99-11128. Karnal Bunt; Reclassification of Regulated Areas  

  • [Federal Register Volume 64, Number 85 (Tuesday, May 4, 1999)]
    [Rules and Regulations]
    [Pages 23749-23754]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 99-11128]
    
    
    
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    Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 85 / Tuesday, May 4, 1999 / Rules and 
    Regulations
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
    
    Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
    
    7 CFR Part 301
    
    [Docket No. 96-016-36]
    RIN 0579-AA83
    
    
    Karnal Bunt; Reclassification of Regulated Areas
    
    AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
    
    ACTION: Final rule.
    
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    SUMMARY: We are amending the Karnal bunt regulations by removing the 
    restricted and surveillance area categories of regulated areas and 
    replacing them with a single classification. As part of this change in 
    the regulations, we are releasing from regulation most of the areas 
    that had been designated as restricted areas for seed; removing the 
    prohibition on planting wheat, durum wheat, and triticale in fields 
    associated with Karnal bunt; and removing the cleaning requirement for 
    vegetables grown in those fields. Removing those areas that had been 
    designated as restricted areas for seed from the regulations greatly 
    reduces the total area in the southwestern United States that is 
    regulated for Karnal bunt, and removing the planting prohibition and 
    the vegetable cleaning requirement eases restrictions on field owners 
    in the regulated areas. We are also amending the list of regulated 
    areas to add several fields or areas in three Arizona counties to the 
    list of regulated areas. These additions to the list of regulated areas 
    are necessary due to the detection of bunted kernels in fields in those 
    counties during 1998.
    
    EFFECTIVE DATE: April 28, 1999.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Stephen Poe, Operations Officer, 
    Domestic and Emergency Programs, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 134, 
    Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; telephone (301) 734-8899; fax 301-734-8584; 
    e-mail: Stephen.R.Poe@usda.gov.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    
    Background
    
        Karnal bunt is a fungal disease of wheat (Triticum aestivum), durum 
    wheat (Triticum durum), and triticale (Triticum aestivum X Secale 
    cereale), a hybrid of wheat and rye. Karnal bunt is caused by the smut 
    fungus Tilletia indica (Mitra) Mundkur and is spread by spores, 
    primarily through the movement of infected seed. In the absence of 
    measures taken by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to prevent 
    its spread, the establishment of Karnal bunt in the United States could 
    have significant consequences with regard to the export of wheat to 
    international markets. The regulations regarding Karnal bunt in the 
    United States are set forth in ``Subpart--Karnal Bunt'' (7 CFR 301.89-1 
    through 301.89-16, referred to below as the regulations).
        On March 9, 1999, we published in the Federal Register (64 FR 
    11392-11401, Docket No. 96-016-34) a proposed rule to amend the 
    regulations by simplifying the classification criteria for regulated 
    articles; removing the prohibition on planting wheat, durum wheat, and 
    triticale in fields associated with Karnal bunt; and modifying the 
    descriptions of the regulated areas in Arizona, California, New Mexico, 
    and Texas to reflect the elimination of the restricted area for seed 
    classification and to add new areas of Arizona in which bunted kernels 
    were detected during sampling conducted in 1998. We also proposed to 
    remove the requirement for cleaning soil and plant debris from 
    vegetable crops grown in fields associated with Karnal bunt.
        We solicited comments concerning our proposal for 30 days ending 
    April 8, 1999. We received six comments by that date. They were from 
    State agricultural agencies, a State wheat commission, and a grain and 
    seed company. All six commenters supported the proposed rule. Five of 
    those commenters did, however, raise issues related to the proposed 
    rule or the Karnal bunt program. Those issues are discussed below.
    
