Phytophthora ramorum; Regulated Areas, Regulated Establishments, and Testing Protocols, 16189-16195 [2019-07798]
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16189
Rules and Regulations
Federal Register
Vol. 84, No. 75
Thursday, April 18, 2019
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER
contains regulatory documents having general
applicability and legal effect, most of which
are keyed to and codified in the Code of
Federal Regulations, which is published under
50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.
The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by
the Superintendent of Documents.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service
7 CFR Part 301
[Docket No. APHIS–2015–0101]
RIN 0579–AE30
Phytophthora ramorum; Regulated
Areas, Regulated Establishments, and
Testing Protocols
Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
We are amending the
Phytophthora ramorum regulations to
remove regulated areas for P. ramorum
from the regulations, as well as all
regulatory requirements specific to such
areas. We are revising the inspection
and sampling requirements for certain
nurseries that are in areas quarantined
for P. ramorum and that ship regulated
nursery stock interstate to have them
take into consideration additional
potential sources of P. ramorum
inoculum at the nurseries. Finally, we
are establishing conditions under which
we would regulate nurseries located
outside of the quarantined areas for P.
ramorum, if sources of P. ramorum
inoculum are detected at those nurseries
and the nurseries ship certain articles
interstate. These changes will provide
regulatory relief to nurseries in areas
that are regulated for P. ramorum, while
also ensuring that nurseries that may
pose a risk of disseminating P. ramorum
through the interstate movement of
regulated nursery stock are subject to
measures that address this risk.
DATES: Effective May 20, 2019.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
William Wesela, National Policy
Manager, Pest Management, PPQ,
APHIS, 4700 River Road, Riverdale, MD
20737–1238; (301) 851–2229.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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SUMMARY:
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Background
Under section 412(a) of the Plant
Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.,
referred to below as the PPA), the
Secretary of Agriculture may prohibit or
restrict the movement in interstate
commerce of any plant or plant product,
if the Secretary determines that the
prohibition or restriction is necessary to
prevent the dissemination of a plant
pest within the United States.
Phytophthora ramorum, the cause of
sudden oak death, ramorum leaf blight,
and ramorum dieback, is a harmful
pathogen that can cause mortality in
several oak tree species and also causes
twig and foliar diseases in numerous
native and non-native ornamental
plants, shrubs, and trees within the
United States.
Since its initial discovery in Marin
County, CA, in 1995, the P. ramorum
pathogen has been confirmed on various
native hosts in Curry County, OR, and
15 California counties. In 2001, the
States of Oregon and California
restricted intrastate movement of certain
articles from known infested areas at the
time to prevent the spread of P.
ramorum within those States. Because
infected plants and plant products that
move interstate could serve as a
pathway for the introduction of P.
ramorum to other areas of the United
States, the Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service (APHIS) issued an
interim rule published in the Federal
Register on February 14, 2002 (67 FR
6827–6837, Docket No. 01–054–1) to
quarantine portions of the States of
California and Oregon where P.
ramorum was confirmed to exist (at the
time, 10 counties in California and a
portion of Curry County, OR). The
interim rule established a new subpart,
‘‘Subpart X—Phytophthora ramorum’’
(7 CFR 301.92 through 301.92–12,
referred to below as the regulations),
which contains APHIS’ regulations to
address the spread of P. ramorum.
Subsequent detections of the pathogen
from two large southern California
nurseries in 2004 that had shipped
potentially infested plants throughout
the United States led to the additional
implementation of a Federal Order in
2005 requiring inspection of nurseries
in California, Oregon, and Washington
that ship host plants or associated host
plants. As new findings emerged since
that time, APHIS revised its protocols
and expanded its quarantined areas to
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manage P. ramorum infections in the
United States.
In a Federal Order issued on January
10, 2014, and a Federal Order issued on
April 3, 2015, we restructured the
domestic quarantine program for
Phytophthora ramorum.1 On June 25,
2018, we published in the Federal
Register (83 FR 29465–29472, Docket
No. APHIS–2015–0101), a proposal 2 to
amend the regulations to reflect the
changes made by the 2014 and 2015
Federal Orders to the Phytophthora
ramorum domestic quarantine program.
Additionally, we proposed to update the
lists of hosts and associated hosts for P.
ramorum, and to establish conditions
for the interstate movement of soil
samples from areas quarantined for P.
ramorum.
We solicited comments on the
proposal for 60 days ending August 24,
2018. We received 10 comments on our
proposal. Comments were from
researchers, State agricultural and
conservation agencies, environmental
advocacy groups, research foundations,
and private citizens. Of these, one was
fully supportive of the proposed action.
Another objected to the proposal
generally on the grounds that it would
increase the spread of disease, but did
not address specific concerns with the
proposal. Others supported some
aspects of the proposal, but raised
several issues of concern. These issues
are discussed below by topic.
Interstate Movement of Regulated
Articles
An issue of concern to several
commenters was the risk posed by
interstate movement of nursery stock
and other regulated articles under the
proposed regulations. One commenter
representing a State Department of
Agriculture objected to the interstate
shipment of plants from quarantine
zones regardless of host status. The
commenter stated that the proposal’s
method of evaluating plants in regulated
establishments on a nursery-by-nursery
basis prior to interstate shipment could
lead to the P. ramorum pathogen
moving with the shipment, if sampling
is done during a latent period or if lots
1 https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/
planthealth/plant-pest-and-disease-programs/pestsand-diseases/phytophthora-ramorum/ct_
phytophthora_ramorum_sudden_oak_death.
2 To view the proposal, supporting documents,
and the comments we received, go to https://
www.regulations.gov/docket?D=APHIS-2015-0101.
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testing free of the pathogen are
contaminated prior to shipment. The
commenter also noted that nurseries
within a P. ramorum quarantined area
remain at risk for contamination due to
P. ramorum existing in the natural
environment. In addition to objecting to
the interstate shipment of plants from
quarantine zones, the commenter asked
that conditions for the shipment of
plants from regulated establishments
outside quarantine zones be clarified in
the details of proposed compliance
agreements, including mitigation
measures, to ensure that there is no
evidence of the pathogen in the natural
environment, or the possibility of
contamination from positive plant
material in the nursery.
APHIS has been operating under the
current P. ramorum domestic
quarantine program, as implemented by
Federal Orders, since 2014. We have
found the existing testing protocols and
conditions in place for interstate
movement of regulated, restricted, and
associated articles from quarantined
areas and from regulated
establishments, which this rule codifies,
are sufficient to mitigate the risk of
transmission of the pathogen.
Additionally, we note in response to the
commenter’s concerns regarding
sampling that the regulations require
that annual inspections and sampling
take place at times most conducive to
detection of the pathogen.
Compliance agreements between
regulated establishments and APHIS
ensure that appropriate standards for
individual establishments are
implemented to prevent the spread of
the P. ramorum pathogen. As the
Agency responsible for Federal
oversight of regulated establishments,
APHIS will continue to ensure that
requirements specified in individual
compliance agreements meet stringent
Agency standards to prevent the spread
of the pathogen.
