The undersigned organizations respectfully urge the Senate to join the House of Representatives and take legislative action to avoid duplicative environmental permitting requirements for applications of pesticides for public health and agricultural purposes.

NASF appreciates the opportunity to provide APHIS with comments regarding the proposed revisions to the Q-37 regulations.

New York has taken new efforts to stop the influx and spread of tree-killing pests such as the Emerald Ash Borer, Asian Longhorned Beetle and Sirex Wood Wasp by restricting the importation, transportation and sale of untreated firewood. The action closely follows measures imposed by Pennsylvania and other states to stem the proliferation of invasive species that can wipe out trees in forests and neighborhoods.

The Nature Conservancy, National Association of State Foresters and Society of American Foresters urge the Conference Committee to adopt the House figure for the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) eradication and control programs targeting the emerald ash borer and the Senate figure for the Asian longhorned beetle. Both insects are highly damaging pests of trees and forests that threaten forest and amenity trees and related economic activities worth hundreds of billions of dollars.

In the eastern United States, the hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) infestations occur in 15 states from New Hampshire to Georgia. Many of these states have been experiencing an alarming increase in hemlock decline and mortality rates since 1992. State Foresters in newly infested states as well as non infested states bordering infestations are extremely concerned about the high risk of spread to their states and are looking for management recommendation to help "Slow the Spread" or advice on what actions to take when infestations are first detected.