    Deregulation
    
        Comment: The final rule should state that a regulated field will be 
    released from regulation once it has produced a Karnal bunt host crop 
    that tests negative for spores and bunted kernels.
        Response: Although we have not made the change suggested by the 
    commenter in this final rule, we are considering that suggestion as an 
    option for the future, especially with regard to the fields that were 
    determined in 1996 to have been planted with seed from a lot found to 
    contain a bunted wheat kernel, since no bunted kernels were found in 
    wheat grown in those fields. Because the planting of Karnal bunt host 
    crops in regulated fields will only now be possible as a result of this 
    final rule, the first host crop could not be planted until the fall of 
    1999 and would not be harvested until the spring of 2000. We will use 
    that time to consider the opportunities that we may have for further 
    deregulation such as that suggested by the commenter. In the event that 
    we determine that it would be appropriate to pursue a deregulatory 
    approach such as that suggested by the commenter, we will initiate 
    rulemaking to amend the regulations in time for the results of post-
    harvest testing in the spring of 2000 to be taken into account.
        Comment: APHIS should provide producers with a description of the 
    long-term future of the Karnal bunt regulations that includes the 
    specifics of a regulatory protocol for the eventual deregulation of 
    Karnal bunt.
        Response: We cannot, at the present time, predict the long-term 
    future of the Karnal bunt regulations or specify a regulatory protocol 
    for the eventual deregulation of Karnal bunt. Outstanding issues, most 
    notably the continuing discussions with our trading partners as to 
    whether Karnal bunt should be regarded as a quarantine pest or a 
    grading issue, make it difficult to predict with any degree of 
    certainty what our regulations might look like in the future. In 
    addition, as noted in the response to the previous comment, we are 
    exploring whether there may be opportunities for further deregulation. 
    Our continuing Karnal bunt program, as well as any changes that might 
    be made to it in the future, will be guided by the program's stated 
    objectives of protecting export markets, protecting producers in 
    uninfected areas, and providing as many
    
    [[Page 23750]]
    
    options as possible for producers in regulated areas.
    
    Timeliness of Regulations
    
        Comment: The 1999 growing season regulatory protocols must be 
    provided in order for growers to be able to make educated decisions 
    about their production and contract plans for the coming year.
        Response: We have made every effort to ensure that this final rule 
    is published and effective prior to the 1999 harvest season. By doing 
    this, we will not only relieve restrictions on the movement of grain 
    and seed harvested in the areas released from regulation, but we will 
    also ensure that this rule is in place with ample time for growers to 
    be able to consider their options prior to the fall planting season.
    
    Surveys
    
        Comment: The deregulation of areas appears to be legitimate as long 
    as adequate and timely surveys will be conducted to ensure that the 
    boundaries of the regulated area adequately encompass the infected 
    area. However, the National Survey protocol for detecting Karnal bunt 
    outside of regulated areas does not appear to be adequate for those 
    purposes, especially in areas where spores have been found. 
    (Conversely, another commenter stated that the grain produced in the 
    areas removed from regulation should not be subjected to more stringent 
    tests than grain from any other non-regulated area in the United 
    States.)
        Response: We agree that there is a need for maintaining adequate 
    delimiting surveys and detection programs. In addition to the survey 
    and detection activities that are carried out as part of the regulatory 
    program within those areas of Arizona, California, New Mexico, and 
    Texas that have been designated as regulated areas, we will continue to 
    conduct our National Survey of all wheat production areas in the United 
    States in order to gather information about the presence or absence of 
    Karnal bunt. In the National Survey, composite wheat samples are 
    collected, in proportion to wheat production, at points of aggregation 
    near wheat production so that all samples are identifiable to at least 
    the county level. The intensity of the National Survey provides a high 
    level of confidence that Karnal bunt is not detectable in those parts 
    of our wheat production system that contribute to the export trade and 
    generates information about potential infections in new areas. 
    Therefore, we believe that our ongoing regulatory program and National 
    Survey activities will continue to provide the assurances sought by the 
    commenter and by our trading partners regarding the Karnal bunt status 
    of areas released from regulation, as well as areas outside the 
    regulated areas.
    
    Testing
    
        Comment: The bunted kernel standard for the movement of grain from 
    regulated areas is a concern because most of our trading partners have 
    not recognized that standard. The standard for movement should not 
    place our exports in jeopardy, as that would be in conflict with the 
    Karnal bunt program's stated objective of protecting export markets. To 
    that end, operational procedures should be developed that define the 
    testing methodology and that new technologies should be considered that 
    meet that objective.
        Response: Although our use of the bunted kernel standard was not 
    among the issues raised in the proposed rule, we would like to respond 
    to this comment by stating that we are currently engaged in discussions 
    with our trading partners regarding the appropriateness of using the 
    bunted kernel standard--as opposed to a teliospore standard--to certify 
    grain for international movement. Considerations such as new 
    technologies and operational procedures that define testing methodology 
    are part of those discussions. Using the bunted kernel standard, which 
    we have followed since 1997, is consistent with our conclusion that the 
    detection of spores alone does not allow us to make a conclusive 
    determination that Karnal bunt disease is present in an area or 
    article, but we believe that we must take the concerns of our trading 
    partners seriously if we are to continue to protect our grain export 
    markets. To that end, we are preparing a position paper on the use of 
    the bunted kernel standard as opposed to a teliospore standard. That 
    position paper, and our trading partners' response to it, will be used 
    as we continue our consideration of this issue.
    
