ATCP 21 - Plant Inspection and Pest Control Revisions
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection is responsible for the prevention, introduction and spread of plant pests (insects and diseases) that are harmful to agricultural crops, forests, or urban landscapes.

As new insects and diseases threaten the state’s plant resources, the department proposes changes to the current rule, ATCP 21 – Plant Inspection and Pest Control.

Highlights
The revisions specifically address the import and movement of host materials that may spread infestations of:

• Emerald ash borer
• Asian longhorned beetle
• Phytophthora ramorum (Sudden Oak Death, ramorum leaf blight or ramorum dieback)
• Hemlock woolly adelgid

None of these pests has yet been found in Wisconsin but each poses a major threat to Wisconsin’s agricultural and forest resources.

Proposed Revisions to ATCP 21 (17 page PDF)
Includes an analysis of the rule and the proposed rule revisions.

Timeline

• November 2005 - Rule draft approved for public hearings by ATCP Board
• February 2006 – Public hearings
• April 2006 – Final rule to ATCP Board
• May 2006 – Legislative review
• June 2006 – Rule goes into effect

Public Hearings
The hearings will be held 6 – 8 p.m. at each location. Each session will open with a short presentation on the rule revision with a chance for questions prior to the actual hearing.

• February 28: Wausau, Marathon County Public Library, 3rd Floor, Wausau Room, 300 North First Street
• March 1: Waukesha, Lee Sherman Dreyfus Building, Room 314, 141 NW Barstow Street
• March 2: Madison, Dept. of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, 1st Floor, Board Room, 2811 Agriculture Dr.

Comments on the rule will be accepted until April 1. Written comments carry the same weight as testimony provided at the public hearings. Send comments to Deb Bollig, DATCP, PO Box 8911, Madison WI 53708-8911, or fax (608)224-4656 or email deb.bollig@datcp.state.wi.us.

For more information on the proposed changes to ATCP 21, contact Krista Lambrecht, (608)224-4594 or Robert Dahl, (608)224-4573.