APHIS Amends Karnal Bunt (Tilletia indica) Regulated Areas in Maricopa County in  Arizona 

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FOR INFORMATION AND ACTION
DA-2023-05

Subject: APHIS Amends Karnal Bunt (Tilletia indica) Regulated Areas in Maricopa County in  Arizona 

To: State, Tribal, and Territory Agricultural Regulatory Officials 

Effective immediately, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is amending the Karnal bunt regulated areas in Maricopa County, Arizona. 

Following a Spring 2023 survey of Karnal bunt regulated areas in Arizona, APHIS is reducing the regulated area in Maricopa County.

Specifically, APHIS is removing two fields from the list of regulated areas because these fields have been permanently removed from crop production and meet the criteria for deregulation listed in 7 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) § 301.89-3(e)(1). Release of these two fields from quarantine, including all fields regulated by proximity, will result in the deregulation of 7,593 field acres. In addition, APHIS is removing another field from the list of regulated areas because the field meets the five-year cumulative tillage requirement and the criteria for deregulation listed in 7 CFR § 301.89-3(e)(2). Release of this field from quarantine, including all fields regulated by proximity, will result in the deregulation of 3,876 field acres. None of these combined 11,469 field acres is on Tribal land.

Accordingly, there are no more restrictions on the interstate movement of Karnal bunt regulated articles from these areas; however, other portions of Maricopa and Pinal Counties remain regulated.

APHIS is taking these regulatory actions to prevent the spread of Karnal bunt from Arizona. Karnal bunt is a pest that affects wheat quality. APHIS regulates this plant disease because many trading partners require that U.S. wheat be certified as grown in areas free of Karnal bunt. APHIS will follow this action by publishing a Notice in the Federal Register.

More information on Karnal bunt is available at the following website:

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-health/kb

For additional information about the Karnal Bunt program, please contact the National Policy Manager, Lynn Evans-Goldner, at Lynn.Evans-Goldner@usda.gov or (301) 851-2286.  

/s/
Dr. Mark L Davidson
Deputy Administrator 
Plant Protection and Quarantine

Attachment: Federal Order