[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 192 (Thursday, October 3, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 61975-61980]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-25160]



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  Federal Register / Vol. 67, No. 192 / Thursday, October 3, 2002 / 
Rules and Regulations  

[[Page 61975]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

7 CFR Part 301

[Docket No. 02-037-1]


Karnal Bunt; Regulated Areas

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Interim rule and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We are amending the Karnal bunt regulations to make changes to 
the list of areas or fields regulated because of Karnal bunt, a fungal 
disease of wheat. We are adding certain areas in Arizona and Texas to 
the list of regulated areas either because they were found during 
surveys to contain a bunted wheat kernel, or because they are within 
the 3-mile-wide buffer zone around fields or areas affected with Karnal 
bunt. We are also removing certain individual fields and other areas 
from the list of regulated areas in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, 
either because recently completed detection and delineating surveys 
show them to be free of Karnal bunt, or because they have not been used 
to produce Karnal bunt host crops within the last 5 years, or because 
they have been used to produce Karnal bunt host crops in 1 or more 
years following initial regulation and the crops have been tested and 
found free of Karnal bunt. These actions are necessary to help prevent 
the spread of Karnal bunt into noninfected areas of the United States, 
and to relieve restrictions that are no longer warranted.

DATES: This interim rule is effective October 3, 2002. We will consider 
all comments that we receive on or before December 2, 2002.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by postal mail/commercial delivery 
or by e-mail. If you use postal mail/commercial delivery, please send 
four copies of your comment (an original and three copies) to: Docket 
No. 02-037-1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 
3C71, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state 
that your comment refers to Docket No. 02-037-1. If you use e-mail, 
address your comment to [email protected]. Your comment must 
be contained in the body of your message; do not send attached files. 
Please include your name and address in your message and ``Docket No. 
02-037-1'' on the subject line.
    You may read any comments that we receive on this docket in our 
reading room. The reading room is located in room 1141 of the USDA 
South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, 
DC. Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you, 
please call (202) 690-2817 before coming.
    APHIS documents published in the Federal Register, and related 
information, including the names of organizations and individuals who 
have commented on APHIS dockets, are available on the Internet at 
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert G. Spaide, Senior Program 
Manager, Surveillance and Emergency Programs Planning and Coordination, 
PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 134, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 
734-7819.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Karnal bunt is a fungal disease of wheat (Triticum aestivum), durum 
wheat (Triticum durum), and triticale (Triticum aestivum X Secale 
cereale), a hybrid of wheat and rye. Karnal bunt is caused by the smut 
fungus Tilletia indica (Mitra) Mundkur and is spread primarily through 
the movement of infected seed. Some countries in the international 
wheat market regulate Karnal bunt as a fungal disease requiring 
quarantine; therefore, without measures taken by the Animal and Plant 
Health Inspection Service (APHIS), United States Department of 
Agriculture, to prevent its spread, the presence of Karnal bunt in the 
United States could have significant consequences with regard to the 
export of wheat to international markets.
    Upon detection of Karnal bunt in Arizona in March of 1996, Federal 
quarantine and emergency actions were imposed to prevent the interstate 
spread of the disease to other wheat producing areas in the United 
States. The quarantine continues in effect, although it has since been 
modified, both in terms of its physical boundaries and in terms of its 
restrictions on the production and movement of regulated articles from 
regulated areas. The regulations regarding Karnal bunt are set forth in 
7 CFR 301.89-1 through 301.89-16 (referred to below as the 
regulations).

Regulated Areas

    The regulations in Sec.  301.89-3(e) provide that we will classify 
a field or area as a regulated area when it is:
    [sbull] A field planted with seed from a lot found to contain a 
bunted wheat kernel;
    [sbull] A distinct definable area that contains at least one field 
that was found during a survey to contain a bunted wheat kernel. The 
distinct definable area may include an area where Karnal bunt is not 
known to exist but where intensive surveys are required because of the 
areas's proximity to a field found during survey to contain a bunted 
wheat kernel; or
    [sbull] A distinct definable area that contains at least one field 
that was found during survey to contain spores consistent with Karnal 
bunt and has been determined to be associated with grain at a handling 
facility containing a bunted wheat kernel. The distinct definable area 
may include an area where Karnal bunt is not known to exist but where 
intensive surveys are required because of that area's proximity to a 
field that has been associated with grain at a handling facility 
containing a bunted wheat kernel.
    The boundaries of distinct definable areas are determined using the 
criteria in paragraphs (b) through (d) of Sec.  301.89-3, which provide 
for the regulation of less than an entire State, the inclusion of 
noninfected acreage in a regulated area, and the temporary designation 
of nonregulated areas as regulated areas. Paragraph (c) of Sec.  
301.89-3 states that the Administrator

