Document ZOyYvpvk608z0a8wLMQNZeY8

U nited S tates D epartm ent o f grtoaitnre United States Department of Agriculture Marketing m Regulatory Programs Washington, DC m tm A ugust 7, 2018 The Honorable Sid M iller Commissioner Texas D epartm ent o f A griculture Post Office Box 12847 Austin, Texas 78711 Dear Commissioner Miller: As you are aw are, th e ITS* D e p a rtm e n t o f A g ric u ltu re (U S D A ) A n im al a n d P la n t H eahh Inspection Service i AFFITI established a Permanent Quarantine PC77T u n d e r she F r t t l e m e t !" * w a d k x i h o o I h o o r tu n si I ID h* p w w u t th e x p m a d a n d m-estabiohm eot adle M l Is *'nr.ee M aux l T t \ am the finali 1k n it i m a n - moo M K T ^pem tixeK .-Omni acred bo 'I 11 n it, e'vaien s - PO P a p ric o ,m atch ' iTMvJle H o le ' orne hetw ceti M ex ico a n d the o * ,, to p o n e e !' -end'" earth ndvoP y from the ie-axtub.hf:me;U the I 'M H vahsex the j.m g-siare.m e eoeper.ew n with M IC, the es ax D e p a rtir n fera-uiluoM 1D \ t and psodnec's - m P g s w the d o ax v u n a impact the h " - o tO c e n o c k a- '-'trenta c o m m e r c e heahh -nut nsierescepT o a n o m o that ar,;ch "at de-erm red S e e d camene acute arena,:. a o d a ' ugetren? the "ficen and rew . ,n n ; h t m o r t a a r t u p o " 0 0 x 0 ,, o , 1n ic e te d c a u le , tu addition o the devastating health h n p ae o on xand va m u o wdcJim. the erealcv sitm ihcanf eco n en n e barder to ~~ ea";e m o d u e e o onerutirg w ith,a or ueuoh the ]\M eeor,o me rapai.:, otipleo acu n e a r- wxfm red es i d a a ie t?o - - cMuhh-dieJ a n 'expeto ve oarde w .are w n iv o s o W . e P a n a te xb,n the te-eC albT i hom ne,., i m u d Sinico the <. " m u d a - n y e o a h l io -o ro a p f m w n r a i e h h i h 1 *>n annually, part our m udi 'aceto.! xttunuw m m ag m a the benha and econom ic 5 afano-, as wed us the potent' h -picad t SiXM APDiK no. oep.oc a D en, m e n t o p tio n '- a v e ila M e p n x lu c M x w o k s ip `a . u w o o r , hsexUxk at the IbV h participate c o n m e w e e s M.ni o p i m o v d r c h bum m ed to mitgate 7 r on u rm rn h v ,u ecom a r e h u td eu on p so e m e w m e.udex the toe s p ia , 'x o e x . 1 Sl> \ M s tseak-d r a th e m ku ixncw w u h xas nuis pestienTw xmee the to m the e-adseaao s the Ar? S a rto Opportunity P r w w s t o E m ployer Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA Attachments Prod 1 ED 002061E 00000742-00001 The Honorable Sid Miller Page 2 Producers retain the option to truck their cattle to dipping stations staged throughout the PQZ; however, tnaay producers prefer treating their cattle in spray boxes to mitigate costs and reduce the stress on their animals,, especially during the hot summer months. The portable spray boxes allow producers within the PQZ, who may choose not to transport their cattle or may not have readily available access to dipping vats, an. alternative method o f treatment to facilitate their ability to move their cattle out o f the PQZ and participate in commerce, We learned Enough \Oi-ad media portnuw that '! ? rt^icd a "Stop Use" order on 1 1 prm u'm w couurued ops, mlms I M lA -A PlilS and Depamncn: w i\h ,\ espiev, aide cU concern if THAT .aitom preh.hns o r ' ; urn sah.ahk eliccuse tool in the cattle pnmmm. Several cattle producer groups, livestock organizations, and other impacted stakeholder sent the enclosed letter to USDA and the Texas Congressional delegation on August 4, 2018, stating their strong concern over TDA's recent actions and enumerating their support for the continued use and deploy ment o f spray boxes as a critical tool under the CFTEP, USDA is committed to working eollaboratively with TDA, TAHC, and the impacted producers to ensure the availability o f as many tools and treatment options as practicable to assist in the continued efforts to eradicate the CPT and reduce the regulatory burdens on producers seekinu to pa.rtieioate in commerce outside o f the PQZ, USDA stands ready to assist TAHC, TDA, and our stakeholders in this process. Sincerely, Michael Watson Associate Adm inistrator Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA Attachments Prod 1 ED 002061E 00000742-00002