    Quarantine Status of Karnal Bunt
    
        Comment: Karnal bunt is not a dangerous plant pest, and the USDA 
    has failed to educate the United States' trading partners as to the 
    insignificance of the disease.
        Response: The position that Karnal bunt is a grading or quality 
    issue rather than a quarantine issue is one that has been discussed in 
    international trade and scientific circles. Indeed, we have raised that 
    issue at every opportunity with our trading partners. However, until 
    such time as our trading partners view the disease as a grading issue 
    rather than a quarantine issue, we believe that it will be necessary to 
    continue our Karnal bunt-related regulatory activities and restrictions 
    in order to protect our international agricultural standing.
    
    Compensation
    
        Comment: Compensation should continue to be made available to 
    growers located in the areas that remain under regulation.
        Response: The issue of compensation was not raised in the proposed 
    rule and is, therefore, outside the scope of this final rule. Rather, 
    compensation has been, and will continue to be, addressed in separate 
    rulemakings that focus exclusively on that issue.
        Therefore, for the reasons given in the proposed rule and in this 
    document, we are adopting the proposed rule as a final rule without 
    change.
    
    Effective Date
    
        This is a substantive rule that relieves restrictions and, pursuant 
    to the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 553, may be made effective less than 30 
    days after publication in the Federal Register.
        By removing the restricted and surveillance area categories of 
    regulated areas and replacing them with a single classification, this 
    rule releases certain areas in Arizona, California, New Mexico, and 
    Texas from their designation as restricted areas for seed, which means 
    that those areas will no longer be regulated areas under the Karnal 
    bunt regulations. This will eliminate the requirement for the testing 
    and treatment of seed grown in those areas. Further, this rule removes 
    the prohibition on planting wheat, durum wheat, and triticale in fields 
    associated with Karnal bunt and removes the cleaning requirement for 
    vegetables grown in those fields. These changes will greatly reduce the 
    total area in the southwestern United States that is regulated for 
    Karnal bunt and will ease restrictions on field owners in those areas 
    that remain under regulation. Although this rule also adds several 
    fields or areas in three Arizona counties to the list of regulated 
    areas, their addition to that list will not result in any new 
    restrictions because those fields and areas have been designated as 
    regulated areas under the temporary designation provisions of 
    Sec. 301.89-3(d) since 1998 based on the detection of bunted kernels. 
    Therefore, the Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
    Service has determined that this rule should be effective upon 
    signature.
    
    [[Page 23751]]
    