[[Page 61976]]

may include noninfected acreage within a regulated area due to its 
proximity to an infestation or inseparability from the infected 
locality for regulatory purposes, as determined by:
    [sbull] Projections of the spread of Karnal bunt along the 
periphery of the infestation;
    [sbull] The availability of natural habitats and host materials 
within the noninfected acreage that are suitable for establishment and 
survival of Karnal bunt; and
    [sbull] The necessity of including noninfected acreage within the 
regulated area in order to establish readily identifiable boundaries.
    When we include noninfected acreage in a regulated area for one or 
more of the reasons previously listed, the noninfected acreage, along 
with the rest of the acreage in the regulated area, is intensively 
surveyed. Negative results from surveys of the noninfected acreage 
provide assurance that all infected acreage is within the regulated 
area. In effect, the noninfected acreage serves as a buffer zone 
between fields or areas affected with Karnal bunt and areas outside of 
the regulated area.
    The regulations in Sec.  301.89-3(f) describe the boundaries of the 
regulated areas in Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas. Certain 
regulated areas in Arizona, California, and Texas include noninfected 
acreage that functions as a buffer zone to guard against the spread of 
Karnal bunt. Our current policy is to utilize a 3-mile-wide buffer zone 
around fields or areas affected with Karnal bunt. Based on over 5 years 
of experience surveying noninfected acreage included in regulated 
areas, we have determined that a buffer zone of no more than 3 miles is 
sufficient.
    In this interim rule, we are amending Sec.  301.89-3(f) by 
modifying the list of regulated areas associated with Karnal bunt. 
Specifically, we are adding certain areas in Arizona and Texas to the 
list of regulated areas either because the fields or areas were found 
during detection and delineating surveys to contain a bunted wheat 
kernel, or because the fields or areas fall within the 3-mile-wide 
buffer zone around fields or areas affected with Karnal bunt. This 
action is necessary in order to help prevent the spread of Karnal bunt 
into noninfected areas of the United States.
    As part of this same rule, we are also removing certain individual 
fields and other areas from the list of regulated areas in Arizona, New 
Mexico, and Texas, either because recently completed detection and 
delineating surveys show them to be free of Karnal bunt, or because 
they have not been used to produce Karnal bunt host crops within the 
last 5 years, or because they have been used to produce Karnal bunt 
host crops in 1 or more years following initial regulation and the 
crops have been tested and found free of Karnal bunt. This action 
relieves restrictions on those fields or areas that are no longer 
warranted.

Arizona

    The list of regulated areas in Arizona includes individual fields 
and other distinct definable areas located in La Paz, Maricopa, Pinal, 
and Yuma Counties. In this interim rule, we are adding new regulated 
areas in Maricopa and Pinal Counties due to the detection of bunted 
wheat kernels there or as a result of the application of the 3-mile-
wide buffer zone around fields or areas affected with Karnal bunt. 
These additional regulated areas in Maricopa and Pinal Counties involve 
approximately 18,852 agricultural acres (310 fields) and 86,439 
nonagricultural acres.
    We are also removing from the list of regulated areas in Arizona a 
total of 73 individual fields totaling 3,376 acres located in the 
counties of Maricopa (39 fields), Pinal (3 fields), and Yuma (31 
fields). These fields had been designated as regulated areas because 
they were planted, in 1996, with seed that was potentially contaminated 
with Karnal bunt. We now are removing these 73 fields from the list of 
regulated areas either because they have not been used to produce 
Karnal bunt host crops within the last 5 years or because they have 
been used to produce Karnal bunt host crops in 1 or more years 
following initial regulation and the crops produced have been tested 
and found free of Karnal bunt. With the deregulation of the 31 fields 
in Yuma County, this county will no longer contain any regulated areas.
    Overall, the changes in Arizona will result in the amount of 
regulated agricultural acreage increasing to a total of approximately 
465,000 acres.

New Mexico

    The list of regulated areas in New Mexico include 98 individual 
fields located in the counties of Dona Ana (41 fields), Hidalgo (2 
fields), Luna (22 fields), and Sierra (33 fields). In this interim 
rule, we are removing all 98 of these fields from the list of regulated 
areas. Similar to the situation in Arizona discussed above, these 
fields in New Mexico had been designated as regulated areas because 
they were planted, in 1996, with seed that was potentially contaminated 
with Karnal bunt. We are removing these individual fields from the list 
of regulated areas either because they have not been used to produce 
Karnal bunt host crops within the last 5 years or because they have 
been used to produce Karnal bunt host crops in 1 or more years 
following initial regulation and the crops produced have been tested 
and found free of Karnal bunt. With the deregulation of these 98 
fields, the State of New Mexico will no longer contain any regulated 
areas.

Texas

    The list of regulated areas in Texas includes individual fields and 
other distinct definable areas located in Archer, Baylor, El Paso, 
Hudspeth, McCulloch, San Saba, Throckmorton, and Young Counties. We are 
making changes to the list of regulated areas in Archer, Baylor, 
Throckmorton, and Young Counties as a result of recently completed 
detection and delimiting surveys in this four-county area. In 2001, 
bunted wheat kernels were detected in wheat produced in each of these 
counties. Since the detection of bunted wheat kernels occurred late in 
the harvesting season, there was not an opportunity to complete survey 
work to determine the extent of this new infection. Therefore, we 
designated the entire county area in each of the four counties as a 
regulated area in order to include all fields that would have a 
reasonable possibility of being infected.
    We recently completed detection and delimiting surveys in Archer, 
Baylor, Throckmorton, and Young Counties and are amending the 
description of the regulated areas in these four counties to better 
reflect those fields or areas affected by Karnal bunt. In modifying the 
boundaries of the regulated areas, we are deregulating a total of 
420,261 acres (6,466 fields) in the four-county area. However, we are 
also adding as a new regulated area 1,560 acres (24 fields) in Knox 
County, which is adjacent to Baylor County. The acreage in Knox County 
is being added to the list of regulated areas as a result of the 
application of the 3-mile-wide buffer zone around an area affected with 
Karnal bunt in Baylor County.
    We also are adding certain areas in McCulloch and San Saba Counties 
to the list of regulated areas in Texas either because of the detection 
of bunted wheat kernels in those areas or because of the application of 
the 3-mile-wide buffer zone around those fields or areas affected with 
Karnal bunt. These additional regulated areas consist of 523 acres (11 
fields) in McCulloch County and 2,983 acres (69 fields) in San Saba 
County.

