Country: United States

Title: Tilletia indica (Karnal Bunt): APHIS Amends Regulated Areas in La Paz, Maricopa, and Pinal Counties in Arizona

Contact:
Lynn Evans-Goldner, National Policy Manager, at (301) 851-2286.

Report:

Effective immediately, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is amending the Karnal bunt regulated areas in La Paz, Maricopa, and Pinal Counties in Arizona.

In accordance with the criteria listed in 7 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) § 301.89-3(f) and following a review of the results of the 2022 survey of Karnal bunt-regulated areas, APHIS is reducing the regulated area in La Paz, Maricopa, and Pinal Counties in Arizona. APHIS publishes a revised Karnal bunt quarantine area description and a map of regulated areas annually. Accordingly, we are including all the changes made to the Karnal bunt regulated areas in 2022 (DA-2022-27 and this Federal Order) in this document. Specifically, APHIS is removing the following from the list of regulated areas: 20,418 field acres in La Paz County on the Colorado River Indian Reservation of the Colorado River Indian Tribes; 6,800 field acres in Maricopa County; and 25,249 field acres in Pinal County, including 1,040 field acres on Ak-Chin Indian Community land, and 7,327 field acres on the Gila River Indian Reservation of the Gila River Indian Community. Accordingly, there are no more restrictions on the interstate movement of Karnal bunt-regulated articles from these areas. There are no more regulated areas in La Paz County; however, other portions of Maricopa and Pinal Counties remain regulated.

APHIS is making one additional change to the list of regulated areas in Maricopa County, but not because of a detection of Karnal bunt. APHIS is adding one field (two field acres) because the former pastureland was converted to a wheat field. We have determined that this field meets the criteria for regulation outlined in 7 CFR § 301.89-3(e).

APHIS is taking these regulatory actions to prevent the spread of Karnal bunt from Arizona. Karnal bunt is a pest that affects wheat quality. APHIS regulates this plant disease because many trading partners require that U.S. wheat be certified as grown in areas free of Karnal bunt. APHIS will follow this emergency action by publishing an interim rule in the Federal Register.

More information on Karnal bunt is available at the following website: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-health/kb

Under IPPC standards, Tilletia indica is considered to be a pest that is present in portions of Arizona, not widely distributed and under official control in the United States.

Posted Date: Jan. 12, 2023, 4:02 p.m.