[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 145 (Friday, July 28, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 38666-38667]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-18573]



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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

7 CFR Part 301

[Docket No. 95-035-1]


Black Stem Rust; Addition of Rust-Resistant Varieties

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Direct final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are amending the black stem rust quarantine and regulations 
to add three varieties to the list of rust-resistant Berberis species. 
This change will allow for the interstate movement of these newly 
developed varieties without unnecessary restrictions.

DATES: This rule will be effective on September 26, 1995, unless we 
receive written adverse comments or written notice of intent to submit 
adverse comments on or before August 28, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Please send an original and three copies of any adverse 
comments or notice of intent to submit adverse comments to Docket No. 
95-035-1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Suite 3C03, 
4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that 
your submission refers to Docket No. 95-035-1. Submissions received may 
be inspected at USDA, room 1141, South Building, 14th Street and 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except holidays. Persons wishing to inspect 
comments and notices are requested to call ahead on (202) 690-2817 to 
facilitate entry into the comment reading room.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Stephen Poe, Operations Officer, 
Domestic and Emergency Operations, PPQ, APHIS, Suite 4C03, 4700 River 
Road Unit 134, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 734-6365.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Black stem rust is one of the most destructive plant diseases of 
small grains that is known to exist in the United States. The disease 
is caused by a fungus that reduces the quality and yield of infected 
wheat, oat, barley, and rye crops by robbing host plants of food and 
water. In addition to infecting small grains, the fungus lives on a 
variety of alternate host plants that are species of the genera 
Berberis, Mahoberberis, and Mohonia. The fungus is spread from host to 
host by wind-borne spores.
    The black stem rust quarantine and regulations, contained in 7 CFR 
301.38 through 301.38-8 (referred to below as the regulations), 
quarantine the conterminous 48 States and the District of Columbia, and 
govern the interstate movement of certain plants of the genera 
Berberis, Mahoberberis, and Mahonia, known as barberry plants. The 
species of these plants are categorized as either rust-resistant or 
rust-susceptible. Rust-resistant plants do not pose a risk of spreading 
black stem rust or of contributing to the development of new races of 
the rust; rust-susceptible plants do pose such risks.
    Section 301.38-2 of the regulations includes a listing of regulated 
articles and indicates species of the genera Berberis, Mahoberberis, 
and Mahonia, known to be rust-resistant. Although rust-resistant 
species are included as regulated articles, they may be moved into or 
through protected areas if accompanied by a certificate. In accordance 
with the procedures described below under ``Effective Date,'' this 
direct final rule will add Berberis candidula `Amstelveen', Berberis 
thunbergii `Lustre green', and Berberis thunbergii `Monry', to the list 
of rust-resistant Berberis species in Sec. 301.38-2(b).
    The addition of the species listed above to the list of rust-
resistant Berberis species is based on recent testing to determine 
rust-resistance conducted by the Agricultural Research Service of the 
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) at its Cereal Rust 
Laboratory in St. Paul, MN. The testing is performed in the following 
manner: In a greenhouse, the suspect plant or test subject is placed 
under a screen with a control plant--a known rust-susceptible species 
of Berberis, Mahoberberis, or Mahonia. Infected wheat stems, a primary 
host of black stem rust, are placed on top of the screen. The plants 
are moistened and maintained in 100 percent humidity. This causes the 
spores to swell and fall on the plants lying under the screen. The 
plants are then observed for 7 days at 20-80 percent relative humidity. 
If the rust-susceptible plant shows signs of infection after 7 days and 
the test plants do not, the test results indicate that the test plants 
are rust-resistant. This test must be performed 12 times, and all 12 
tests must yield the same result before USDA can make a determination 
as to whether the test plants are rust-resistant. The test may be 
conducted on 12 individual plants, or it may be performed multiple 
times on fewer plants (e.g., six plants tested twice or three plants 
tested four times). The tests must be performed on new growth, just as 
the leaves are unfolding. Therefore, the tests are usually conducted in 
the spring or fall, during the growing season. All 12 tests generally 
cannot be conducted on the same day because of the plants' different 
growth stages. Based on over 30 years of experience with this test, we 
believe that 12 is the reliable test sample size on which USDA can make 
its determination. We do not know of any plant that was subsequently 
discovered to be rust-susceptible after undergoing this procedure 12 
times and being determined by USDA to be rust-resistant.