[[Page 61977]]

    We are also removing from the list of regulated areas in Texas 25 
individual fields totaling 494 acres in the counties of El Paso (21 
fields) and Hudspeth (4 fields). Similar to the situations in Arizona 
and New Mexico discussed above, these particular fields had been 
designated as regulated areas because they were planted, in 1996, with 
seed that was potentially contaminated with Karnal bunt. We now are 
deregulating these fields either because they have not been used to 
produce Karnal bunt host crops within the last 5 years or because they 
have been used to produce Karnal bunt host crops in 1 or more years 
following initial regulation and the crops produced have been tested 
and found free of Karnal bunt. With the removal of these 25 fields, El 
Paso and Hudspeth Counties will no longer contain any regulated areas.
    Overall, as a result of the changes in this interim rule, the 
amount of regulated agricultural acreage in Texas will decline by about 
60 percent to approximately 285,000 acres.

Emergency Action

    This rulemaking is necessary on an emergency basis to help prevent 
Karnal bunt from spreading into to noninfected areas of the United 
States. This rule will also relieve restrictions on certain fields or 
areas that are no longer warranted. Under these circumstances, the 
Administrator has determined that prior notice and opportunity for 
public comment are contrary to the public interest and that there is 
good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553 for making this rule effective less than 
30 days after publication in the Federal Register.
    We will consider comments we receive during the comment period for 
this interim rule (see DATES above). After the comment period closes, 
we will publish another document in the Federal Register. The document 
will include a discussion of any comments we receive and any amendments 
we are making to the rule.

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 under 
Executive Order 12866.
    In this interim rule, we are modifying the list of areas regulated 
because of Karnal bunt. Specifically, certain distinct definable areas 
in Arizona and Texas are being added to the list of regulated areas 
either because the fields or areas were found to contain a bunted wheat 
kernel, or because the fields or areas fall within the 3-mile-wide 
buffer zone around fields or areas affected with Karnal bunt. We are 
also removing certain individual fields and other areas from the list 
of regulated areas in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, either because 
recently completed detection and delineating surveys show them to be 
free of Karnal bunt, or because they have not been used to produce 
Karnal bunt host crops within the last 5 years, or because they have 
been used to produce Karnal bunt host crops in 1 or more years 
following initial regulation and the crops have been tested and found 
free of Karnal bunt. These actions will help prevent the spread of 
Karnal bunt into noninfected areas of the United States, as well as 
relieve restrictions on certain areas and fields that are no longer 
warranted. These actions also will reduce the total regulated area by 
316,687 acres.
    The Regulatory Flexibility Act requires that agencies consider the 
economic effects of their rules on small businesses, organizations, and 
governmental jurisdictions. The entities most likely to be affected by 
this interim rule are wheat producers whose fields have been added to 
the list of regulated areas, as well as producers whose fields have 
been removed from the list of regulated areas and who plan to grow 
wheat in the future. The exact number of such producers is unknown, but 
no more than about 500 producers are likely to be affected by this 
interim rule. For the reasons discussed below, we do not expect this 
rule to have a significant economic effect on affected producers.
    Producers affected by this interim rule are likely to be small in 
size based on U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) standards for 
wheat farmers, as well as data from the 1997 Census of Agriculture 
(1997 Census), which is the most recent census available. The SBA 
classifies wheat producers with total annual sales of less than 
$750,000 as small entities. According to 1997 Census data, there were a 
total of 6,135 farms in Arizona in 1997. (This total includes, but is 
not limited to, wheat farms.) Of the total number of farms in Arizona, 
89 percent had annual sales that year of less than $500,000, well below 
the SBA's small entity threshold of $750,000 for wheat farms. 
Similarly, the percentages of farms with annual sales of less than 
$500,000 in New Mexico (14,094 total farms) and Texas (194,301 total 
farms) were 97 percent and 98 percent, respectively.
    Producers whose fields are being deregulated will benefit from this 
rule because they will be able to move wheat without restriction. Prior 
to this rule, any wheat grain grown in those fields could be moved to 
nonregulated areas under a certificate only if it tested negative for 
bunted kernels, and any positive-testing wheat could be moved only 
under limited permit and subject to certain restrictions. Commercial 
wheat seed grown in those fields could not be moved at all to 
nonregulated areas. Conversely, wheat producers whose fields are being 
regulated will be adversely affected, because they will be subject to 
those movement restrictions.
    However, the effect of the interim rule on individual producers is 
not likely to be significant for several reasons. First, the testing of 
grain for Karnal bunt is already performed free of charge for producers 
in all regulated areas. For producers of wheat grain in the affected 
fields, therefore, the elimination (or imposition) of the testing 
requirement is a matter of inconvenience only, not a financial issue. 
Second, very little commercial wheat seed is, or is expected to be, 
grown in the affected fields. Because of that, the elimination (or 
imposition) of restrictions on moving seed is expected to have, at 
most, only a minimal effect on producers.
    The elimination (or imposition) of restrictions will increase (or 
restrict) marketing opportunities for producers, with impacts on prices 
received by individual producers. Those producers whose fields are 
deregulated may enjoy increased market opportunities for their wheat 
(e.g., the availability of export markets) and receive a higher 
commodity price. Alternatively, those producers whose fields are newly 
regulated may see the market for their wheat become more limited and 
receive a lower price. For producers in their first regulated crop 
season, such negative price-received effects will be mitigated by 
compensation for losses. Therefore, the net effect on producer revenues 
in the newly regulated areas is not likely to be significant. In 
subsequent regulated crop seasons, producers will incorporate the risk 
of Karnal bunt infestation into their planting decisions.
    It is also possible that this interim rule will serve to boost U.S. 
wheat exports to those countries with Karnal bunt restrictions that 
only recognize area freedom from Karnal bunt at the county level or 
above. As a result of this interim rule, producers in Yuma County, AZ, 
El Paso and Hudspeth Counties, TX, and from anywhere in the State of 
New Mexico would be eligible to export grain to countries with such 
restrictions. Conversely, since a portion of Knox County, TX, is being 
added to the list of regulated areas for the first time, Karnal bunt 
host crops produced in Knox County may no longer be eligible for export 
to those countries that

