ND Department of Agriculture Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MAY 14, 2008

NEW WEED QUARANTINE PROCEDURES OUTLINED

BISMARCK – New guidelines for declaring quarantines to prevent the introduction and spread of noxious and invasive weeds are described in a new manual issued by the North Dakota Department of Agriculture.

"The new manual provides county and city weed boards and weed control officials with guidance for establishing fair, consistent and transparent enforcement procedures,” Johnson said. “In addition to the information on quarantines, the manual also describes inspection, public hearing and penalty procedures.”

Johnson has the sole responsibility for declaring quarantines to prevent the introduction or spread of noxious weeds. Quarantines may be based on the recommendation of a county weed board or on other information received by the commissioner. Quarantines can be declared on tracts of land or on shipments of material into the state that present a danger of spreading noxious weeds.

"A public hearing must be held before a quarantine is declared, except in the case of an emergency,” said Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson. “If there is an emergency, the hearing must be held as soon as possible once the quarantine has been established.”

The quarantine procedure is outlined in “North Dakota Noxious Weed Law Enforcement Procedures.”

Johnson said the manual includes sample forms for weeds boards to send to landowners informing them of the need to control weeds on their property or of pending enforcement actions.

Johnson said the manual was prepared in close consultation with the North Dakota attorney general’s office.

Copies of “North Dakota Noxious Weed Law Enforcement Procedures” will be sent to all city and county weed boards and weed officers. Copies are available by contacting the North Dakota Department of Agriculture, 600 E. Boulevard Ave., Dept. 602, Bismarck, ND  58505-0020; phone (800) 242-7535, email ndda@nd.gov. The document is also available online at www.agdepartment.com.

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MEDIA: For more information, please call Ted Quanrud at (701) 328-2233 or tquanrud@nd.gov or Patrice Lahlum at (701) 239-7210 or plahlum@nd.gov.