Another commenter representing a
State Department of Food and
Agriculture raised concerns regarding
the proposed sampling requirement for
nurseries in quarantined areas to be set
on a nursery-by-nursery basis. The
commenter stated that Federal Order
DA–2014–02, used as a justification in
the proposed rule for changing these
sampling standards, does not actually
address the number of samples to be
collected during the annual quarantine
compliance inspection of a nursery,
only the number of samples for the
Federal Order’s compliance sampling
that occurs biannually at previously
positive nurseries. The State expressed
concern that its regulators under this
proposal would be placed under a
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substantial burden, and requested
clarification regarding the minimum
number of samples to be taken during
an annual inspection in quarantined
counties not previously testing positive
for P. ramorum, as well as guidance in
the form of a table or guide in the
proposal to determine the number of
samples to be collected from each
nursery. The commenter also requested
that APHIS re-examine Federal Order
DA–2014–02 to determine if the Order’s
intent supports the proposed nurseryby-nursery basis for sampling, and
asked that APHIS add a regulatory
requirement for the inspection of
nurseries that supply interstate
shippers.
We agree with the commenter’s
assessment of the proposed sampling
requirements for nurseries in
quarantined areas and will not be
making that proposed change in this
final rule. Sampling requirements for
annual inspections of nurseries in
quarantined areas not previously testing
positive for P. ramorum will continue as
implemented under existing regulations
and Federal Orders. We have also taken
the commenter’s request for additional
nursery inspections under
consideration, and will keep it in mind
for future updates to domestic
quarantine program operations. APHIS
meets annually with the National Plant
Board to discuss the program and any
changes in protocol that may be needed,
and will continue to engage with
stakeholders when making operational
decisions.
Two commenters stated that the risk
of inadvertent shipment of the P.
ramorum pathogen, and subsequent risk
to forests and nurseries, would be
reduced with additional mitigations in
the proposed rule including more
rigorous inspections, surveys, or
monitoring. The commenters noted that
any nursery with host plants in any
location should be considered as a
potential source of infested plants.
Another commenter also highlighted the
risk that any nursery plant poses in
transmitting P. ramorum, adding that
APHIS should institute a system for
detecting the pathogen in any nursery
that contains host plants. The
commenter indicated that such a system
should include mandatory inspection
and monitoring using techniques for
detecting P. ramorum beyond visual
inspection alone, and that enhanced
regulatory scrutiny should be applied to
nurseries in geographic areas that are
conducive to survival of P. ramorum or
that sell plants to be planted in such
geographic areas. The commenter also
suggested resources for research that
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support amended testing protocols for P.
ramorum.
We appreciate the commenters’
concerns regarding the potential for
additional infestation of P. ramorum.
While our regulations focus on
establishments that participate or intend
to participate in interstate shipping,
based on our experience in
administering the domestic quarantine
program, we believe the conditions
currently in place for testing and
inspections—which will be codified
under this rule—are sufficient for
preventing further spread of the
pathogen and for protecting American
agriculture. As mentioned above, the
regulations require that annual
inspections and sampling take place at
times most conducive to detection of P.
ramorum, which mitigates the risk of
inadvertent shipment of the pathogen.
Additionally, this rule will codify the
use of measures beyond visual
inspection for detecting the pathogen in
regulated establishments and nurseries
in quarantined areas shipping regulated
articles interstate, including testing of
soil and standing water. As in past
practice, we will continue to monitor
detection of the pathogen, and will
reevaluate program protocols should the
need arise.
One commenter questioned where the
proposal would leave ‘opt-out’ nurseries
that had tested positive for P. ramorum
since March 31, 2011, but decided not
to ship interstate under the DA–2014–02
Federal Order. The commenter asked if
such nurseries would be considered a
regulated establishment under the
proposed rule if they choose to ship
interstate in the future, or if the rule
creates a loophole for these opt-out
nurseries to begin shipping interstate
without sampling or certification.
In § 301.92–3(b) of the proposed rule
and this final rule, we indicate that the
Administrator will designate a nursery
that is not located in a quarantined area
for P. ramorum as a regulated
establishment if the nursery ships
regulated, restricted, or associated
articles interstate and sources of P.
ramorum are detected on nursery stock,
or in soil, growing media, pots used for
nursery stock, water sources, or any
other regulated, restricted, or associated
articles at the nursery. A nursery
outside of a quarantined area that has
tested positive for P. ramorum and
wishes to begin shipping interstate will
need to meet the requirements of
§§ 301.92–4 and 301.92–5, as well as the
inspection and sampling requirements
in § 301.92–11(c).
Any nurseries located in quarantined
areas in which P. ramorum has been
detected since March 31, 2011, wishing
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to ship interstate under the
requirements of § 301.92–11(a)(2) in
this rule will need to meet the
requirements therein for inspection,
sampling, and testing prior to shipment.
Two commenters representing
different Departments of the same State
also expressed concerns about interstate
movement of P. ramorum, and asked for
additional Federal oversight measures to
address this. They asked that the U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA) not
relax regulations to protect against P.
ramorum infestation and requested that
USDA allow receiving States more
flexibility in their ability to protect State
resources. They also expressed concern
that nurseries testing positive for P.
ramorum are placed under Federal
compliance agreements, which are then
left to the States for oversight without
stated minimum standards for
mitigation processes.
Ongoing cooperation between Federal
and State regulators is essential to the
proper functioning of the domestic
quarantine program for P. ramorum.
States play an important role in this
relationship to enforce regulatory
requirements, for which Federal funding
is provided. APHIS remains committed
to its ongoing partnership with States,
and intends to set minimum standards
for mitigation processes through the
codification of this rule. Additionally,
we note that this rule does not relax any
regulatory operations, but rather
updates the regulations to codify
existing protocols that have been in
place since 2014, and will remain in
place following publication of this rule.
Discrepancies in Background
Information and Host List
Several commenters noted
discrepancies in the background
information of the proposed rule. Two
commenters highlighted specific
passages where suggestions for
rewording were included to clarify the
history and background associated with
the P. ramorum pathogen. Several
commenters also noted that the
proposed rule’s statement that 14
counties in California are under
quarantine for P. ramorum should read
as 15. A few commenters also took issue
with the APHIS host list, finding it to
exclude a number of hosts and also
finding the length of time between a
host’s identification and its addition to
the list to be unsatisfactory. Specifically,
commenters cited concerns regarding
the placement of the Japanese larch
(Larix kaempferi) on the list of
associated hosts, as literature in the
United Kingdom has documented that
this is a proven host of the pathogen.
The commenters requested that APHIS
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re-evaluate its determination of hosts,
including the speed with which hosts
are evaluated, in addition to adding
Japanese larch to the host list.
We appreciate the commenters’
concerns and have in this final rule
clarified background information that
may have been inadvertently imprecise
regarding the historical progression of P.
ramorum detections and response
protocols in the United States. The
reference to 14 quarantined counties in
the preamble of the proposed rule was
made in the context of describing the
list of counties in the existing
regulations (first implemented by the
2002 interim rule). We have clarified
this reference in this final rule, and note
that all 15 counties quarantined under
subsequent Federal Orders were
included in the regulatory text of the
proposal.
