What is APHIS expanded authority on noxious weeds?
The PPA expands the definition of noxious weed from the definition in the Federal Noxious Weed Act, which included only weeds that were of foreign origin, new to, or not widely prevalent, in the United States. The PPA defines a noxious weed as a weed that could bring harm to agriculture, the public health, navigation, irrigation, natural resources, or the environment. Under the PPA, regulations for noxious weeds are similar to those for plant pests. Under the PPA, the Secretary of Agriculture and APHIS will have the authority for the first time to declare an extraordinary emergency when a newly introduced or not widely prevalent noxious weed poses a significant threat and to declare an emergency that would enable the transfer of money from other agencies or corporations of the Department, including the Commodity Credit Corporation, to cover the cost of eradicating the weed. An extraordinary emergency declaration gives APHIS the authority to hold, seize, quarantine, treat, or destroy an
