491-1899
• Media site (if needed)
• Install weather station to determine life cycles
  (if needed)

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CDFA Pest Response Teams

• Provide / maintain crews
• Specialized training, fruit cutting, stripping,
  apply chemicals, trap and survey for pests.
  Medical monitoring and provide specialized
  pesticide safety training
• Appropriate (dedicated) equipment / materials

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Emergency Projects

• Treatment Methods
• Varies depending on the pest or life stage of the
  exotic pest

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County Assistance

• Resources/Staffing levels
• Enforcement Role (PUE / Regulatory)
• Industries
• Group Interactions (Growers, Environmental)
• Public Meetings/Political meetings
• Environmental issues
• Rapid response capability
• Refusals

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Quarantine Preplanning

• CDFA develops action plans for target pests
• USDA identifies trading partner requirements
• Quarantines are national and global issues
• County Ag. Commissioners - Know what is in your
  county
• Identify major stakeholders in advance
• Industry groups
• Growers Associations
• Nurserymens Associations
• Government agencies that would have a vested
  interest
• County, State, and Federal
• Local law enforcement
• Fairgrounds and other potential project
  headquarter sites
• Local Landfills

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Quarantine PreplanningStakeholders

• Urban Areas
• Ports of Entry
• Wholesale/Retail Markets
• Wholesale Flower Markets
• Cold Storage Facilities
• Certified Farmers Markets
• Swap Meets / Flea Markets
• Fruit Vendors
• Wholesale / Retail Nurseries
• Yard Maintenance

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Quarantine PreplanningStakeholders

• Rural Areas
• Growers
• Packinghouses
• Harvesters
• Haulers
• Fresh Fruit Processing Facilities
• Receivers of Fruit Culls and Byproducts

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Quarantine Incident

• Adult fly(s) trapped below quarantine trigger
  
• Hold Notice issued to fly find property and
  adjoining properties with host material
• Locate site for project headquarters
• Identify types/numbers of affected stakeholders
• Review host list and identify crops being
  harvested or near harvest
• Contact affected industry groups
• Prepare to respond within 24 hours of trigger

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Quarantine Actions are Initiated

• Adult / Larval Trigger has been reached
• Begin public relations campaign
• Determine quarantine boundaries
• USDA, CDFA, and Agricultural Commissioner
• Submit request to be quarantined letter to CDFA
  Pest Exclusion
• Set up affected stakeholders/grower meetings
• Trace back of all Host Material that was grown in
  and left area 30 days prior to first fly find
• Contact local law enforcement

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Bullseye Concept with Single Core
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Bullseye Concept with Multiple Cores
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Solano County Find Sites and Boundaries

• 13.5 mi2 SIT area
• 114 mi2 quarantine area

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Santa Clara County Find Sites and Boundaries

• 10.8 mi2 SIT area
• 75 mi2 quarantine area

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Los Angeles County Find Sites and Boundaries

• 32.2 mi2 SIT area
• 72 mi2 quarantine area

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Official Quarantine Enacted

• Office of
• Administrative Law
• County request to be quarantined letter is
  submitted to OAL
• Quarantine boundaries are approved by OAL

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Regulating Stakeholders

• Determine your role
• Project support
• Liaison with growers
• PUE to monitor pre-harvest treatments
• Field staff
• Identify possible problem work areas
• English is not the primary language
• Areas with heavy gang activity
• Quarantine violations
• Notice of Proposed Action (NOPA)
• Administrative hearings

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Initial Response

• CDFA and USDA on site within 24 hours
• Local CDFA Biologists
• USDA rapid response teams
• All harvesting of Fruit Fly Host Material
  stopped
• Reg-Flex
• Door to door neighborhood contacts in core area(s)

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CDFA and USDA

• Establish a presence within the Q-Area
• Set up Project Headquarters
• Hire seasonal employees
• Issue compliance agreements
• Ensure all Host Material is safeguarded
• Enforce quarantine rules and regulations
• Public outreach