Regarding the host list, we agree with
commenters as to the challenges of
maintaining an updated host list in its
current form. To address this issue, we
plan in the near future to restructure the
lists of proven P. ramorum hosts and
associated plant taxa, and to move the
lists from the regulations to the APHIS
website to allow for more timely
updates. Part of the restructuring plan
would likely include merging the lists of
proven and associated hosts into a
single host list, which would address
commenters’ concern regarding
placement of specific taxa within the
existing lists. Any such plans would be
proposed via rulemaking with a public
comment period provided.
One commenter stated that the
background information in the proposed
rule understated the risk of P. ramorum
infection to nurseries, pointing out that
the annual 3 percent level of detection
cited in the proposal is not a low level
of risk, that spread of the pathogen to
nurseries from the natural environment
still occurs despite regulatory efforts,
and that new infections in nurseries are
likely to continue absent mandated
surveys of all nurseries selling host or
associated host plant material.
We wish to clarify that the 3 percent
level of detection indicated in the
preamble text was referring to the
number of nurseries, not the number of
overall plants, where P. ramorum was
detected. Also, we note that we are
bound by statutory authority to regulate
based on interstate commerce, and
therefore cannot mandate regulatory
requirements that extend beyond this
authority. However, based on our
experience in administering the
domestic quarantine program and the
relatively low number of infestations
discovered during its implementation,
we believe that the proposed methods
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16191
are sufficient to mitigate risks of further
spread of the pathogen. As we have
done in past practice with making
program enhancements—including with
this final rule that codifies program
updates that were made to existing
regulations—we note that we will
continue to monitor detections of P.
ramorum and will update program
protocols should it become necessary to
do so.
Lack of Transparency
Citing a lack of publicly-available
data, several commenters noted the
difficulty for non-regulators to be able to
adequately evaluate the existing efficacy
of the P. ramorum program and the
provisions to codify them in the
proposed rule. The commenters
requested that APHIS reinstate the P.
ramorum quarterly program updates
that were discontinued in 2014.
We appreciate the commenters’
concerns and will be reinstating the P.
ramorum program updates beginning in
April of 2019.
Therefore, for the reasons given in the
proposed rule and in this document, we
are adopting the proposed rule as a final
rule, with the changes discussed in this
document.
Executive Orders 12866 and 13771 and
Regulatory Flexibility Act
This rule is not an Executive Order
13771 regulatory action because this
rule is not significant under Executive
Order 12866. Further, APHIS considers
this rule to be a deregulatory action
under Executive Order 13771 as the
action would remove regulated areas for
P. ramorum from the regulations, as
well as the regulatory requirements
specific to such areas, thus relieving
restrictions on affected entities living in
those areas. This final rule has been
determined to be not significant for the
purposes of Executive Order 12866 and,
therefore, has not been reviewed by the
Office of Management and Budget.
In accordance with the Regulatory
Flexibility Act, we have analyzed the
potential economic effects of this action
on small entities. The analysis is
summarized below. Copies of the full
analysis are available by contacting the
person listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT or on the
Regulations.gov website (see ADDRESSES
above for instructions for accessing
Regulations.gov).
This rule revises the Phytophthora
ramorum domestic regulations in
accordance with Federal Orders issued
2013–2015. The Federal Orders have
allowed APHIS and State regulatory
agencies to focus regulatory controls on
the nurseries that present a significant
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risk of spreading the pathogen and away
from those nurseries that pose a
negligible risk of contributing to its
artificial spread, thereby more
efficiently apportioning resources and
the regulatory burden.
The rule removes the designation of P.
ramorum regulated areas, as well as all
restrictions and protocols specific to
those areas. It will relieve the regulatory
burden on approximately 1,500
nurseries where the pathogen is not
present in the environment. As an
alternative to regulated areas, this action
codifies the concept of regulated
establishments that will be required to
enter into compliance agreement with
APHIS.
The annual cost of complying with
the P. ramorum management
requirements in the regulations ranges
from $14,000 to $16,000 per nursery.
Thus, the cost savings for the 1,500
operations that will be relieved of these
management requirements range from
$21 million to $24 million per year. In
accordance with guidance on complying
with Executive Order 13771, the single
primary estimate of the cost savings of
this rule is about $22.5 million ($15,000
per nursery), the mid-point estimate of
cost savings annualized in perpetuity
using a 7 percent discount rate. In
addition, by not requiring annual
certification by APHIS or State officials,
there will be public cost savings of
about $363,000 per year.
This rule will not deregulate the
current P. ramorum quarantine areas,
nor will it deregulate interstate shipping
nurseries located within these
quarantined areas. For regulated
establishments and establishments
located within quarantined areas,
compliance costs may increase or
decrease depending on amended best
management practices, but any related
change in operational costs is not
expected to be significant.
The majority of establishments that
will be affected by this rule are small
entities. The rule codifies current
Federal Orders, and will not have a
significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities.
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
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State and local officials. (See 2 CFR
chapter IV.)
Executive Order 12988
This final 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
In accordance with section 3507(d) of
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the reporting,
recordkeeping, and third party
disclosure requirements included in this
final rule have already been approved
by the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) under OMB control
numbers 0579–0088 and 0579–0310.
E-Government Act Compliance
The Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service is committed to
compliance with the E-Government Act
to promote the use of the internet and
other information technologies, to
provide increased opportunities for
citizen access to Government
information and services, and for other
purposes. For information pertinent to
E-Government Act compliance related
to this final rule, please contact Ms.
Kimberly Hardy, APHIS’ Information
Collection Coordinator, at (301) 851–
2483.
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. 7701–7772 and 7781–
7786; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.3.
Section 301.75–15 issued under Sec. 204,
Title II, Public Law 106–113, 113 Stat.
1501A–293; sections 301.75–15 and 301.75–
16 issued under Sec. 203, Title II, Public Law
106–224, 114 Stat. 400 (7 U.S.C. 1421 note).
2. Section 301.92 is amended as
follows:
■ a. By revising paragraph (b); and
■ b. In paragraph (c), by removing the
words ‘‘quarantined or regulated area’’
and adding the words ‘‘quarantined area
or regulated establishment’’ in their
place.
■
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The revision reads as follows:
§ 301.92 Restrictions on interstate
movement.
*
*
*
*
*
(b) No person may move interstate
from any regulated establishment any
regulated, restricted, or associated
articles except in accordance with this
subpart.
*
*
*
*
*
■ 3. Section 301.92–1 is amended by
removing the definition for Regulated
area and by adding, in alphabetical
order, a definition for Regulated
establishment to reads as follows:
§ 301.92–1
Definitions.
*
*
*
*
*
Regulated establishment. Any nursery
regulated by APHIS pursuant to
§ 301.92–3(b).
