[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]



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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]
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