[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 7, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 11288]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-2073]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

7 CFR Part 301

[Docket No. 05-078-2]


Karnal Bunt; Addition and Removal of Regulated Areas in Arizona

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Affirmation of interim rule as final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting as a final rule, without change, an interim 
rule that amended the Karnal bunt regulations by adding certain areas 
in Maricopa and Pinal Counties, AZ, to the list of regulated areas and 
by removing certain areas or fields in Maricopa County, AZ, from the 
list of regulated areas. Those actions were necessary to prevent the 
spread of Karnal bunt into noninfected areas of the United States and 
to relieve restrictions on certain areas that were no longer necessary.

DATES: Effective on March 7, 2006, we are adopting as a final rule the 
interim rule that became effective on December 7, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Vedpal Malik, Karnal Bunt Program 
Manager, Pest Detection and Management Programs, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River 
Road Unit 134, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 734-3769.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    In an interim rule effective December 7, 2005, and published in the 
Federal Register on December 13, 2005 (70 FR 73553-73556, Docket No. 
05-078-1), we amended the regulations in ``Subpart--Karnal Bunt'' (7 
CFR 301.89-1 through 301.89-16) by adding certain areas in Maricopa and 
Pinal Counties, AZ, to the list of regulated areas in Sec.  301.89-
3(g), 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. In the same interim 
rule, we also amended the regulations by removing certain areas or 
fields in Maricopa County, AZ, from the list of regulated areas based 
on our determination that those fields or areas had met our criteria 
for release from regulation.
    We solicited comments concerning the interim rule for 60 days 
ending February 13, 2006. We did not receive any comments. Therefore, 
for the reasons given in the interim rule, we are adopting the interim 
rule as a final rule.
    This final rule also affirms the information contained in the 
interim rule concerning Executive Order 12866 and the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act, Executive Orders 12372 and 12988, and the Paperwork 
Reduction Act.
    Further, for this action, the Office of Management and Budget has 
waived its review under Executive Order 12866.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 301

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

PART 301--DOMESTIC QUARANTINE NOTICES

0
Accordingly, we are adopting as a final rule, without change, the 
interim rule that amended 7 CFR part 301 and that was published at 70 
FR 73553-73556 on December 13, 2005.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 28th day of February 2006.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 06-2073 Filed 3-6-06; 8:45 am]
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