*
*
*
*
*
■ 4. Section 301.92–2 is amended as
follows:
■ a. In paragraph (d), by adding entries
in alphabetical order for Cinnamomum
camphora and Gaultheria procumbens;
and
■ b. In paragraph (e), by adding entries
in alphabetical order for Ilex cornuta,
Illicium parviflorum, Larix kaempferi,
Magnolia denudata, Mahonia nervosa,
Molinadendron sinaloense,
Trachelospermum jasminoides, and
Veronica spicata Syn.
Pseudolysimachion spicatum.
The additions read as follows:
§ 301.92–2 Restricted, regulated, and
associated articles; lists of proven hosts
and associated plant taxa.
*
*
*
*
*
(d) * * *
* Cinnamomum camphora Camphor
tree
*
*
*
*
*
* Gaultheria procumbens, Eastern
teaberry
*
*
*
*
*
(e) * * *
Ilex cornuta Buford holly, Chinese
holly
*
*
*
*
*
Illicium parviflorum Yellow anise
Larix kaempferi Japanese larch
*
*
*
*
*
Magnolia denudata Lily tree
*
*
*
*
*
Mahonia nervosa Creeping Oregon
grape
*
*
*
*
*
Molinadendron sinaloense
*
*
*
*
*
Trachelospermum jasminoides Star
jasmine, confederate jasmine
*
*
*
*
*
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Veronica spicata Syn.
Pseudolysimachion spicatum Spiked
speedwell
■ 5. Section 301.92–3 is revised to read
as follows:
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§ 301.92–3 Quarantined areas and
regulated establishments.
(a) Quarantined areas. (1) Except as
otherwise provided in paragraph (a)(2)
of this section, the Administrator will
designate as a quarantined area in
paragraph (a)(3) of this section each
State, or each portion of a State, in
which Phytophthora ramorum has been
confirmed by an inspector to be
established in the natural environment,
in which the Administrator has reason
to believe that Phytophthora ramorum is
present in the natural environment, or
that the Administrator considers it
necessary to quarantine because of its
inseparability for quarantine
enforcement purposes from localities in
which Phytophthora ramorum has been
found in the natural environment. Less
than an entire area will be designated as
a quarantined area only if the
Administrator determines that:
(i) The State has adopted and is
enforcing restrictions on the intrastate
movement of regulated, restricted, and
associated articles that are substantially
the same as those imposed by this
subpart on the interstate movement of
regulated, restricted, and associated
articles; and
(ii) The designation of less than the
entire State as a quarantined area will
prevent the interstate spread of
Phytophthora ramorum.
(2) The Administrator or an inspector
may temporarily designate any
nonquarantined area as a quarantined
area in accordance with paragraph (a)(1)
of this section. The Administrator will
give a copy of this regulation along with
a written notice for the temporary
designation to the owner or person in
possession of the nonquarantined area.
Thereafter, the interstate movement of
any regulated, restricted, or associated
article from an area temporarily
designated as a quarantined area will be
subject to this subpart. As soon as
practicable, this area will be added to
the list in paragraph (a)(3) of this section
or the designation will be terminated by
the Administrator or an inspector. The
owner or person in possession of an area
for which designation is terminated will
be given notice of the termination as
soon as practicable.
(3) The following areas are designated
as quarantined areas:
California
Alameda County. The entire county.
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Contra Costa County. The entire
county.
Humboldt County. The entire county.
Lake County. The entire county.
Marin County. The entire county.
Mendocino County. The entire
county.
Monterey County. The entire county.
Napa County. The entire county.
San Francisco County. The entire
county.
San Mateo County. The entire county.
Santa Clara County. The entire
county.
Santa Cruz County. The entire county.
Solano County. The entire county.
Sonoma County. The entire county.
Trinity County. The entire county.
Oregon
Curry County. The following portion
of Curry County that lies inside the area
starting at the point where the mouth of
the Rogue River meets the Pacific Ocean
and continuing east along the Rogue
River to the northeast corner of T35S
R12W section 31; then south to the
northeast corner of T38S R12W section
18; then east to the northeast corner of
T38S R12W section 13; then south to
northeast corner of T38S R12W section
25; then east to the northeast corner of
T38S R11W section 29; then south to
the northeast corner of T40S R11W
section 8; then east to the northeast
corner of T40S R11W section 10; then
south to the State border with
California; then west to the intersection
of the State border and U.S. Highway
101; then northwest along U.S. Highway
101 to the intersection with West
Benham Lane; then west along West
Benham Lane to the Pacific Coastline;
then following the Pacific Coastline
northwest to the point of beginning.
(b) Regulated establishments—(1)
Designation. The Administrator will
designate a nursery that is not located
in a quarantined area for Phytophthora
ramorum as a regulated establishment
for Phytophthora ramorum if the
nursery ships regulated, restricted, or
associated articles interstate and sources
of Phytophthora ramorum are detected
on nursery stock, or in soil, growing
media, pots used for nursery stock,
standing water, drainage water, water
used for irrigation, or any other
regulated, restricted, or associated
articles at the nursery.
(2) Deregulation. The Administrator
will withdraw regulation of a regulated
establishment if, for 3 consecutive years,
each time the nursery is inspected by an
inspector, it is found free of sources of
Phytophthora ramorum inoculum.
(Approved by the Office of Management
and Budget under control number 0579–
0310)
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16193
6. Section 301.92–4 is amended by
revising the section heading and
paragraphs (a)(2) and (d) to read as
follows:
■
§ 301.92–4 Conditions governing the
interstate movement of regulated,
restricted, and associated articles, and nonhost nursery stock from quarantined and
regulated establishments.
(a) * * *
(2) Without a certificate. (i)(A) The
regulated article or associated article
originated outside the quarantined area
and the point of origin of the article is
indicated on the waybill of the vehicle
transporting the article; and
(B) The regulated or associated article
is moved from outside of the
quarantined area through the
quarantined area without stopping
except for refueling or for traffic
conditions, such as traffic lights or stop
signs, and the article is not unpacked or
unloaded in the quarantined area.
(ii) Soil samples may be moved from
a quarantined area for Phytophthora
ramorum for chemical or physical
(compositional) analysis provided that
they are moved to a laboratory; and that
laboratory:
(A) Has entered into and is operating
under a compliance agreement with
APHIS in accordance with § 301.92–6;
(B) Is abiding by all terms and
conditions of that compliance
agreement; and
(C) Is approved by APHIS to test and/
or analyze such samples.
*
*
*
*
*
(d) Interstate movement of regulated,
restricted, and associated articles from
regulated establishments. Regulated,
restricted, and associated articles may
be moved interstate from a regulated
establishment if the regulated
establishment has entered into a
compliance agreement with APHIS in
accordance with § 301.92–6, and the
articles are accompanied by a certificate
issued in accordance with § 301.92–5.
■ 7. Section 301.92–5 is amended by
revising paragraphs (a)(1)(iv)(A) and (b)
to read as follows:
§ 301.92–5 Issuance and cancellation of
certificates.
