Country: United States

Title: Phytophthora ramorum Quarantine Lifted at Tiffany Creek Preserve, New York --United States

Contact:
Jonathan Jones, National <em>P. ramorum</em> Program Manager, at (301) 734-5038

Report: The purpose of this Official Pest Report is to provide notification that on January 25, 2007, the USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) rescinded the Federal Emergency Action Notification and State Quarantine of the Tiffany Creek Preserve, Nassau County, New York for Phytophthora ramorum. After 2 years of prescribed survey, sampling, and testing for this pathogen in and around this area, APHIS has determined that P. ramorum is known not to occur in the Tiffany Creek Preserve, Nassau County, or other parts of the State.

On June 29, 2004, a sample of red oak bark collected from the Tiffany Creek Preserve tested positive for P. ramorum. As a result, Tiffany Creek Preserve was placed under a Federal Emergency Action Notification and State Quarantine. The red oak tree in question was removed, and intensive monitoring for P. ramorum in and around the area was subsequently conducted. Vegetation, soil, and, water samples were collected for testing in May and September 2005 and 2006. The last of these four P. ramorum surveys was completed on September 19, 2006, more than 2 years after the initial positive-sample was obtained. No additional P. ramorum-positive samples were ever detected during these survey activities.

As a result of surveys, sampling, and testing, APHIS has determined that there is no P. ramorum infestation in the Tiffany Creek Preserve. Furthermore, the pathogen is known not to occur at any location within Nassau County or the State of New York. Therefore, the Federal Emergency Action Notification and State Quarantine of the Tiffany Creek Preserve are rescinded in accordance with these survey findings.
 

Posted Date: Feb. 16, 2007, 9 a.m.