Maryland’s Emergency Response Plan for Invasive Forest Pests Revised May 2005
	Title Welcome letter (pdf, 171K) Introduction I. Scope and Purpose II. Authorization III. Agency Roles and Responsibilities IV. Members of the Forest and Tree Invasive Species Incident Command System: Incident Command Group Planning and Finance Team Operations Team Communications Team V. Notification and Mobilization VI. Direction and Control Glossary

A. Incident Command Group (ICG)

Purpose: The ICG will coordinate the overall response, approve action plans, and serve as final authority on all activities and decisions.
Members:
1. Incident Commander, Maryland Department of Agriculture, State Plant Regulatory Official
2. Maryland Department of Agriculture, Chief, Forest Pest Management
3. Maryland Department of Natural Resources, State Forester
4. USDA APHIS, State Plant Heath Director
5. University of Maryland, Cooperative Extension, State Agriculture & Natural Resource Program Leader
6. Team Leaders as needed:
  - Planning and Finance
  - Operations
  - Communications
7. Others as determined by the Incident Commander
Tasks:
The Incident Commander will:
- upon official verification of an invasive species detection, convene a meeting of the ICG
- appoint individual Team Leaders to coordinate efforts on each Team and to serve on the ICG
The IGC will:
- make the decision to initiate the Emergency Response Plan
- have overall command of the incident
- assess pest risk and determine the appropriate response method
- approve a response plan
- mobilize Teams as needed
- initiate appropriate state and federal quarantines
- assign actions to be taken by Team Leaders
- coordinate and approve all Team activities
- resolve issues not easily addressed by any Team