(a) * * *
(1) * * *
(iv) * * *
(A)(1) Are shipped from a nursery that
has been inspected in accordance with
the inspection and sampling protocol
described in § 301.92–11(a)(1), and the
nursery is free of evidence of
Phytophthora ramorum infestation; or
(2) Are shipped from a nursery that
has been inspected in accordance with
the inspection and sampling protocol
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described in § 301.92–11(a)(2), and the
nursery is free of evidence of
Phytophthora ramorum infestation; or
(3) Are shipped from a nursery that
has been inspected in accordance with
the inspection and sampling protocol
described in § 301.92–11(a)(2), is not
free of evidence of Phytophthora
ramorum infestation, but has entered
into and is operating under a
compliance agreement with APHIS, and
is determined by an inspector to be
abiding by all terms and conditions of
that agreement; and
*
*
*
*
*
(b) Movements from regulated
establishments. An inspector may issue
a certificate for the movement of
regulated, restricted, and/or associated
articles from a regulated establishment
if the inspector determines that:
(1) The nursery has entered into a
compliance agreement APHIS in
accordance with § 301.92–6 and is
abiding by all terms and conditions of
that agreement; and
(2) The nursery has been inspected in
accordance with § 301.92–11(c); and
(3) The articles to be shipped
interstate are free from Phytophthora
ramorum inoculum; and
(4) The movement of the articles is
not subject to additional restriction
under section 414 of the Plant
Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7714) or other
Federal domestic plant quarantines and
regulations.
*
*
*
*
*
§ 301.92–6
[Amended]
8. Section 301.92–6 is amended as
follows:
■ a. By redesignating footnote 15 as
footnote 12; and
■ b. In the OMB citation at the end of
the section, by adding the words ‘‘0579–
0088 and’’ after the word ‘‘numbers’’.
■
§ 301.92–7
[Amended]
9. In § 301.92–7, footnote 16 is
redesignated as footnote 13.
■ 10. Section 301.92–11 is revised to
read as follows:
■
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§ 301.92–11
protocols.
Inspection and sampling
(a) Nurseries in quarantined areas
shipping regulated articles of nursery
stock and associated articles
interstate—(1) Nurseries in which
Phytophthora ramorum has not been
detected since March 31, 2011. To meet
the requirements of § 301.92–5(a)(1)(iv),
nurseries that are located in quarantined
areas, that move regulated articles of
nursery stock, decorative trees without
roots, wreaths, garlands, or greenery,
associated articles, or non-host nursery
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stock interstate, and in which
Phytophthora ramorum has not been
detected since March 31, 2011, must
meet the following requirements. Any
such nurseries in quarantined areas that
do not meet the following requirements
are prohibited from moving regulated
articles and associated articles
interstate. Any such nurseries in
quarantined areas that do not meet the
following requirements or those in
paragraph (b) of this section are
prohibited from moving non-host
nursery stock interstate.
(i) Annual inspection, sampling, and
testing—(A) Inspection. The nursery
must be inspected annually for
symptoms of Phytophthora ramorum by
an inspector. Inspectors will visually
inspect for symptomatic plants
throughout the nursery, and inspection
will focus on, but not be limited to,
regulated articles and associated
articles.
(B) Sampling. A minimum of 40 plant
samples must be tested per nursery
location. Samples must be taken from
all symptomatic plants if symptomatic
plants are present. If fewer than 40
symptomatic plants are present, each
symptomatic plant must be sampled and
the remainder of the 40 sample
minimum must be taken from
asymptomatic plants. If no symptomatic
plants are present, 40 asymptomatic
plants must be sampled; biased toward
proven hosts. Each sample may contain
more than one leaf, and may come from
more than one plant, but all plants in
the sample must be from the same lot.
Asymptomatic samples, if collected,
must be taken from regulated and
associated articles and nearby plants.
Inspectors must conduct inspections at
times when the best expression of
symptoms is anticipated and must take
nursery fungicide programs into
consideration. Nursery owners must
keep records of fungicide applications
for 2 years and must make them
available to inspectors upon request.
(C) Testing. Samples must be labeled
and sent for testing to a laboratory
approved by APHIS and must be tested
using a test method approved by APHIS,
in accordance with § 301.92–12.
(D) Annual certification. If all plant
samples tested in accordance with this
section and § 301.92–12 return negative
results for Phytophthora ramorum, an
inspector may certify that the nursery is
free of evidence of Phytophthora
ramorum infestation at the time of the
inspection, and the nursery is eligible to
enter into or maintain its compliance
agreement in accordance with § 301.92–
6.
(ii) Pre-shipment inspection,
sampling, and testing—(A) Inspection.
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Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
During the 30 days prior to interstate
movement from a nursery in a
quarantined area, regulated articles or
associated articles intended for
interstate movement must be inspected
for symptoms of Phytophthora ramorum
by an inspector. Inspection will focus
on, but not be limited to, regulated
articles and associated articles. No
inspections of shipments will be
conducted unless the nursery from
which the shipment originates has a
current and valid annual certification in
accordance with this section.
(1) If no symptomatic plants are found
upon inspection, the shipment may be
considered free from evidence of
Phytophthora ramorum and is eligible
for interstate movement, provided that
the nursery is operating under a
compliance agreement with APHIS in
accordance with § 301.92–6.
(2) If symptomatic plants are found
upon inspection, the inspector will
collect at least one sample per
symptomatic plant, and one sample per
regulated article or associated article
that is in close proximity to, or that has
had physical contact with, a
symptomatic plant.
(B) Testing and withholding from
interstate movement. Samples taken in
accordance with this paragraph (a)(1)
must be labeled and sent for testing to
a laboratory approved by APHIS and
must be tested using a test method
approved by APHIS, in accordance with
§ 301.92–12. The interstate movement of
plants in the shipment is prohibited
until the plants in the shipment are
determined to be free of evidence of
Phytophthora ramorum infection in
accordance with § 301.92–12.
(2) Nurseries in which Phytophthora
ramorum has been detected since March
31, 2011. To meet the requirements of
§ 301.92–5(a)(1)(iv), nurseries that are
located in quarantined areas, that move
regulated articles of nursery stock,
decorative trees without roots, wreaths,
garlands, or greenery, associated
articles, or non-host nursery stock
interstate, and in which Phytophthora
ramorum has been detected since March
31, 2011, must meet the following
requirements. Any such nurseries in
quarantined areas that do not meet the
following requirements are prohibited
from moving regulated articles and
associated articles interstate. Any such
nurseries in quarantined areas that do
not meet the following requirements or
those in paragraph (b) of this section are
prohibited from moving non-host
nursery stock interstate.
(i) Inspections. The nursery must be
inspected at least twice annually for
symptoms of Phytophthora ramorum
infestation by an inspector. The
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 75 / Thursday, April 18, 2019 / Rules and Regulations
inspection will focus on regulated
plants and other potential sources of
Phytophthora ramorum inoculum.
