Illinois State Pest Analysis of Risk Committee

Charter

Article I. Name

  1. The name of the organization shall be Illinois SPARC (State Pest Analysis of Risk Committee)

Article II. Purpose

Illinois SPARC, composed of USDA/APHIS, DHS/CBP, and State cooperators and stakeholders, shall identify and review biological threats, compliance/noncompliance data and emerging pest risk patterns in Illinois field operations, and:

  1. Advise USDA/APHIS and Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDA) of situations that have implications for policy and regulatory changes and provide data so APHIS, in collaboration with IDA, can identify hot zones and use data for early pest detection efforts.



  2. Provide data analysis and options to DHS/CBP to support risk management planning, resource allocation, and decision making pertaining to biological agent entry into Illinois.

Article III. Objectives

  1. Provide a venue for communication about agricultural and environmental risk situations and compliance issues.

  2. Develop and conduct assessments of high priority risk and non-compliance situations.

  3. Identify and sponsor specific risk communication and training events with USDA, DHS/CBP, and IDA.

  4. Recommend operational risk management strategies for consideration in DHS/CBP inspection operations at the ports.

  5. Identify and leverage opportunities for reducing risk and increasing compliance through APHIS communication, intervention and outreach.

Article IV. Work Group Structure

  1. Membership

    Two levels of membership are established:
    1. Active. All active members are required to attend all functions.
    2. Advisory. All advisory members are expected to provide information, recommendations, advice, etc. when such information is required. Regular attendance at functions is not expected.

    Active Members

    The following members are considered active participants of the working group.

    1. Mark Cinnamon- State of Illinois representative
    2. Georgine Lowe- Department of Homeland Security
    3. Stephen Knight- IL State Plant Health Director
    4. Judy Bailey- SITC representative
    5. Jeffrey Coath- Pest Survey Specialist
    6. Other active members, as designated by the Chair:
      1. Chair shall provide justification and anticipated length of service for all additional members.

    Advisory Members
    1. Identifiers
    2. IL Plant Health Safeguarding Specialists
    3. Industry Representatives
    4. GIS Resources for mapping
    5. IES
    6. Headquarters staff
    7. Regional resources
    8. Other advisory members designated by the Chair as needed

  2. Length of Term for Officers
    1. Term of service on shall be two years.

    2. Terms may be repeated consecutively by individual members provided the organization which the member represents is in agreement.

  3. Member Duties
    1. Members shall attend and participate in meetings.
    2. Members shall perform specific tasks as requested by the Chair, Vice-Chair or Committee.
    3. Members shall represent their work units or organizations to the bestof their ability.
    4. Members shall notify the Chair in advance if they are unable to attenda scheduled meeting.

  4. Offices
    1. Chairperson- Jeffrey Coath
      1. Duties
        1. Perform tasks that further the purposed and objectives
        2. Coordinates activities with appropriate local managers.
        3. Facilitate meetings.
        4. Formulate agenda for meetings.
        5. Set time/date/location of meetings.
        6. Appoint Secretary to serve as minutes-taker, and edit, approve and disseminate minutes of meetings.
        7. Serve as project coordinator for any projects or studies conducted.

    2. Vice-Chairperson- Stephen Knight
      1. Duties
        1. Perform specific tasks as requested by the Chairperson.
        2. Perform tasks that further the purposes and objectives of the group.
        3. Assume any and all duties of the Chairperson when so designated.
        4. Coordinate sub-committee activities and ensure that reports and other pertinent information are provided to the Chair in a timely manner.

Article V. Amendments

  1. Alterations to this Charter may be accomplished in the form of Amendments. Proposed amendments must be submitted for working group review at least 15 days prior to a vote.

  2. Amendments must be approved by two-thirds of the members present at the meeting. Only those members present may vote.

  3. Members must be notified at least 15 days prior to a vote on any Charter amendments.

  4. The working definition of a Hot Zone in Illinois shall be the following- "A risk point that has a high potential for exotic pest introduction. Proposed Hot Zones will be evaluated by active members of IL SPARC and submitted to the IL State Plant Health Director for final approval."

Article VI. Ratification

  1. This Charter shall be ratified by a two-thirds vote by the membership of the members present at a meeting designated by the Chair for that purpose.