[[Page 61978]]

recognize area freedom only at the county level or above. We expect 
that despite these changes, the effect of this interim rule on U.S. 
wheat exports is not likely to be significant.
    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 12988

    This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, Civil 
Justice Reform. This rule: (1) Preempts all State and local laws and 
regulations that are inconsistent 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 new information collection or recordkeeping 
requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 
et seq.).

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 301

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


    Accordingly, we are amending 7 CFR part 301 as follows:

PART 301--DOMESTIC QUARANTINE NOTICES

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

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 166, 7711, 7712, 7714, 7731, 7735, 7751, 
7752, 7753, and 7754; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.3.

    Section 301.75-15 also issued under Sec. 204, Title II, Pub. L. 
106-113, 113 Stat. 1501A-293; sections 301.75-15 and 301.75-16 also 
issued under Sec. 203, Title II, Pub. L. 106-224, 114 Stat. 400 (7 
U.S.C. 1421 note).

    2. In Sec.  301.89-3, paragraph (f) is amended as follows:
    a. Under the heading ``Arizona,'' by revising the entries for 
Maricopa County and Pinal County to read as set forth below, and by 
removing the entry for Yuma County.
    b. By removing the heading ``New Mexico'' and the entries for Dona 
Ana, Hidalgo, Luna, and Sierra Counties.
    c. Under the heading ``Texas,'' by revising the entries for Archer, 
Baylor, McCulloch, San Saba, Throckmorton, and Young Counties to read 
as set forth below; by adding, in alphabetical order, an entry for Knox 
County to read as set forth below; and by removing the entries for El 
Paso and Hudspeth Counties.


Sec.  301.89-3  Regulated areas.