(ii) Sampling. Samples must be taken
from host plants, soil, standing water,
drainage water, water for irrigation, and
any other articles determined by the
inspector to be possible sources of
Phytophthora ramorum inoculum. The
number of samples taken may vary
depending on the possible sources of
inoculum identified at the nursery, as
well as the number of host articles in
the nursery.
(iii) Testing. Samples must be labeled
and sent for testing to a laboratory
approved by APHIS and must be tested
using a test method approved by APHIS
in accordance with § 301.92–12.
(iv) Negative results; certification. If
all samples tested in accordance with
this section and § 301.92–12 return
negative results for Phytophthora
ramorum, an inspector may certify that
the nursery is free of Phytophthora
ramorum at the time of the inspection.
If the nursery is inspected and
determined by an inspector to be free of
Phytophthora ramorum inoculum each
time it is inspected for 3 consecutive
years, the nursery will thereafter be
inspected in accordance with paragraph
(a)(1) of this section.
(v) Positive results. If any samples
tested in accordance with this section
and § 301.92–12 return positive results
for Phytophthora ramorum, the nursery
may ship lots of regulated, restricted,
and associated articles interstate
pursuant to § 301.92–5(b) only if the lot
is determined to be free from
Phytophthora ramorum inoculum. The
method for this determination will be
specified in the nursery’s compliance
agreement with APHIS.
(b) Nurseries in quarantined areas
shipping non-host nursery stock
interstate. Nurseries located in
quarantined areas and that move nonhost nursery stock interstate must meet
the requirements of this paragraph or
the requirements of paragraph (a) of this
section. If such nurseries contain any
regulated or restricted articles, the
nursery must meet the requirements of
paragraph (a) of this section. This
paragraph (b) only applies if there are
no regulated or associated articles or
nursery stock at the nursery. Nurseries
that do not meet the requirements of
paragraph (a) of this section or this
paragraph (b) are prohibited from
moving non-host nursery stock
interstate.
(1) Annual visual inspection. The
nursery must be visually inspected
annually for symptoms of Phytophthora
ramorum. Inspections and
determinations of freedom from
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16:34 Apr 17, 2019
Jkt 247001
evidence of Phytophthora ramorum
infestation must occur at the time when
the best expression of symptoms is
anticipated.
(2) Sampling. All plants showing
symptoms of infection with
Phytophthora ramorum upon inspection
will be sampled and tested in
accordance with § 301.92–12. If
symptomatic plants are found upon
inspection, the following plants must be
withheld from interstate shipment until
testing is completed and the nursery is
found free of evidence of Phytophthora
ramorum in accordance with this
paragraph (b) and § 301.92–12: All
symptomatic plants, any plants located
in the same lot as the suspect plant, and
any plants located within 2 meters of
this lot of plants.
(3) Certification. If all plant samples
tested in accordance with this section
and § 301.92–12 return negative results
for Phytophthora ramorum, or if an
inspector at the nursery determines that
plants in a nursery exhibit no signs of
infection with Phytophthora ramorum,
the inspector may certify that the
nursery free of evidence of
Phytophthora ramorum infestation at
the time of inspection. Certification is
valid for 1 year and must be renewed
each year to continue shipping plants
interstate.
(c) Regulated establishments shipping
regulated, restricted, or associated
articles of interstate—(1) Inspections. To
meet the conditions of § 301.92–5(b), the
regulated establishment must be
inspected at least twice annually for
symptoms of Phytophthora ramorum
infestation by an inspector. The
inspection will focus on regulated
plants and other potential sources of
Phytophthora ramorum inoculum.
(2) Sampling. Samples must be taken
from host plants, soil, standing water,
drainage water, water for irrigation,
growing media, and any other articles
determined by the inspector to be
possible sources of Phytophthora
ramorum inoculum. The number of
samples taken may vary depending on
the possible sources of inoculum
identified at the nursery, as well as the
number of host articles in the nursery.
(3) Testing. Samples must be labeled
and sent for testing to a laboratory
approved by APHIS and must be tested
using a test method approved by APHIS
in accordance with § 301.92–12.
(4) Negative results; certification. If all
samples tested in accordance with this
section and § 301.92–12 return negative
results for Phytophthora ramorum, an
inspector may certify that the nursery is
free of Phytophthora ramorum at the
time of the inspection. For purposes of
§ 301.92–5(b), regulated, restricted, and
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Sfmt 4700
16195
associated articles at a certified nursery
are considered free from Phytophthora
ramorum until the time of the next
inspection.
(5) Positive results. If any samples
tested in accordance with this section
and § 301.92–12 return positive results
for Phytophthora ramorum, the nursery
may ship lots of regulated, restricted,
and associated articles interstate
pursuant to § 301.92–5(b) only if the lot
is determined to be free from
Phytophthora ramorum inoculum. The
method for this determination will be
specified in the nursery’s compliance
agreement with APHIS.
(Approved by the Office of Management
and Budget under control number 0579–
0310)
§ 301.92–12
[Amended]
11. In § 301.92–12, paragraph (a)
introductory text is amended by
removing the words ‘‘prescreen plant
samples’’ and adding the words
‘‘prescreen samples’’ in their place.
■
Done in Washington, DC, this 12th day of
April 2019.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2019–07798 Filed 4–17–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
7 CFR Parts 905 and 944
[Doc. AMS–SC–18–0046; SC18–905–3 FR]
Oranges, Grapefruit, Tangerines, and
Pummelos Grown in Florida and
Imported Grapefruit; Change in Grade
and Size Requirements
Agricultural Marketing Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
This rule implements a
recommendation from the Citrus
Administrative Committee (Committee)
to revise the grade and size
requirements currently prescribed under
the marketing order for oranges,
grapefruit, tangerines, and pummelos
grown in Florida. This rule removes the
grade and size requirements for
Ambersweet and Temple oranges, and
simplifies the tables outlining the grade
and size requirements for interstate and
export shipments. A corresponding
change will be made to the grapefruit
import regulation as required under
section 8e of the Agricultural Marketing
Agreement Act of 1937.
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\18APR1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 75 (Thursday, April 18, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 16189-16195]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-07798]
========================================================================
Rules and Regulations
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains regulatory documents
having general applicability and legal effect, most of which are keyed
to and codified in the Code of Federal Regulations, which is published
under 50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.
The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by the Superintendent of Documents.
========================================================================
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 75 / Thursday, April 18, 2019 / Rules
and Regulations
[[Page 16189]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
7 CFR Part 301
[Docket No. APHIS-2015-0101]
RIN 0579-AE30
Phytophthora ramorum; Regulated Areas, Regulated Establishments,
and Testing Protocols
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We are amending the Phytophthora ramorum regulations to remove
regulated areas for P. ramorum from the regulations, as well as all
regulatory requirements specific to such areas. We are revising the
inspection and sampling requirements for certain nurseries that are in
areas quarantined for P. ramorum and that ship regulated nursery stock
interstate to have them take into consideration additional potential
sources of P. ramorum inoculum at the nurseries. Finally, we are
establishing conditions under which we would regulate nurseries located
outside of the quarantined areas for P. ramorum, if sources of P.
ramorum inoculum are detected at those nurseries and the nurseries ship
certain articles interstate. These changes will provide regulatory
relief to nurseries in areas that are regulated for P. ramorum, while
also ensuring that nurseries that may pose a risk of disseminating P.
ramorum through the interstate movement of regulated nursery stock are
subject to measures that address this risk.
