[MAIPC] Invasive Species Bill in PA

[Nathan Hartshorne]

Representative Eddie Day Pashinski



Controlled Plant and Noxious Weed Act



*Memo:*
In the near future, I will introduce legislation that would repeal the
Noxious Weed Control Law (Act 74 of 1982) and replace it with the
Controlled Plant and Noxious Weed Act. This bill will take a proactive
approach to controlling existing and potentially noxious weeds, maximizing
invasive species control resources and protecting Commonwealth lands. The
newly proposed controlled plant section will also enable the controlled use
of plants with economic value for biofuel or other uses that have the
potential for unwanted spread if not properly managed.

My proposal will update the current list of noxious weeds to include
several new weeds that are having an adverse impact on agriculture and
wildlife species, as well as, the use of water and land in Pennsylvania.
 In addition, it updates the current list of noxious weeds to include
several new weeds (Animated Oat, Broomrape, Dodder, Hydrilla, Palmer
amaranth, Tropical Soda Apple and Waterhemp) that are having a negative
impact on economic profitability and use of waters and lands of the
Commonwealth.

The bill will allow the Controlled Plant and Noxious Weed Committee,
consisting of public and private sector stakeholders, to conduct studies
and risk assessments on any plant the committee is considering adding or
deleting from the noxious weed list. By default, it will also incorporate
those weeds that are on the Federal Noxious Weed List.

The addition of permitting for controlled plants allows beneficial plants
that could have the potential to become invasive to be used with a permit
for research, cultivation, or other uses. One such use is the production of
the grass Miscanthus, which is grown and harvested for use as a biofuel.

The Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Plant Industry worked extensively
on this proposal to address and respond to dangerous plant species in order
to protect the public as well as the state’s agriculture and wildlife
resources.

The Pennsylvania Invasive Species Council (PISC), which consists of several
state agencies and other organizations, including the PA Landscape and
Nursery Association (PLNA); the PA Lake Management Society (PALMS); and the
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC), etc., all support the bill.
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