Technical Advisory Group for Biological Control Agents of Weeds Manual Interim Edition This interim edition contains chapters 1 through 5 and Appendixes A, B, C, D only; remaining to be released at a later date. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of any individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs). Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communciation of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). 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Interim Edition Issued 2016 Contents TAG-BCAW Manual Figures LOF-1-1 Tables LOT-1-1 Introduction 1-1-1 Technical Advisory Group 2-1-1 Introduction 2-1-1 Charter 2-2-1 Agencies and Organizations’ Perspectives 2-3-1 TAG-BCAW Chair’s Perspective 2-4-1 Petitions and Permitting 3-1-1 TAG-BCAW Flow Chart for Petitions for Field Release and Test Plant Lists 3-1-1 APHIS Permitting Process 3-2-1 Biological Control of Weeds 4-1-1 Introduction 4-1-1 Identification and Characterization of Agents 4-2-1 Host Specificity Testing of Arthropods 4-3-1 Host Specificity Testing of Pathogens 4-4-1 Format and Evaluation 5-1-1 Petitions for Field Release Format 5-1-1 Petitions for Field Release Evaluation 5-2-1 Test Plant List Format 5-3-1 Test Plant List Evaluation 5-4-1 TAG-BCAW Membership A-1-1 Forms B-1-1 NAPPO Standard C-1-1 Fish and Wildlife Service Offices D-1-1 Index D-1-1 04-2016 Interim Edition rev 10/2017 TAG-BCAW Manual TOC-1 Contents TOC-2 TAG-BCAW Manual 04-2016 Interim Edition rev 10/2017 Figures TAG-BCAW Manual Figure 3-1-1 TAG-BCAW Petition for Field Release or Test Plant List Flow Chart 3-1-2 Figure B-1-1 Technical Advisory Group (TAG-BCAW) Reviewer’s Comment Sheet - Petition for Field Release of Biological Control Agents of Weeds (front) B-1-2 Figure B-1-2 Technical Advisory Group (TAG-BCAW) Reviewer’s Comment Sheet - Petition for Field Release of Biological Control Agents of Weeds (back) B-1-3 Figure B-1-3 TAG-BCAW Reviewer’s Comment Sheet for Test Host Plant Lists for Proposed Biological Control Agents of Weeds (front) B-1-5 Figure B-1-4 TAG-BCAW Reviewer’s Comment Sheet for Test Host Plant Lists for Biological Control Agents of Weeds (back) B-1-6 Figure B-1-5 PPQ Form 526, Application to Move Live Plant Pets or Noxious Weeds B-1-9 Figure B-1-6 Example of PPQ Form 599, Import Label for Living Regulated Organisms (red and white shipping label) (adhesive label issued before September 9, 2014, but valid until expiration date on permit) B-1-11 04/2016 Interim Edition rev 10/2017 TAG-BCAW Manual LOF-1 Figures LOF-2 TAG-BCAW Manual 04/2016 Interim Edition rev 10/2017 Tables TAG-BCAW Manual Table 1-1-1 Where to Report Problems With or Suggestions for the TAG- BCAW Manual 1-1-9 Table 5-2-1 Where to Find More Information About Target Weeds 5-2-3 Table 5-2-2 Locating Biological Control Agent Information 5-2-4 Table 5-2-3 Locating Biological Control Agent Information 5-2-4 Table 5-2-4 Checklist for Field Release of Biological Control Agent of Weeds Evaluation 5-2-5 Table 5-2-5 TAG-BCAW Reviewer’s Overall Recommendation Checklist— Petitions for Field Release of Biological Control Agents of Weeds 5-2-17 Table 5-3-1 References for Developing a Test Plant List 5-3-13 Table 5-4-1 Where to Find More Target Weed Information 5-4-4 Table 5-4-2 Evaluation Checklist for Test Plant Lists 5-4-5 Table 5-4-3 Checklist for Reviewer’s Completion of Test Host Plant Lists 5-4-17 Table A-1-1 TAG-BCAW Membership Directory A-1-1 Table B-1-1 PPQ Form 599, Import Label for Living Regulated Organisms (red and white label) Mailing or Shipping (new plain paper (nongummed) or special adhesive (gummed) label issued start- ing September 9, 2014) B-1-11 Table D-1-1 Directory of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Regional Offices D-1-1 04/2016 Interim Edition rev 10/2017 TAG-BCAW Manual LOT-1 Tables LOT-2 TAG-BCAW Manual 04/2016 Interim Edition rev 10/2017 Chapter Introduction 1 Contents Purpose 1-1-1 Scope 1-1-2 What the Manual Covers 1-1-2 What the Manual Does Not Cover 1-1-3 Authority 1-1-3 Users 1-1-3 Related Documents 1-1-3 Authority 1-1-3 Application 1-1-4 Conventions 1-1-5 Advisories 1-1-5 Using the Manual 1-1-8 Reporting Problems With or Suggestions for the Manual 1-1-9 Manual Updates 1-1-10 Ordering Manuals and Revisions 1-1-10 Purpose The Introduction chapter of the Technical Advisory Group for Biological Control Agents of Weeds Manual (TAG-BCAW Manual) provides guidance for the technical advisory group and the scientific community, including petitioners and TAG-BCAW reviewers. The TAG-BCAW Manual serves the following functions: Information guide for other users Reference guide for preparing petitions Reference guide for preparing test plant lists Reference guide for reviewing and evaluating petitions for field release of biological control agents of weeds in the United States Reference guide for reviewing and evaluating test plant lists Training tool for orienting TAG-BCAW members 04/2016 Interim Edition TAG-BCAW Manual 1-1-1 Introduction Scope Scope What the Manual Covers The TAG-BCAW Manual is written specifically for researchers preparing and submitting petitions or test plant lists associated with the proposed release of biological control agents of weeds, and for TAG-BCAW members responsible for reviewing and evaluating submitted petitions and test plant lists. The manual contains the following chapters: Introduction Technical Advisory Group Petitions and Permitting Biological Control of Weeds Format and Evaluation ESA Compliance The Technical Advisory Group chapter provides new members with a history of the advisory group, its charter, and insight into the review process that the TAG-BCAW follows. The Petitions and Permitting chapter provides a flowchart of the petition process and information about APHIS’ process for petitioners to follow for obtaining permits. The Biological Control of Weeds chapter provides basic information about topics such as identification and characterization of agents, host specificity, and testing methods. The Format and Evaluation chapter provides formats for petitions for field release and for test plant lists respectively. The checklists are for TAG-BCAW members to follow as they review petitions for field release of biological control agents of weeds and test plant lists. The chapter also provides the evaluation guidelines to facilitate the review, evaluation, and approval processes. TAG-BCAW members use these as they review test plant lists and petitions for field release of biological control agents of weeds. Throughout the evaluation guidelines, TAG-BCAW members are prompted to record their comments on a Reviewer's Comment Sheet. The ESA Compliance chapter provides an overview of Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Fish and Wildlife Service’s role on TAG- BCAW. Researchers and petitioners are encouraged to read this and the ESA. 1-1-2 TAG-BCAW Manual 04/2016 Interim Edition
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