DATES: Effective May 20, 2019.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. William Wesela, National Policy
Manager, Pest Management, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Riverdale, MD
20737-1238; (301) 851-2229.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Under section 412(a) of the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701 et
seq., referred to below as the PPA), the Secretary of Agriculture may
prohibit or restrict the movement in interstate commerce of any plant
or plant product, if the Secretary determines that the prohibition or
restriction is necessary to prevent the dissemination of a plant pest
within the United States.
Phytophthora ramorum, the cause of sudden oak death, ramorum leaf
blight, and ramorum dieback, is a harmful pathogen that can cause
mortality in several oak tree species and also causes twig and foliar
diseases in numerous native and non-native ornamental plants, shrubs,
and trees within the United States.
Since its initial discovery in Marin County, CA, in 1995, the P.
ramorum pathogen has been confirmed on various native hosts in Curry
County, OR, and 15 California counties. In 2001, the States of Oregon
and California restricted intrastate movement of certain articles from
known infested areas at the time to prevent the spread of P. ramorum
within those States. Because infected plants and plant products that
move interstate could serve as a pathway for the introduction of P.
ramorum to other areas of the United States, the Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service (APHIS) issued an interim rule published in
the Federal Register on February 14, 2002 (67 FR 6827-6837, Docket No.
01-054-1) to quarantine portions of the States of California and Oregon
where P. ramorum was confirmed to exist (at the time, 10 counties in
California and a portion of Curry County, OR). The interim rule
established a new subpart, ``Subpart X--Phytophthora ramorum'' (7 CFR
301.92 through 301.92-12, referred to below as the regulations), which
contains APHIS' regulations to address the spread of P. ramorum.
Subsequent detections of the pathogen from two large southern
California nurseries in 2004 that had shipped potentially infested
plants throughout the United States led to the additional
implementation of a Federal Order in 2005 requiring inspection of
nurseries in California, Oregon, and Washington that ship host plants
or associated host plants. As new findings emerged since that time,
APHIS revised its protocols and expanded its quarantined areas to
manage P. ramorum infections in the United States.
In a Federal Order issued on January 10, 2014, and a Federal Order
issued on April 3, 2015, we restructured the domestic quarantine
program for Phytophthora ramorum.\1\ On June 25, 2018, we published in
the Federal Register (83 FR 29465-29472, Docket No. APHIS-2015-0101), a
proposal \2\ to amend the regulations to reflect the changes made by
the 2014 and 2015 Federal Orders to the Phytophthora ramorum domestic
quarantine program. Additionally, we proposed to update the lists of
hosts and associated hosts for P. ramorum, and to establish conditions
for the interstate movement of soil samples from areas quarantined for
P. ramorum.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/plant-pest-and-disease-programs/pests-and-diseases/phytophthora-ramorum/ct_phytophthora_ramorum_sudden_oak_death.
\2\ To view the proposal, supporting documents, and the comments
we received, go to https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=APHIS-2015-0101.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
We solicited comments on the proposal for 60 days ending August 24,
2018. We received 10 comments on our proposal. Comments were from
researchers, State agricultural and conservation agencies,
environmental advocacy groups, research foundations, and private
citizens. Of these, one was fully supportive of the proposed action.
Another objected to the proposal generally on the grounds that it would
increase the spread of disease, but did not address specific concerns
with the proposal. Others supported some aspects of the proposal, but
raised several issues of concern. These issues are discussed below by
topic.
Interstate Movement of Regulated Articles
An issue of concern to several commenters was the risk posed by
interstate movement of nursery stock and other regulated articles under
the proposed regulations. One commenter representing a State Department
of Agriculture objected to the interstate shipment of plants from
quarantine zones regardless of host status. The commenter stated that
the proposal's method of evaluating plants in regulated establishments
on a nursery-by-nursery basis prior to interstate shipment could lead
to the P. ramorum pathogen moving with the shipment, if sampling is
done during a latent period or if lots
[[Page 16190]]
testing free of the pathogen are contaminated prior to shipment. The
commenter also noted that nurseries within a P. ramorum quarantined
area remain at risk for contamination due to P. ramorum existing in the
natural environment. In addition to objecting to the interstate
shipment of plants from quarantine zones, the commenter asked that
conditions for the shipment of plants from regulated establishments
outside quarantine zones be clarified in the details of proposed
compliance agreements, including mitigation measures, to ensure that
there is no evidence of the pathogen in the natural environment, or the
possibility of contamination from positive plant material in the
nursery.
APHIS has been operating under the current P. ramorum domestic
quarantine program, as implemented by Federal Orders, since 2014. We
have found the existing testing protocols and conditions in place for
interstate movement of regulated, restricted, and associated articles
from quarantined areas and from regulated establishments, which this
rule codifies, are sufficient to mitigate the risk of transmission of
the pathogen. Additionally, we note in response to the commenter's
concerns regarding sampling that the regulations require that annual
inspections and sampling take place at times most conducive to
detection of the pathogen.
Compliance agreements between regulated establishments and APHIS
ensure that appropriate standards for individual establishments are
implemented to prevent the spread of the P. ramorum pathogen. As the
Agency responsible for Federal oversight of regulated establishments,
APHIS will continue to ensure that requirements specified in individual
compliance agreements meet stringent Agency standards to prevent the
spread of the pathogen.
Another commenter representing a State Department of Food and
Agriculture raised concerns regarding the proposed sampling requirement
for nurseries in quarantined areas to be set on a nursery-by-nursery
basis. The commenter stated that Federal Order DA-2014-02, used as a
justification in the proposed rule for changing these sampling
standards, does not actually address the number of samples to be
collected during the annual quarantine compliance inspection of a
nursery, only the number of samples for the Federal Order's compliance
sampling that occurs biannually at previously positive nurseries. The
State expressed concern that its regulators under this proposal would
be placed under a substantial burden, and requested clarification
regarding the minimum number of samples to be taken during an annual
inspection in quarantined counties not previously testing positive for
P. ramorum, as well as guidance in the form of a table or guide in the
proposal to determine the number of samples to be collected from each
nursery. The commenter also requested that APHIS re-examine Federal
Order DA-2014-02 to determine if the Order's intent supports the
proposed nursery-by-nursery basis for sampling, and asked that APHIS
add a regulatory requirement for the inspection of nurseries that
supply interstate shippers.
We agree with the commenter's assessment of the proposed sampling
requirements for nurseries in quarantined areas and will not be making
that proposed change in this final rule. Sampling requirements for
annual inspections of nurseries in quarantined areas not previously
testing positive for P. ramorum will continue as implemented under
existing regulations and Federal Orders. We have also taken the
commenter's request for additional nursery inspections under
consideration, and will keep it in mind for future updates to domestic
quarantine program operations. APHIS meets annually with the National
Plant Board to discuss the program and any changes in protocol that may
be needed, and will continue to engage with stakeholders when making
operational decisions.
