APHIS RELEASES ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ON CITRUS GREENING CONTROLS
News Date September 09, 2009
Citrus greening greatly reduces production, destroys the economic value of the fruit, and can kill trees. Once a tree is infected with citrus greening, there is no cure for the disease. Citrus greening was first detected in the United States in Miami-Dade County, FL, in 2005, and is only known to be present in the United States in the States of Florida and Georgia, two parishes in Louisiana, and two counties in South Carolina. The disease is spread by the Asian Citrus Psyllid (ACP). ACP is currently present in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, and Texas.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has prepared an environmental assessment relative to a proposed control program for citrus greening disease and the Asian citrus psyllid. The environmental assessment documents APHIS’s review and analysis of the potential environmental impacts associated with the implementation of this program. The notice is published in the September 9, 2009 Federal Register. Comments will be accepted until November 9, 2009. (Contact: Bob Ehart)