* * * * *
    (f) * * *

Arizona

* * * * *
    Maricopa County. (1) Beginning at the southeast corner of sec. 28, 
T. 1 S., R. 2 E.; then west to the southwest corner of sec. 30, T. 1 
S., R. 2 E.; then north to the southeast corner of sec. 24, T. 1 S., R. 
1 E.; then west to the southwest corner of sec. 24, T. 1 S., R. 1 E.; 
then north to the northwest corner of sec. 24, T. 1 S., R. 1 E.; then 
west to the southwest corner of sec. 14, T. 1 S., R. 1 E.; then north 
to the northwest corner of sec. 14, T. 1 S., R. 1 E.; then west to the 
southwest corner of sec. 9, T. 1 S., R. 1 E.; then north to the 
northwest corner of sec. 9, T. 1 S., R. 1 E.; then west to the 
southwest corner of sec. 5, T. 1 S., R. 1 E.; then north to the 
northwest corner of sec. 5, T. 1 S., R. 1 E.; then west to the 
northeast corner of sec. 6, T. 1 S., R. 1 W.; then south to the 
southeast corner of sec. 7, T. 1 S., R. 1 W.; then west to the 
northeast corner of sec. 14, T. 1 S., R. 2 W.; then south to the 
southeast corner of sec. 14, T. 1 S., R. 2 W.; then west to the 
northeast corner of sec. 20, T. 1 S., R. 2 W.; then south to the 
southeast corner of sec. 20, T. 1 S., R. 2 W.; then west to the 
northeast corner of sec. 29, T. 1 S., R. 3 W.; then south to the 
southeast corner of sec. 29, T. 1 S., R. 3 W.; then west to the 
southwest corner of sec. 27, T. 1 S., R. 4 W.; then north to the 
northwest corner of sec. 27, T. 1 S., R. 4 W.; then west to the 
southwest corner of sec. 24, T. 1 S., R. 5 W.; then north to the 
northwest corner of sec. 24, T. 1 S., R. 5 W.; then west to the 
southwest corner of sec. 14, T. 1 S., R. 5 W.; then north to the 
northwest corner of sec. 14, T. 1 N., R. 5 W.; then east to the 
southwest corner of sec. 7, T. 1 N., R. 2 W.; then north to the 
northwest corner of sec. 7, T. 1 N., R. 2 W.; then east to the 
northeast corner of sec. 7, T. 1 N., R. 2 W.; then north to the 
northwest corner of sec. 5, T. 1 N., R. 2 W.; then east to the 
northeast corner of sec. 5, T. 1 N., R. 2 W.; then north to the 
northwest corner of sec. 28, T. 2 N., R. 2 W.; then east to the 
northeast corner of sec. 28, T. 2 N., R. 2 W.; then north to the 
northwest corner of sec. 3, T. 3 N., R. 2 W.; then east to the 
northeast corner of sec. 1, T. 3 N., R. 1 W.; then south to the 
northwest corner of sec. 19, T. 3 N., R. 1 E.; then east to the 
northeast corner of sec. 23, T. 3 N., R. 1 E.; then south to the 
northwest corner of sec. 1, T. 2 N., R. 1 E.; then east to the 
northeast corner of sec. 1, T. 2 N., R. 1 E.; then south to the 
northwest corner of sec. 6, T. 1 N., R. 2 E.; then east to the 
northeast corner of sec. 4, T. 1 N., R. 2 E.; then south to the 
northwest corner of sec. 15, T. 1 N., R. 2 E.; then east to the 
northeast corner of sec. 13, T. 1 N., R. 2 E.; then south to the 
southeast corner of sec. 12, T. 1 S., R. 2 E.; then west to the 
northeast corner of sec. 16, T. 1 S., R. 2 E.; then south to the point 
of beginning.
    (2) Beginning at the intersection of the Maricopa/Pinal County line 
and the southwest corner of sec. 31, T. 2 S., R. 5 E.; then north to 
the southeast corner of sec. 25, T. 2 S., R. 5 E.; then west to the 
southwest corner of sec. 25, T. 2 S., R. 5 E.; then north to the 
northwest corner of sec. 24, T. 2 S., R. 4 E.; then west to the 
southwest corner of sec. 15, T. 2 S., R. 4 E.; then north to the 
northwest corner of sec. 3, T. 2 S., R. 4 E.; then east to the 
southwest corner of sec. 35, T. 1 S., R. 4 E.; then north to the 
northwest corner of sec. 35, T. 1 S., R. 4 E.; then east to the 
northeast corner of sec. 33, T. 1 S., R. 5 E.; then north to the 
northwest corner of sec. 22, T. 1 S., R. 5 E.; then east to the 
northeast corner of sec. 19, T. 1 S., R. 6 E.; then north to the 
northwest corner of sec. 8, T. 1 S., R. 6 E.; then east to the 
southwest corner of sec. 3, T. 1 S., R. 6 E.; then north to the 
northwest corner of sec. 3, T. 1 S., R. 6 E.; then east to the 
northeast corner of sec. 2, T. 1 S., R. 6 E.; then south to the 
southeast corner of sec. 2, T. 1 S., R. 6 E.; then east to the 
northeast corner of sec. 7, T. 1 S., R. 7 E.; then south to the 
northwest corner of sec. 5, T. 2 S., R. 7 E.; then east to the 
northeast corner of sec. 3, T. 2 S., R. 7 E.; then south to the 
southeast corner of sec. 3, T. 2 S., R. 7 E.; then east to the 
intersection of the northeast corner of sec. 12, T. 2 S., R. 7 E. and 
the Maricopa/Pinal County line; then south along the Maricopa/Pinal 
County line to the southeast corner of sec. 36, T. 2 S, R. 7 E.; then 
east along the Maricopa/Pinal County line to the point of beginning.
    (3) Beginning at the southeast corner of sec. 30, T. 6 S., R. 5 W.; 
then west to the northeast corner of sec. 33, T. 6 S., R. 6 W.; then 
south to the southeast corner of sec. 33, T. 6 S., R. 6 W.; then west 
to the southwest corner of sec. 36, T. 6 S., R. 7 W.; then north to the

[[Page 61979]]

