Country: United States

Title: Karnal Bunt (Tilletia indica): Amendment of the regulated areas 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 Arizona.

Specifically, APHIS is removing 31,291 acres in the Buckeye-Peoria area and 21,960 acres in the Paloma area of Maricopa County in Arizona, including 406 acres of Gila River Indian Community tribal land, from the list of regulated areas in Arizona.

Following a review of all available information regarding the aforementioned fields, APHIS determined that these areas qualify for deregulation in accordance with the criteria listed in 7CFR § 301.89-3(f). Accordingly, restrictions are no longer required on the interstate movement of Karnal bunt regulated articles from these areas.

In addition, APHIS is adding 11,511 acres in the Buckeye-Peoria area of Maricopa County to the Karnal bunt regulated area. This action responds to the detection of Karnal bunt in these fields. Following the completion of the 2012 survey of Karnal bunt regulated areas, we have determined that these fields meet the criteria for regulation outlined in 7CFR § 301.89-3(e).

APHIS will follow this emergency action with the publication of an interim rule in the Federal Register. We appreciate the cooperative relationship with the State Regulatory Officials, Tribal Nations in Arizona, and the wheat industry in our effort to prevent the spread of Karnal bunt.

Under IPPC standards, Tilletia indica is considered to be a pest that is present in portions of Arizona and is under eradication in the United States.
 

Posted Date: Nov. 27, 2013, 9 a.m.