    Executive Order 12866 and Regulatory Flexibility Act
    
        This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12866. The rule 
    has been determined to be not significant for the purposes of Executive 
    Order 12866 and, therefore, has not been reviewed by the Office of 
    Management and Budget.
        We are amending the Karnal bunt regulations by removing the 
    restricted and surveillance area categories of regulated areas and 
    replacing them with a single classification. As part of this change in 
    the regulations, we are releasing from regulation most of the areas 
    that had been designated as restricted areas for seed; removing the 
    prohibition on planting wheat, durum wheat, and triticale in fields 
    associated with Karnal bunt; and removing the cleaning requirement for 
    vegetables grown in those fields. We are also adding several fields or 
    areas in three Arizona counties to the list of regulated areas based on 
    the detection of bunted kernels in fields in those counties during 
    1998.
        Our modifications to the way regulated areas are classified will 
    benefit the growers who have fields that had been designated as 
    restricted areas for regulated articles other than seed and fields that 
    are located in restricted areas for seed lying outside the surveillance 
    areas. Growers in the areas that had been designated as surveillance 
    areas will be largely unaffected by these changes. Removing those areas 
    that had been designated as restricted areas for seed from the 
    regulations will greatly reduce the total area in the southwestern 
    United States that is regulated for Karnal bunt.
        Even though the restricted area for regulated articles other than 
    seed classification will be removed under this rule, those fields that 
    had been designated as such will remain under regulation because they 
    are still either part of a regulated area or are themselves regulated 
    areas. However, this rule will have the effect of relaxing the 
    restrictions that have applied to the fields. Growers will have the 
    option of planting wheat, durum wheat, or triticale in the fields, 
    which is an option that had not been available to them. Wheat, durum 
    wheat, or triticale grown as grain (not seed) in those fields will be 
    eligible for unrestricted movement under a certificate if it is tested 
    and found free from bunted kernels prior to its movement from the field 
    or before it is commingled with other grain. If bunted kernels are 
    found, the grain will still be eligible for movement, but only under a 
    limited permit that requires that the grain be moved to a specified 
    destination for specified handling, utilization, or processing that 
    will destroy the Karnal bunt or mitigate the risk of its spread. These 
    are the same conditions that had been applied to the movement of grain 
    from surveillance areas.
        There are about 60 growers located in areas that had been 
    designated as restricted areas for regulated articles other than seed 
    (approximately 18,000 agricultural acres). The number, if any, of these 
    growers who will now choose to plant wheat is unknown. In deciding on 
    whether to plant wheat rather than another crop, growers will no doubt 
    weigh a variety of factors, including the likelihood of producing 
    Karnal-bunt-positive wheat, the likelihood of receiving compensation 
    for any positive wheat that is produced, and the profitability of the 
    alternative crop (which can be comparable, or nearly comparable, to the 
    profitability of wheat). However, information as to how individual 
    growers might respond to those factors, and thus whether they will 
    choose to resume planting wheat, is not available.
        Vegetable growers with fields that had been in areas designated as 
    restricted areas for regulated articles other than seed will also 
    benefit from the removal of that regulatory category, as it will result 
    in the lifting of the cleaning requirement that had applied to 
    vegetables grown in those fields. The benefit is not likely to be 
    significant for most growers, since about 90 percent of the soil is 
    routinely removed from vegetables during harvesting. There are about 10 
    vegetable growers with fields in areas that had been designated as 
    restricted areas for regulated articles other than seed.
        Wheat seed growers with fields in areas that had been designated as 
    restricted areas for seed, but that are located outside the areas that 
    had been designated as surveillance areas, will also benefit from the 
    modifications to the classification of regulated areas, since most will 
    no longer be regulated. In the absence of regulation, they will be able 
    to grow and move commercial wheat seed without restriction. These 
    growers had been able to move commercial wheat seed outside the 
    regulated area only if it tested negative for Karnal bunt, had been 
    chlorine drenched, and had been treated with a fungicide. The cost of 
    treatment, but not testing, was borne by those growers. The cost of 
    seed treatment varies widely among seed handlers, depending largely on 
    labor and overhead costs. One handler, for example, calculated the 
    total cost of treating 100 lbs. of seed at $7.10, while another handler 
    calculated that cost at $3.10. Regardless of the cost, there is reason 
    to believe that most seed handlers will continue the fungicide 
    treatments, even with this final rule, with the costs of those 
    fungicide treatments continuing to be passed along to purchasers of the 
    seed. Several handlers reported that they routinely treated seed prior 
    to 1996, before Karnal bunt was detected and restrictions were imposed. 
    That, plus the likelihood that only a small portion of the acreage in 
    the restricted areas for seed will be planted with seed, suggest that 
    the benefits of this rule will be minimal in this respect. We estimate 
    that only about 7 percent of the agricultural acreage in restricted 
    areas for seed is planted with wheat, and of that acreage, only about 
    10 percent is planted for seed. This disparity in favor of grain over 
    seed is not expected to change in the near term, regardless of this 
    regulatory change, given the current poor market conditions for seed 
    and the fact that stored seed from previous years remains available. 
    There are approximately 563 wheat growers in areas that had been 
    designated as restricted areas for seed. The restricted areas for seed 
    encompassed about 1,958,000 agricultural acres, or 88 percent of the 
    total regulated area of 2,214,000 agricultural acres.
        Wheat growers in areas that had been designated as surveillance 
    areas will be largely unaffected by this rule because they will remain 
    regulated and will be subject to the same restrictions on the movement 
    of regulated articles as they had been. There are 149 wheat growers in 
    areas that had been designated as surveillance areas, which together 
    comprise about 239,000 agricultural acres.
        Also, this rule adds certain areas in Arizona to the list of 
    regulated areas due to the detection of bunted kernels in those areas 
    during sampling conducted in 1998. Because all of these new areas are 
    located in areas that had been designated as restricted areas for seed, 
    their proposed designation as regulated areas under this rule is not 
    expected to have a significant effect. The changes that will result 
    from the redesignation are that commercial lots of wheat seed will no 
    longer be eligible for movement from those areas and grain grown in 
    those areas will have to be tested for bunted kernels before being 
    moved from the regulated area. We do not believe that adding these 
    fields or areas to the list of regulated areas will have a significant 
    economic impact on growers because, as noted above, little commercial 
    seed was produced in those areas. Further, growers have been able to 
    plant alternative crops without
    
    [[Page 23752]]
    
    restriction and grain could be grown subject to testing prior to 
    movement from the regulated area.
    