Dates

    We are publishing this rule without a prior proposal because we 
view this action as noncontroversial and anticipate no adverse public 
comment. This rule will be effective, as published in this document, 60 
days after the date of publication in the Federal Register unless we 
receive written adverse comments or written notice of intent to submit 
adverse comments within 30 days of the date of publication of this rule 
in the Federal Register.
    Adverse comments are comments that suggest the rule should not be 
adopted or that suggest the rule should be changed.
    If we receive written adverse comments or written notice of intent 
to submit adverse comments, we will publish a notice in the Federal 
Register withdrawing this rule before the effective date. We will then 
publish a 

[[Page 38667]]
proposed rule for public comment. Following the close of that comment 
period, the comments will be considered, and a final rule addressing 
the comments will be published.
    As discussed above, if we received no written adverse comments nor 
written notice of intent to submit adverse comments within 30 days of 
publication of this direct final rule, this direct final rule will 
become effective 60 days following its publication. We will publish a 
notice to this effect in the Federal Register, before the effective 
date of this direct final rule, confirming that it is effective on the 
date indicated in this document.
Executive Order 12866 and Regulatory Flexibility Act

    This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12866. For this 
action, the Office of Management and Budget has waived its review 
process required by Executive Order 12866.
    This rule will allow the interstate movement of Berberis candidula 
`Amstelveen,' Berberis thunbergii `Lustre Green,' and Berberis 
thunbergii `Monry,' into and through States or parts of States 
designated as protected areas in accordance with the requirements in 
the regulations. Based on the information provided to us, we have 
determined that this rule will affect three nurseries that might 
propagate the new species and numerous retail sales nurseries that 
might purchase or resell the varieties. This rule will enable those 
nurseries to move the species into and through protected areas and to 
propagate and sell the species in States or parts of States designated 
as protected areas. It is unlikely that the addition of these varieties 
to the list of rust-resistant Berberis species will have any effect on 
prices, investment, productivity, or our international competitive 
position. It is possible that this rule will positively affect 
innovation by allowing nurseries that develop new rust-resistant 
Berberis varieties the opportunity to market those varieties in 
protected areas. It is also possible that this rule will have some 
positive effect on nurseries that are small businesses by providing an 
opportunity for increased sales of rust-resistant Berberis species in 
protected areas. We cannot predict the exact number of nurseries that 
might be affected by this rule change, nor can we predict the level of 
demand for these new species or the impact on nurseries producing or 
selling them. It is likely, however, that any economic effects will not 
be significant as a result of additional plant sales.
    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 12778

    This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12778, Civil 
Justice Reform. This rule: (1) Preempts all State and local laws and 
regulations that are in conflict 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 information collection or recordkeeping 
requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 (44 U.S.C. 3501 
et seq.).

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 301

    Agricultural commodities, Plant disease and pests, Quarantine, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Transportation.

PART 301--DOMESTIC QUARANTINE NOTICES

    Accordingly, 7 CFR part 301 is amended as follows:

    1. The authority citation for part 301 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 150bb, 150dd, 150ee, 150ff, 161, 162, and 
164-167; 7 CFR 2.17, 2.51, and 371.2(c).

    2. In Sec. 301.38-2, paragraph (b) is amended by adding, in 
alphabetical order, the following rust-resistant Berberis species:


Sec. 301.38-2  Regulated articles.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    B. candidula `Amstelveen'
* * * * *
    B. thunbergii `Lustre Green'
* * * * *
    B. thunbergii `Monry'
* * * * *
    Done in Washington, DC, this 18th day of July 1995.
Terry L. Medley,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 95-18573 Filed 7-27-95; 8:45 am]
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