northwest corner of sec. 36, T. 6 S., R. 7 W.; then west to the 
southwest corner of sec. 26, T. 6 S., R. 7 W.; then north to the 
northwest corner of sec. 23, T. 6 S., R. 7 W.; then west to the 
southeast corner of sec. 18, T. 6 S., R. 7 W.; then north to the 
northeast corner of sec. 6, T. 6 S., R. 7 W.; then west to the 
southeast corner of sec. 31, T. 5 S., R. 7 W.; then north to the 
northwest corner of sec. 29, T. 5 S., R. 7 W.; then east to the 
northwest corner of sec. 28, T. 5 S., R. 7 W.; then east to the 
southwest corner of sec. 22., T. 5 S., R. 7 W.; then north to the 
northwest corner of sec. 22, T. 5 S., R. 7 W.; then east to the 
southwest corner of sec. 14, T. 5 S., R. 7 W.; then north to the 
northwest corner of sec. 14, T. 5 S., R. 7 W.; then east to the 
northeast corner of sec. 14, T. 5 S., R. 6 W.; then south to the 
southeast corner of sec. 14, T. 5 S., R. 6 W.; then east to the 
northeast corner of sec. 24, T. 5 S., R. 6 W.; then south to the 
southeast corner of sec. 24, T. 5 S., R. 6 W.; then east to the 
northeast corner of sec. 30, T. 5 S., R. 5 W.; then south to the 
southeast corner of sec. 30, T. 5 S., R. 5 W.; then east to the 
northeast corner of sec. 32, T. 5 S., R. 5 W.; then south to the 
southeast corner of sec. 32, T. 5 S., R. 5 W.; then east to the 
northeast corner of sec. 5, T. 6 S., R. 5 W.; then south to the 
southeast corner of sec. 20, T. 6 S., R. 5 W.; then west to the 
northeast corner of sec. 30, T. 6 S., R. 5 W.; then south to the point 
of beginning.
    (4) Beginning at the southeast corner of sec. 34, T. 2 N., R. 5 E.; 
then west to the southwest corner of sec. 31, T. 2 N., R. 5 E.; then 
north to the northwest corner of sec. 7, T. 2 N., R. 5 E.; then east to 
the northeast corner of sec. 10, T. 2 N., R. 5 E.; then south to the 
point of beginning.
    Pinal County. (1) Beginning at the intersection of the Maricopa/
Pinal County line and the northwest corner of sec. 7, T. 2 S., R. 8 E.; 
then east to the northeast corner of sec. 8, T. 2 S., R. 8 E.; then 
south to the southeast corner of sec. 8, T. 2 S., R. 8 E.; then east to 
the northeast corner of sec. 16, T. 2 S., R. 8 E.; then south to the 
southeast corner of sec. 28, T. 2 S., R. 8 E.; then west to the 
northeast corner of sec. 32, T. 2 S., R. 8 E.; then south to the 
southeast corner of sec. 32, T. 2 S., R. 8 E.; then west to the 
Maricopa/Pinal County line; then north along the Maricopa/Pinal County 
line to the point of beginning.
    (2) Beginning at the intersection of the Maricopa/Pinal County line 
and the northeast corner of sec. 2, T. 3 S., R. 7 E.; then south to the 
southeast corner of sec. 2, T. 3 S., R. 7 E.; then west to the 
northeast corner of sec. 9, T. 3 S., R. 6 E.; then south to the 
southeast corner of sec. 4, T. 4 S., R. 6 E.; then west to the 
southwest corner of sec. 5, T. 4 S., R. 6 E.; then north to the 
northwest corner of sec. 5, T. 4 S., R. 6 E.; then west to the 
southwest corner of sec. 34, T. 3 S., R. 5 E.; then north to the 
northwest corner of sec. 10, T. 3 S., R. 5 E.; then west to the 
southwest corner of sec. 6, T. 3 S., R. 5 E.; then north to the 
intersection of the northwest corner of sec. 6, T. 3 S., R. 5 E. and 
the Maricopa/Pinal County line; then east along the Maricopa/Pinal 
County line to the point of beginning.
    (3) Beginning at the southeast corner of sec. 5, T. 6 S., R. 4 E.; 
then west to the southwest corner of sec. 5, T. 6 S., R. 3 E.; then 
north to the northwest corner of sec. 5, T. 6 S., R. 3 E.; then west to 
the southwest corner of sec. 32, T. 5 S., R. 3 E.; then north to the 
northwest corner of sec. 32, T. 5 S., R. 3 E.; then west to the 
southwest corner of sec. 30, T. 5 S., R. 3 E.; then north to the 
southeast corner of sec. 25, T. 5 S., R. 2 E.; then west to the 
southwest corner of sec. 25, T. 5 S., R. 2 E.; then north to the 
northwest corner of sec. 25, T. 5 S., R. 2 E.; then west to the 
southwest corner of sec. 23, T. 5 S., R. 2 E.; then north to the 
northwest corner of sec. 35, T. 4 S., R. 2 E.; then east to the 
northeast corner of sec. 35, T. 4 S., R. 2 E.; then north to the 
northwest corner of sec. 25, T. 4 S., R. 2 E.; then east to the 
southwest corner of sec. 20, T. 4 S., R. 3 E.; then north to the 
northwest corner of sec. 20, T. 4 S., R. 3 E.; then east to the 
northeast corner of sec. 21, T. 4 S., R. 4 E.; then south to the 
northwest corner of sec. 34, T. 4 S., R. 4 E.; then east to the 
northeast corner of sec. 35, T. 4 S., R. 4 E.; then south to the 
northwest corner of sec. 1, T. 5 S., R. 4 E.; then east to the 
northeast corner of sec. 1, T. 5 S., R. 4 E.; then south to the 
southeast corner of sec. 1, T. 5 S., R. 4 E.; then west to the 
northeast corner of sec. 12, T. 5 S, R. 4 E.; then south to the 
southeast corner of sec. 24, T. 5 S., R. 4 E.; then west to the 
southwest corner of sec. 24, T. 5 S., R. 4 E.; then south to the 
northeast corner of sec. 35, T. 5 S., R. 4 E.; then west to the 
northwest corner of sec. 35, T. 5 S., R. 4 E.; then south to the 
southeast corner of sec. 37, T. 5 S., R. 4 E.; then west to the 
northeast corner of sec. 48, T. 5 S., R. 4 E.; then south to the 
southeast corner of sec. 49, T. 5 S., R. 4 E.; then west to the 
northeast corner of sec. 5, T. 6 S., R. 4 E.; then south to the point 
of beginning.
    (4) The following individual fields in Pinal County are regulated 
areas: 309021801, 309021804, 309021812, 309031304, 309033507, 
309042544, 309042545, 309042601, 309042607, 309042619, 309042620, 
309042621, 309050104, 309050109, 309050122, 309050207, 309050209.
* * * * *