    Economic Impact on Small Entities
    
        The Regulatory Flexibility Act requires that agencies consider the 
    economic impact of rule changes on small businesses, organizations, and 
    governmental jurisdictions. Those entities most likely to be affected 
    by this rule are wheat growers located in areas that had been 
    designated as restricted areas for seed that will no longer be 
    regulated, vegetable growers who will no longer have to clean their 
    crops before movement, and wheat growers located in areas that are 
    being added to the regulated areas due to the detection of Karnal bunt 
    in 1998.
        We estimate that there are approximately 588 wheat growers (324 in 
    Arizona, 21 in California, 200 in New Mexico, and 43 in Texas) located 
    in those portions of the former restricted areas that will no longer be 
    regulated. We estimate that there are 60 growers of non-wheat crops 
    located in areas that had been designated as restricted areas for 
    regulated articles other than seed who will no longer be required to 
    clean their crops as a condition of movement. Finally, we estimate that 
    there are seven wheat growers in Arizona who have fields located in 
    areas that had been designated as restricted areas for seed that have 
    been added to the list of regulated areas. Most of the wheat growers 
    are assumed to have gross receipts of less than $0.5 million, the U.S. 
    Small Business Administration's threshold for classifying wheat 
    producers as small entities. Accordingly, the economic impact of the 
    rule will be mostly on small entities.
        Growers located in areas that had been designated as restricted 
    areas for regulated articles other than seed and growers in areas that 
    had been designated as restricted areas for seed will benefit from this 
    rule. The addition of certain areas in Arizona to the list of regulated 
    areas will have a negative economic impact on affected growers. 
    However, for the reasons discussed above, neither aspect of this rule 
    is expected to have a significant economic impact on a substantial 
    number of entities, large or small.
        Under these circumstances, the Administrator of the Animal and 
    Plant Health Inspection Service has determined that this action will 
    not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
    entities.
    
    Executive Order 12372
    
        This program/activity is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic 
    Assistance under No. 10.025 and is subject to Executive Order 12372, 
    which requires intergovernmental consultation with State and local 
    officials. (See 7 CFR part 3015, subpart V.)
    
    Executive Order 12988
    
        This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, Civil 
    Justice Reform. This rule: (1) Preempts all State and local laws and 
    regulations that are inconsistent with this rule; (2) has no 
    retroactive effect; and (3) does not require administrative proceedings 
    before parties may file suit in court challenging this rule.
    
    Paperwork Reduction Act
    
        This rule contains no new information collection or recordkeeping 
    requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 
    et seq.).
    
    List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 301
    
        Agricultural commodities, Plant diseases and pests, Quarantine, 
    Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Transportation.
    
        Accordingly, we are amending 7 CFR part 301 as follows:
    
    PART 301--DOMESTIC QUARANTINE NOTICES
    
        1. The authority citation for part 301 continues to read as 
    follows:
    
        Authority: 7 U.S.C. 147a, 150bb, 150dd, 150ee, 150ff, 161, 162, 
    and 164-167; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.2(c).
    
    
    Sec. 301.89-1  [Amended]
    
        2. In Sec. 301.89-1, the definition of distinct definable area is 
    amended by removing the words ``, or, in the case of restricted areas, 
    as determined by an inspector''.
        3. In Sec. 301.89-3, paragraphs (e) and (f) are revised to read as 
    follows:
    
    
    Sec. 301.89-3  Regulated areas.
    
