[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 76 (Thursday, April 18, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16895-16896]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-9551]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Office of the Secretary
[Docket No. 96-016-4]
Declaration of Extraordinary Emergency Because of Karnal Bunt
On March 25, 1996, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (the
Department) published in the Federal Register a notice of ``Declaration
of Extraordinary Emergency Because of Karnal Bunt'' (61 FR 12508,
Docket No. 96-016-1). At the time of the notice, Karnal bunt, an exotic
fungal disease, had been detected in Arizona, and contaminated seed had
been sent to New Mexico and Texas. Since publication of the notice,
Karnal bunt has also been detected in California.
Karnal bunt (Tilletia indica) is a serious disease of wheat, durum
wheat, and triticale, a hybrid of wheat and rye. The disease affects
both yield and grain quality. It adversely affects the color, odor, and
palatability of flour and other foodstuffs made from wheat. It does not
present a risk to human health.
If Karnal bunt is allowed to spread, the overall crop loss and
impact on quality may be significant. The disease could affect United
States grain exports. The United States is the world's leading wheat
exporter, accounting for one-third of the world wheat exports. Wheat
exports from the United States were valued at $4.9 billion in Fiscal
Year 1995. At least 28 countries are known to regulate or prohibit
grain movement on the basis of Karnal bunt.
Control and eradication of Karnal bunt is difficult. Management of
the disease is through quarantine and
[[Page 16896]]
containment of regulated articles. In addition to the emergency actions
taken to control Karnal bunt in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas,
emergency action has been taken by the California Department of Food
and Agriculture (CDFA) and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service (APHIS). APHIS and CDFA have instituted emergency quarantines
on the infected premises and are regulating the movement of seed, farm
equipment, and soil associated with the infected wheat.
This infection of Karnal bunt represents a threat to United States
wheat crops. It constitutes a real danger to the national economy and
seriously burdens interstate and foreign commerce. Therefore, the
Department has determined that an extraordinary emergency exists
because of the existence of Karnal bunt in California, as well as in
Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas as previously declared.
The Department has reviewed the measures being taken by the State
of California to survey, regulate, and control Karnal bunt and has
consulted with the Governor of California. Based on such review and
consultation, the Department has determined that measures being taken
by the State of California are inadequate because California is unable
to take all of the measures required to obtain and maintain the
cooperation of the owners of wheat crops necessary to effectively and
efficiently control Karnal bunt.
Therefore, in accordance with 7 U.S.C. 150dd, this declaration of
extraordinary emergency authorizes the Secretary to: (1) seize,
quarantine, treat, apply other remedial measures to, destroy, or
otherwise dispose of, in such manner as the Secretary deems
appropriate, any product or article of any character whatsoever, or
means of conveyance that the Secretary has reason to believe is
infected by or contains Karnal bunt; (2) quarantine, treat, or apply
other remedial measures to, in such manner as the Secretary deems
appropriate, any premises, including articles on such premises, that
the Secretary has reason to believe are infected by Karnal bunt. The
Governor of California has been informed of these facts.
EFFECTIVE DATE: This declaration of extraordinary emergency shall
become effective April 12, 1996.
Dan Glickman,
Secretary of Agriculture.
[FR Doc. 96-9551 Filed 4-17-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