Texas

    Archer County. (1) Beginning at the intersection of the line of 
longitude -98.5457[deg] W. and the line of latitude 33.6656[deg] N.; 
then east along the line of latitude 33.6656[deg] N. to the line of 
longitude -98.4380[deg] W.; then south along the line of longitude -
98.4380[deg] W. to the line of latitude 33.5763[deg] N.; then west 
along the line of latitude 33.5763[deg] N. to the line of longitude -
98.5457[deg] W.; then north along the line of longitude -98.5457[deg] 
W. to the point of beginning.
    (2) Beginning at the intersection of the Archer/Baylor County line 
and the line of latitude 33.4051[deg] N.; then east along the line of 
latitude 33.4051[deg] N. to the line of longitude -98.9345[deg] W.; 
then north along the line of longitude -98.9345[deg] W. to the line of 
latitude 33.4570[deg] N.; then east along the line of latitude 
33.4570[deg] N. to the line of longitude -98.8227[deg] W.; then south 
along the line of longitude -98.8227[deg] W. to the Archer/Young County 
line; then west along the Archer/Young County line to the Archer/Baylor 
County line; then north along the Archer/Baylor County line to the 
point of beginning.
    (3) Beginning at the intersection of the Archer/Young County line 
and the line of longitude -98.7926[deg] W.; then north along the line 
of longitude -98.7926[deg] W. to the line of latitude 33.3978[deg] N.; 
then east along the line of latitude 33.3978[deg] N. to the line of 
longitude -98.6870[deg] W.; then south along the line of longitude -
98.6870[deg] W. to the Archer/Young County line; then west along the 
Archer/Young County line to the point of beginning.
    Baylor County. (1) Beginning at the intersection of the line of 
longitude -99.1633[deg] W. and the line of latitude 33.8148[deg] N.; 
then east along the line of latitude 33.8148[deg] N. to the line of 
longitude -99.0436[deg] W.; then south along the line of longitude -
99.0436[deg] W. to the line of latitude 33.7143[deg] N.; then west 
along the line of latitude 33.7143[deg] N. to the line of longitude -
99.1633[deg] W.; then north along the line of longitude -99.1633[deg]W. 
to the point of beginning.
    (2) Beginning at the intersection of the Baylor/Knox County line 
and the line of latitude 33.6751[deg] N.; then east along the line of 
latitude 33.6751[deg] N. to the line of longitude -99.3831[deg] W.; 
then south along the line of longitude -99.3831[deg] W. to the line of 
latitude 33.6505[deg] N.; then east along the line of latitude 
33.6505[deg] N. to the line of longitude

[[Page 61980]]

