Kassie Conner, NPDN RRC Vice Chair (Auburn University, SPDN) and Samantha Fieweger, NPDN RRC Chair (Wisconsin DATCP, NCPDN)
The Communicator: Volume 6, Issue 2, February 2025
The NPDN Regulatory Relations Committee (RRC) held its first tabletop exercise in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) and USDA on December 10, 2024. Representatives from PDA, various branches of USDA, PPCDL*, Penn State, DHS, FBI, CBP, USACE, and NPDN Leadership attended. This was a discussion-based tabletop exercise to work through a plant health emergency caused by the introduction of Ralstonia solanacearum in Pennsylvania.
The group worked through three scenarios of introduction, discussed the chain of custody, who needs to be notified, which forms need to be filled out, and the chain of communication. This type of exercise is critical for all of us to understand how each group works, our roles and responsibilities, and to help identify communication gaps prior to an actual event. The exercise was successful, and all participants took away knowledge that will help in future events.
"I found it very valuable, educational, and preparatory" David Ng, Customs and Border Protection
"Yesterday was [sic] a great experience that I shared it with Extension Hort Program Team leaders this morning. They were very interested in the format used to conduct the meeting." Mike Masiuk, Penn State University Extension
"I also want to share my thoughts about the meeting. I knew it was important and would be impactful, but I am still blown away by the impact it seemed to have on everyone in the room. Everyone was engaged, inquisitive, and eager to find solutions. This was by far the best meeting I have ever participated in. I wish every in-person meeting were as productive as this one. Congratulations to all who helped make it everything that it was." Alycin Smart, University of Maine
The regulatory relations committee would like to thank all those that assisted in the planning of this event. Thank you to Kassie Conner, Dana Rhodes, Sarah Shiflett, Don Seaver, Sara Wallace, Giovanna Sassi, Telisa Wilson, and Carrie Harmon.
As part of a MOU between NPDN and NPB*, at least one tabletop exercise will take place annually. The RRC is developing a roadmap to plan future tabletop exercises. If you would like to host a tabletop exercise in your state, we are accepting volunteers! Contact Samantha Fieweger (sam.fieweger@wisconsin.gov) or Kassie Conner (connekn@auburn.edu) if you would like to host a tabletop exercise in your state.
*Acronyms:
PPCDL: Plant Pathogen Confirmatory Diagnostics Laboratory (USDA)
DHS: Department of Homeland Security
FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation
CBP: Customs and Border Protection
USACE: United States Army Corps of Engineers
NPB: National Plant Board
The group worked through three scenarios of introduction, discussed the chain of custody, who needs to be notified, which forms need to be filled out, and the chain of communication. This type of exercise is critical for all of us to understand how each group works, our roles and responsibilities, and to help identify communication gaps prior to an actual event. The exercise was successful, and all participants took away knowledge that will help in future events.
"I found it very valuable, educational, and preparatory" David Ng, Customs and Border Protection
"Yesterday was [sic] a great experience that I shared it with Extension Hort Program Team leaders this morning. They were very interested in the format used to conduct the meeting." Mike Masiuk, Penn State University Extension
"I also want to share my thoughts about the meeting. I knew it was important and would be impactful, but I am still blown away by the impact it seemed to have on everyone in the room. Everyone was engaged, inquisitive, and eager to find solutions. This was by far the best meeting I have ever participated in. I wish every in-person meeting were as productive as this one. Congratulations to all who helped make it everything that it was." Alycin Smart, University of Maine
The regulatory relations committee would like to thank all those that assisted in the planning of this event. Thank you to Kassie Conner, Dana Rhodes, Sarah Shiflett, Don Seaver, Sara Wallace, Giovanna Sassi, Telisa Wilson, and Carrie Harmon.
As part of a MOU between NPDN and NPB*, at least one tabletop exercise will take place annually. The RRC is developing a roadmap to plan future tabletop exercises. If you would like to host a tabletop exercise in your state, we are accepting volunteers! Contact Samantha Fieweger (sam.fieweger@wisconsin.gov) or Kassie Conner (connekn@auburn.edu) if you would like to host a tabletop exercise in your state.
*Acronyms:
PPCDL: Plant Pathogen Confirmatory Diagnostics Laboratory (USDA)
DHS: Department of Homeland Security
FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation
CBP: Customs and Border Protection
USACE: United States Army Corps of Engineers
NPB: National Plant Board