    * * * * *
        (e) The Administrator will classify a field or area as a regulated 
    area when:
        (1) It is a field planted with seed from a lot found to contain a 
    bunted wheat kernel; or
        (2) It is a distinct definable area that contains at least one 
    field that was found during survey to contain a bunted wheat kernel 
    (the distinct definable area may include an area where Karnal bunt is 
    not known to exist but where intensive surveys are required because of 
    the area's proximity to a field found during survey to contain a bunted 
    kernel); or
        (3) It is a distinct definable area that contains at least one 
    field that was found during survey to contain spores consistent with 
    Karnal bunt and has been determined to be associated with grain at a 
    handling facility containing a bunted wheat kernel (the distinct 
    definable area may include an area where Karnal bunt is not known to 
    exist but where intensive surveys are required because of the area's 
    proximity to a field that has been associated with grain at a handling 
    facility containing a bunted kernel).
        (f) The following areas or fields are designated as regulated areas 
    (maps of the regulated areas may be obtained by contacting the Animal 
    and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine, 
    4700 River Road, Unit 134, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236):
    
    Arizona
    
        La Paz County. Beginning at the point where the Colorado River 
    intersects the north side of sec. 32, T. 8 N., R. 21 W.; then east to 
    the northeast corner of sec. 36, T. 8 N., R. 21 W.; then south to the 
    southeast corner of sec. 1, T. 6 N., R. 21 W.; then west to the 
    southwest corner of sec. 6, T. 6 N., R. 21 W.; then north to the 
    intersection of the Colorado River; then northwest along the Colorado 
    River to the point of beginning; and
        Beginning at the northeast corner of sec. 22, T. 6 N., R. 21 W.; 
    then south to the southeast corner of sec. 34, T. 5 N., R. 21 W.; then 
    west to the Colorado River; then north along the Colorado River to the 
    northern side of sec. 21, T. 6 N., R. 22 W.; then east to the point of 
    beginning.
        Maricopa County. Beginning at the southeast corner of sec. 33, T. 6 
    S., R. 5 W.; then west to the southwest corner of sec. 32, T. 6 S., R. 
    7 W.; then north to the northwest corner of sec. 5, T. 5 S., R. 7 W.; 
    then east to the northeast corner of sec. 4, T. 5 S., R. 5 W.; then 
    south to the point of beginning; and
        Beginning at the southeast corner of sec. 25, T. 1 S., R. 1 E. and 
    the intersection of the Maricopa/Pinal County line; west to the 
    southwest corner of sec. 28, T. 1 S., R. 5 W.; then north to the 
    northwest corner of sec. 4, T. 1 N., R. 5 W.; then east to the 
    southwest corner of sec. 31, T. 2 N., R. 2 W.; then north to the 
    northwest corner of sec. 31, T. 4 N., R. 2 W.; then east to the 
    northeast corner of sec. 36, T. 4 N., R. 1 W.; then south to the 
    southeast corner of sec. 36, T. 4 N., R. 1 W.; then east to the 
    northeast corner of sec. 5, T. 3 N., R. 2 E.; then south to the 
    southeast corner of sec. 32, T. 2 N., R. 2 E.; then east to the 
    northeast corner of sec. 6, T. 1 N., R. 3 E.; then south to the 
    southeast corner of sec. 7, T. 1 S., R. 3 E.; then west to the 
    southwest corner of sec. 10, T. 1 S., R. 2 E.; then south to the 
    southeast corner of sec. 28, T. 1 S., R.
    
    [[Page 23753]]
    
    2 E.; then west to the intersection of the Maricopa/Pinal county line; 
    then north, west and south along the county line to the point of 
    beginning; and
        Beginning at the intersection of Interstate 10 and the Maricopa/
    Pinal County line; then east and north along the county line to the 
    northeast corner of sec. 1, T. 2 S., R. 7 E.; then west to the 
    southeast corner of sec. 31, T. 1 S., R. 7 E.; then north to the 
    northeast corner of sec. 31, T. 1 N., R. 7 E.; then west to the 
    northwest corner of sec. 31, T. 1 N., R. 6 E.; then north to the 
    northeast corner of sec. 1, T. 2 N., R. 5 E.; then west to the 
    northwest corner of sec. 6, T. 2 N., R. 5 E.; then south to the 
    southwest corner of sec. 31, T. 2 N., R. 5 E.; then west to the 
    northwest corner of sec. 2, T. 1 N., R. 4 E.; then south to the 
    northwest corner of sec. 35, T. 1 S., R. 4 E.; then east to the 
    intersection of Interstate 10; then south and east to the point of 
    beginning; and
        The following individual fields in Maricopa County are regulated 
    areas:
    
    301060505
    301060506
    301060601
    301060602
    301060603
    301060604
    304073004
    304073005
    304073010
    304081410
    304081413
    304081415
    304081417
    304081505
    304081506
    304082202
    304082302
    304082303
    304082607
    304082703
    306013222
    306013231
    306020404
    306020501
    306020601
    306020623
    316131901
    316131904
    316132302
    316132604
    