-99.2542[deg] W.; then south along the line of longitude -99.2542[deg] 
W. to the line of latitude 33.5598[deg] N.; then west along the line of 
latitude 33.5598[deg] N. to the line of longitude -99.3139[deg] W.; 
then south along the line of longitude -99.3139[deg] W. to the line of 
latitude 33.4542[deg] N.; then west along the line of latitude 
33.4542[deg] N. to the line of longitude -99.4276[deg] W.; then north 
along the line of longitude -99.4276[deg] W. to the line of latitude 
33.5284[deg] N.; then west along the line of latitude 33.5284[deg] N. 
to the Baylor/Knox County line; then north along the Baylor/Knox County 
line to the point of beginning.
    (3) Beginning at the intersection of the Baylor/Throckmorton County 
line and the line of longitude -99.1271[deg] W.; then north along the 
line of longitude -99.1271[deg] W. to the line of latitude 33.4445[deg] 
N.; then east along the line of latitude 33.4445[deg] N. to the line of 
longitude -99.0189[deg] W.; then south along the line of longitude -
99.0189[deg] W. to the line of latitude 33.4051[deg] N.; then east 
along the line of latitude 33.4051[deg] N. to the Baylor/Archer County 
line; then south along the Baylor/Archer County line to the Baylor/
Throckmorton County line; then west along the Baylor/Throckmorton 
County line to the point of beginning.
    Knox County. Beginning at the intersection of the Knox/Baylor 
County line and the line of latitude 33.5284[deg] N.; then west along 
the line of latitude 33.5284[deg]N. to the line of longitude -
99.4962[deg] W.; then north along the line of longitude -99.4962[deg] 
W. to the line of latitude 33.5802[deg] N.; then west along the line of 
latitude 33.5802[deg] N. to the line of longitude -99.4971[deg] W.; 
then north along the line of longitude -99.4971[deg] W. to the line of 
latitude 33.6751[deg] N.; then east along the line of latitude 
33.6751[deg] N. to the Knox/Baylor County line; then south along the 
Knox/Baylor County line to the point of beginning.
    McCulloch County. Beginning at the intersection of the McCulloch/
San Saba County line and the line of latitude 31.2147[deg] N.; then 
west along the line of latitude 31.2147[deg] N. to the line of 
longitude 99.1818[deg] W.; then north along the line of longitude 
99.1818[deg] W. to the line of latitude 31.3455[deg] N.; then east 
along the line of latitude 31.3455[deg] N. to the line of longitude 
99.1860[deg] W.; then north along the line of longitude 99.1860[deg] W. 
to the line of latitude 31.4464[deg] N.; then east along the line of 
latitude 31.4464[deg] N. to the McCulloch/San Saba County line; then 
south along the McCulloch/San Saba County line to the point of 
beginning.
    San Saba County. (1) Beginning at the intersection of the San Saba/
Mills County line and the line of longitude -98.5851[deg] W.; then 
south along the line of longitude -98.5851[deg] W. to the line of 
latitude 31.1301[deg] N.; then west along the line of latitude 
31.1301[deg] N. to the line of longitude -98.9463[deg] W.; then north 
along the line of longitude -98.9463[deg] W. to the line of latitude 
31.3299[deg] N.; then east along the line of latitude 31.3299[deg] N. 
to the San Saba/Mill County line; then south along the San Saba/Mill 
County line to the point of beginning.
    (2) Beginning at the intersection of the San Saba/McCulloch County 
line and the line of latitude 31.4474[deg] N.; then east along the line 
of latitude 31.4474[deg] N. to the line of longitude -99.9922[deg] W.; 
then south along the line of longitude -99.9922[deg] W. to the line of 
latitude 31.2147[deg] N.; then west along the line of latitude 
31.2147[deg] N. to the San Saba/McCulloch County line; then north along 
the San Saba/McCulloch County line to the point of beginning.
    Throckmorton County. Beginning at the intersection of the 
Throckmorton/Young County line and the line of latitude 33.1810[deg] 
N.; then west along the line of latitude 33.1810[deg] N. to the line of 
longitude -98.9922[deg] W.; then north along the line longitude -
98.9922[deg] W. to the line of latitude 33.2175[deg] N.; then west 
along the line of latitude 33.2175[deg] N. to the line of longitude -
99.0837[deg] W.; then north along the line of longitude -99.0837[deg] 
W. to the line of latitude 33.3073[deg] N.; then east along the line of 
latitude 33.3073[deg] N. to the line of longitude -99.0531[deg] W.; 
then north along the line of longitude -99.0531[deg] W. to the line of 
latitude 33.3535[deg] N.; then west along the line of latitude 
33.3535[deg] N. to the line of longitude -99.1271[deg]W.; then north 
along the line of longitude -99.1271[deg]W. to the Throckmorton/Baylor 
County line; then east along the Throckmorton/Baylor County line to the 
Throckmorton/Young County line; then south along the Throckmorton/Young 
County line to the point of beginning.
    Young County. (1) Beginning at the intersection of the Young/Archer 
County line and the line of longitude -98.8228[deg] W.; then south 
along the line of longitude -98.8228[deg] W. to the line of latitude 
33.3600[deg] N.; then west along the line of latitude 33.3600[deg] N. 
to the line of longitude -98.9410[deg] W.; then south along the line of 
longitude -98.9410[deg] W. to the line of latitude 33.3001[deg] N.; 
then east along the line of latitude 33.3001[deg] N. to the line of 
longitude -98.8884[deg] W.; then south along the line of longitude -
98.8884[deg] W. to the line of latitude 33.2878[deg] N.; then east 
along the line of latitude 33.2878[deg] N. to the line of longitude -
98.8355[deg] W.; then south on the line of longitude -98.8355[deg] W. 
to the line of latitude 33.2552[deg] N.; then east along the line of 
latitude 33.2552[deg] N. to the line of longitude -98.7856[deg] W.; 
then south along the line of longitude -98.7856[deg] W. to the line of 
latitude 33.2237[deg] N.; then east along the line of latitude 
33.2237[deg] N. to the line of longitude -98.7065[deg] W.; then south 
along the line of longitude -98.7065[deg] W. to the line of latitude 
33.1329[deg] N.; then west along the line of latitude 33.1329[deg] N. 
to the line of longitude -98.8250[deg] W.; then north along the line of 
longitude -98.8250[deg] W. to the line of latitude 33.1484[deg] N.; 
then west along the line of latitude 33.1484[deg] N. to the line of 
longitude -98.9312[deg] W.; then north along the line of longitude -
98.9312[deg] W. to the line of latitude 33.1810[deg] N.; then west 
along the line of latitude 33.1810[deg] N. to the Young/Throckmorton 
County line; then north along the Young/Throckmorton County line to the 
Young/Archer County line; then east along the Young/Archer County line 
to the point of beginning.
    (2) Beginning at the intersection of the Young/Archer County line 
and the line of longitude -98.6851[deg] W.; then south along the line 
of longitude -98.6851[deg] W. to the line of latitude 33.3053[deg] N.; 
then west along the line of latitude 33.3053[deg] N. to the line of 
longitude -98.7906[deg] W.; then north along the line of longitude -
98.7906[deg] W. to the line of latitude 33.3069[deg] N.; then west 
along the line of latitude 33.3069[deg] N. to the line of longitude -
98.7926[deg] W.; then north along the line of longitude -98.7926[deg] 
W. to the Young/Archer County line; then east along the Young/Archer 
County line to the point of beginning.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 27th day of September 2002 .
Peter Fernandez,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 02-25160 Filed 10-2-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P