Terrestrial Plant Rule Hearing July 17
The INPAWS Board and Council have voted unanimously to give public support to the Terrestrial Plant Rule in as strong a form as possible. The rule would ban the sale of invasive plants in the nursery trade.
Background
The effort to establish an invasive plant rule started 18 years ago. In 2000 there was an assessment of invasive plants in seed and plant trade. When Invasive Species Council formed in 2009, the effort expanded. In 2013, the Invasive Species Council was asked to review the list species.
The DNR Division of Entomology and Plant Pathology drafted a rule in 2013. The draft languished for several years. It was estimated that somewhat more than $500,000 worth of inventory of two invasive species was in centers that grow plants (Callery pear and Norway maple).
Last October, the list went to the Office of Management and Budget. OMB took 6 months to review the rule and respond and get a response from DNR. Initial rule had two categories: prohibited class (can’t have these growing) and restricted (grandfathered on land, but can’t be sold). OMB removed the prohibited class, and lumped everything in the restricted category.
Rule will next go to the Natural Resource Commission. It will require 9-12 months to have hearings and make changes. Rule will not go into effect until 1 y after adoption. There are 44 restricted species on the list. If the rule is adopted, these may not be sold, traded, or moved.
July 17 Meeting
The rule will have a hearing before the Natural Resource Commission on July 17 at 10:00AM at Fort Harrison State Park, Garrison, Indianapolis. The agenda will eventually be posted on the NRC website: https://www.in.gov/nrc/2350.htm
Ellen Jacquart plans to attend the meeting and speak for INPAWS, coordinating her remarks with Dawn Slack and Lynn Dennis of The Nature Conservancy.