        Pinal County. Beginning at the intersection of the Maricopa/Pinal 
    County line and the northwest corner of sec. 6, T. 2 S., R. 8 E.; then 
    east to the northeast corner of sec. 2, T. 2 S., R. 8 E.; then south to 
    the southeast corner of sec. 14, T. 3 S., R. 8 E.; then west to the 
    southeast corner of sec. 14, T. 3 S., R. 6 E.; then south to the 
    southeast corner of sec. 26, T. 4 S., R. 6 E.; then west to the 
    southeast corner of sec. 26, T. 4 S., R. 4 E.; then south to the 
    southeast corner of sec. 22, T. 6 S., R. 4 E.; then west to the 
    southwest corner of sec. 19, T. 6 S., R. 3 E.; then north to the 
    southeast corner of sec. 13, T. 6 S., R. 2 E.; then west to the 
    southwest corner of sec. 16, T. 6 S., R. 2 E.; then north to the 
    northwest corner of sec. 9, T. 4 S., R. 2 E.; then east to the 
    southwest corner of sec. 6, T. 4 S., R. 4 E.; then north to the 
    northwest corner of sec. 6, T. 4 S., R. 4 E.; then east to the 
    northwest corner of sec. 6, T. 4 S., R. 5 E.; then north to the 
    intersection of the Maricopa/Pinal County line; then east and north 
    along the county line to the point of beginning; and
        The following individual fields in Pinal County are regulated 
    areas:
    
    308102604
    308102605
    309021801
    309021804
    309021812
    309031304
    309033507
    309042544
    309042545
    309042601
    309042607
    309042619
    309050104
    309050109
    309050207
    
        Yuma County. The following individual fields in Yuma County are 
    regulated areas:
    
    321010208
    321010210
    321010211
    321010224
    321010301
    321010302
    321011103
    321033501
    321033502
    321033503
    321033516
    321033517
    321033518
    321033519
    321040405
    321040911
    321040912
    321040915
    321040917
    321040918
    321040921
    321040922
    321041903
    321041904
    321041908
    321041919
    321042903
    323030401
    323030402
    323030403
    323030404
    323030405
    323030406
    323030501
    323030502
    323030512
    323030513
    323030514
    323030515
    323030521
    
    California
    
        Imperial County. Beginning at the intersection of the Riverside/
    Imperial County line and the California/Arizona State line; then west 
    to the northwest corner of sec. 1, T. 9 S., R. 21 E.; the south to the 
    California/Arizona State line; then east and north along the State line 
    to the point of beginning.
        Riverside County. Beginning at the intersection of the Riverside/ 
    Imperial County line and the California/Arizona State line; then west 
    to the southwest corner of sec. 31, T. 8 S., R. 22 E.; then north to 
    the northwest corner of sec. 30, T. 7 S., R. 22 E.; then north and 
    northeast along the Palo Verde Valley agriculture area to the 
    intersection of the California/Arizona State line; then south along the 
    State line to the point of beginning.
    
    New Mexico
    
        Dona Ana County. The following individual fields in Dona Ana County 
    are regulated areas:
    
    113040501
    113040502
    113040506
    113040507
    113040508
    113040601
    113040602
    113040702
    113040902
    113042601
    113042602
    113042707
    113042708
    113043401
    113043407
    113043503
    113043508
    113043509
    113050201
    113050202
    113050301
    113060701
    113060702
    113060703
    113060801
    113060809
    113060901
    113060902
    113070702
    113072701
    113072702
    113072703
    113072704
    113072705
    113072706
    113173103
    113210401
    113210402
    113210403
    113210406
    113210407
    113210808
    113212103
    113212802
    113212806
    113241601
    113242708
    
    
    [[Page 23754]]
    
    
        Hidalgo County. The following individual fields in Hidalgo County 
    are regulated areas:
    
    123272403
    123353001
    
        Luna County. The following individual fields in Luna County are 
    regulated areas:
    
    129011301
    129012201
    129013003
    129013006
    129022502
    129060806
    129060901
    129060902
    129062001
    129062801
    129062802
    129232801
    129232804
    129232805
    129232806
    129292404
    129300506
    129300608
    129301104
    129301301
    129301401
    129301701
    129301801
    129301806
    129302001
    129302702
    129303302
    129440601
    129440602
    129440701
    129440702
    129440703
    129440708
    129440801
    129441701
    
