IN 2009, A USDA-APHIS-PPQ REPORT INDICATED THAT 23% OF OVERALL METHYL BROMIDE USE WAS DIRECTED AT THE FUMIGATION TREATMENT OF EXPORTED AND IMPORTED LOGS. THE LONG-TERM GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO REPLACE METHYL BROMIDE FUMIGATION OF EXPORTED AND IMPORTED LOGS WITH HEAT TREATMENT BASED ON STEAM AND VACUUM. THE BENEFIT OF MB TREATMENT REPLACEMENT WITH VACUUM AND STEAM WOULD APPLY AND EXTEND TO BOTH INDUSTRY AND REGULATORS IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AT LARGE.THE OBJECTIVES OF THIS PROPOSED PROJECT ARE: DEVELOP TREATMENT EFFICACY DATA FOR OAK WILT (CERATOCYSTIS FAGACEARUM) IN WHITE OAK LOGS, AND PINEWOOD NEMATODE (BURSAPHELENCHUS XYLOPHILIS) IN NATURALLY INFESTED PINE LOGS USING, VACUUM AND STEAM; DEVELOP ACCEPTED, EFFICACIOUS TREATMENT SCHEDULES THAT TARGET THESE SPECIFIC PEST/PATHOGENS IN LOGS IN CONJUNCTION WITH REGULATORY AGENCIES AND INDUSTRY; DEVELOP AN ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF COSTS AND EFFICACY OF IMPLEMENTING THE NEW REPLACEMENT TECHNOLOGY; DISSEMINATE KNOWLEDGE ON THE NEW REPLACEMENT TECHNOLOGY THAT WILL PROMOTE THE ELIMINATION OF METHYL BROMIDE AND SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION TO VACUUM AND STEAM FOR HARDWOOD AND SOFTWOOD LOGS.STAKE HOLDERS, SUCH AS LOG EXPORT COMPANIES AND LOG FUMIGATING FIRMS WILL BE INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS DEVELOPMENT. A DATA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WILL BE CREATED THAT ALLOWS THE RESEARCH RESULTS TO BE SECURED AND ACCESSIBLE.