Department of Agriculture June 23, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice announces the availability of a new Plant Protection and Quarantine email subscription service and advises current subscribers on how to continue receiving emails on topics of interest.

Invasive plants have been identified as a major threat to the biological diversity and ecological integrity within and outside the Salmon-Challis National Forest. Invasive plants create many adverse environmental effects, including, but not limited to: Displacement of native plants; reduction in functionality of habitat and forage for wildlife and livestock; threats to populations of threatened, endangered and sensitive species; alteration of physical and biological properties of soil, including productivity; changes to the intensity and frequency of fires; and loss of recreational opportunities. Within the 3,108,904 acres of the of the Salmon-Challis National Forest outside of the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, approximately 65,000 acres are identified as being infested with invasive, non-native, and/or State-listed noxious weeds. These invasive plant infestations have a high potential to expand on lands within and adjacent to the Salmon-Challis National Forest, degrading desired plant communities and the values provided by those communities. Forest lands are also threatened by ``potential invaders,'' invasive plants that have not been found on the Salmon-Challis National Forest but are known to occur in adjacent lands, counties, or states. Infestations can be prevented, eliminated, or controlled through the use of specific management practices. A clear and comprehensive integrated invasive plant management strategy would allow for the implementation of timely and effective invasive plant management and prevention for projects and programs on the Salmon-Challis National Forest. In the absence of an aggressive invasive plant management program, the number, density, and distribution of invasive plants on the Forest will continue to increase.