        Sierra County. The following individual fields in Sierra County are 
    regulated areas:
    
    151013401
    151441201
    151441202
    151441306
    151442201
    151442601
    151442602
    151442603
    151442604
    151442605
    151442606
    151442607
    151442608
    151442609
    151442610
    151442611
    151442612
    151442613
    151442614
    151442701
    151443501
    151443502
    151443503
    151443601
    151443602
    151443603
    151443604
    151451306
    151453001
    151453101
    151453102
    151453103
    151453104
    151502801
    
    Texas
    
        El Paso County. The following individual fields in El Paso County 
    are regulated areas:
    
    441141301
    441142301
    441142302
    441142303
    441142304
    441142305
    441142306
    441142307
    441142401
    441142402
    441142403
    441142404
    441241301
    441241302
    441252801
    441252803
    441252804
    441252901
    441253201
    441253302
    441253401
    
        Hudspeth County. The following individual fields in Hudspeth County 
    are regulated areas:
    
    429050701
    429050702
    429070101
    429070102
    
        McCulloch County. Beginning at the McCulloch/San Saba County line 
    and the line of latitude 31.232299 N.; then west along the line of 
    latitude 31.232299 N. to the line of longitude -99.13473 W.; then north 
    along the line of longitude -99.13473 W to the line of latitude 
    31.31004 N.; then east along the line of latitude 31.31004 N. to the 
    line of longitude -99.11427 W.; then north along the line of longitude 
    -99.11427 W to the line of latitude 31.283487 N.; then east along the 
    line of latitude 31.283487 N. to the McCulloch/San Saba County line; 
    then south to the point of beginning.
        San Saba County. Beginning at the San Saba/Mills County line and 
    the line of longitude -98.5851 W.; then south along the line of 
    longitude -98.5851 W to the line of latitude 31.167959 N.; then west 
    along the line of latitude 31.167959 N. to the line of longitude -
    98.903233 W.; then north along the line of longitude -98.903233 W. to 
    the line of latitude 31.310819 N.; then east along the line of latitude 
    31.3100819 N. to the San Saba/Mills County line; then south along the 
    San Saba/Mills County line to the point of beginning; and
        Beginning at the San Saba/McCulloch County line and the line of 
    latitude 31.283487 N.; then east along the line of latitude 31.283487 
    N. to the line of longitude -99.063487 W.; then south along the line of 
    longitude -99.063487 W. to the line of latitude 31.232299 N.; then west 
    along the line of latitude 31.232299 N. to the San Saba/McCulloch 
    County line; then north along the San Saba/McCulloch County line to the 
    point of beginning.
        4. Section 301.89-4 is revised to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 301.89-4  Planting.
    
        Wheat, durum wheat, and triticale may be planted in all fields 
    within a regulated area. All wheat seed, durum wheat seed, and 
    triticale seed that originates within a regulated area must be tested 
    and found free from spores and bunted wheat kernels, then treated with 
    a fungicide in accordance with Sec. 301.89-13(d), before it may be 
    planted within a regulated area.
    
    
    Sec. 301.89-6  [Amended]
    
        5. Section 301.89-6 is amended as follows:
        a. In paragraph (b), the word ``surveillance'' is removed and the 
    word ``regulated'' is added in its place.
        b. Paragraph (d) is removed and paragraph (e) is redesignated as 
    paragraph (d).
    
    
    Sec. 301.89-12  [Amended]
    
        6. In Sec. 301.89-12, paragraph (b) is removed and reserved.
    
    
    Sec. 301.89-13  [Amended]
    
        7. In Sec. 301.89-13, paragraph (f) is removed.
    
        Done in Washington, DC, this 28th day of April 1999.
    Craig A. Reed,
    Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
    [FR Doc. 99-11128 Filed 5-3-99; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Effective Date:
4/28/1999
Published:
05/04/1999
Department:
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Final rule.
Document Number:
99-11128
Dates:
April 28, 1999.
Pages:
23749-23754 (6 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. 96-016-36
RINs:
0579-AA83: Karnal Bunt
RIN Links:
https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/0579-AA83/karnal-bunt
PDF File:
99-11128.pdf
CFR: (7)
7 CFR 301.89-3(d)
7 CFR 301.89-1
7 CFR 301.89-3
7 CFR 301.89-4
7 CFR 301.89-6
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