Two commenters stated that the risk of inadvertent shipment of the
P. ramorum pathogen, and subsequent risk to forests and nurseries,
would be reduced with additional mitigations in the proposed rule
including more rigorous inspections, surveys, or monitoring. The
commenters noted that any nursery with host plants in any location
should be considered as a potential source of infested plants. Another
commenter also highlighted the risk that any nursery plant poses in
transmitting P. ramorum, adding that APHIS should institute a system
for detecting the pathogen in any nursery that contains host plants.
The commenter indicated that such a system should include mandatory
inspection and monitoring using techniques for detecting P. ramorum
beyond visual inspection alone, and that enhanced regulatory scrutiny
should be applied to nurseries in geographic areas that are conducive
to survival of P. ramorum or that sell plants to be planted in such
geographic areas. The commenter also suggested resources for research
that support amended testing protocols for P. ramorum.
We appreciate the commenters' concerns regarding the potential for
additional infestation of P. ramorum. While our regulations focus on
establishments that participate or intend to participate in interstate
shipping, based on our experience in administering the domestic
quarantine program, we believe the conditions currently in place for
testing and inspections--which will be codified under this rule--are
sufficient for preventing further spread of the pathogen and for
protecting American agriculture. As mentioned above, the regulations
require that annual inspections and sampling take place at times most
conducive to detection of P. ramorum, which mitigates the risk of
inadvertent shipment of the pathogen. Additionally, this rule will
codify the use of measures beyond visual inspection for detecting the
pathogen in regulated establishments and nurseries in quarantined areas
shipping regulated articles interstate, including testing of soil and
standing water. As in past practice, we will continue to monitor
detection of the pathogen, and will reevaluate program protocols should
the need arise.
One commenter questioned where the proposal would leave `opt-out'
nurseries that had tested positive for P. ramorum since March 31, 2011,
but decided not to ship interstate under the DA-2014-02 Federal Order.
The commenter asked if such nurseries would be considered a regulated
establishment under the proposed rule if they choose to ship interstate
in the future, or if the rule creates a loophole for these opt-out
nurseries to begin shipping interstate without sampling or
certification.
In Sec. 301.92-3(b) of the proposed rule and this final rule, we
indicate that the Administrator will designate a nursery that is not
located in a quarantined area for P. ramorum as a regulated
establishment if the nursery ships regulated, restricted, or associated
articles interstate and sources of P. ramorum are detected on nursery
stock, or in soil, growing media, pots used for nursery stock, water
sources, or any other regulated, restricted, or associated articles at
the nursery. A nursery outside of a quarantined area that has tested
positive for P. ramorum and wishes to begin shipping interstate will
need to meet the requirements of Sec. Sec. 301.92-4 and 301.92-5, as
well as the inspection and sampling requirements in Sec. 301.92-11(c).
Any nurseries located in quarantined areas in which P. ramorum has
been detected since March 31, 2011, wishing
[[Page 16191]]
to ship interstate under the requirements of Sec. [thinsp]301.92-
11(a)(2) in this rule will need to meet the requirements therein for
inspection, sampling, and testing prior to shipment.
Two commenters representing different Departments of the same State
also expressed concerns about interstate movement of P. ramorum, and
asked for additional Federal oversight measures to address this. They
asked that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) not relax
regulations to protect against P. ramorum infestation and requested
that USDA allow receiving States more flexibility in their ability to
protect State resources. They also expressed concern that nurseries
testing positive for P. ramorum are placed under Federal compliance
agreements, which are then left to the States for oversight without
stated minimum standards for mitigation processes.
Ongoing cooperation between Federal and State regulators is
essential to the proper functioning of the domestic quarantine program
for P. ramorum. States play an important role in this relationship to
enforce regulatory requirements, for which Federal funding is provided.
APHIS remains committed to its ongoing partnership with States, and
intends to set minimum standards for mitigation processes through the
codification of this rule. Additionally, we note that this rule does
not relax any regulatory operations, but rather updates the regulations
to codify existing protocols that have been in place since 2014, and
will remain in place following publication of this rule.
Discrepancies in Background Information and Host List
Several commenters noted discrepancies in the background
information of the proposed rule. Two commenters highlighted specific
passages where suggestions for rewording were included to clarify the
history and background associated with the P. ramorum pathogen. Several
commenters also noted that the proposed rule's statement that 14
counties in California are under quarantine for P. ramorum should read
as 15. A few commenters also took issue with the APHIS host list,
finding it to exclude a number of hosts and also finding the length of
time between a host's identification and its addition to the list to be
unsatisfactory. Specifically, commenters cited concerns regarding the
placement of the Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi) on the list of
associated hosts, as literature in the United Kingdom has documented
that this is a proven host of the pathogen. The commenters requested
that APHIS re-evaluate its determination of hosts, including the speed
with which hosts are evaluated, in addition to adding Japanese larch to
the host list.
We appreciate the commenters' concerns and have in this final rule
clarified background information that may have been inadvertently
imprecise regarding the historical progression of P. ramorum detections
and response protocols in the United States. The reference to 14
quarantined counties in the preamble of the proposed rule was made in
the context of describing the list of counties in the existing
regulations (first implemented by the 2002 interim rule). We have
clarified this reference in this final rule, and note that all 15
counties quarantined under subsequent Federal Orders were included in
the regulatory text of the proposal.
Regarding the host list, we agree with commenters as to the
challenges of maintaining an updated host list in its current form. To
address this issue, we plan in the near future to restructure the lists
of proven P. ramorum hosts and associated plant taxa, and to move the
lists from the regulations to the APHIS website to allow for more
timely updates. Part of the restructuring plan would likely include
merging the lists of proven and associated hosts into a single host
list, which would address commenters' concern regarding placement of
specific taxa within the existing lists. Any such plans would be
proposed via rulemaking with a public comment period provided.
One commenter stated that the background information in the
proposed rule understated the risk of P. ramorum infection to
nurseries, pointing out that the annual 3 percent level of detection
cited in the proposal is not a low level of risk, that spread of the
pathogen to nurseries from the natural environment still occurs despite
regulatory efforts, and that new infections in nurseries are likely to
continue absent mandated surveys of all nurseries selling host or
associated host plant material.
We wish to clarify that the 3 percent level of detection indicated
in the preamble text was referring to the number of nurseries, not the
number of overall plants, where P. ramorum was detected. Also, we note
that we are bound by statutory authority to regulate based on
interstate commerce, and therefore cannot mandate regulatory
requirements that extend beyond this authority. However, based on our
experience in administering the domestic quarantine program and the
relatively low number of infestations discovered during its
implementation, we believe that the proposed methods are sufficient to
mitigate risks of further spread of the pathogen. As we have done in
past practice with making program enhancements--including with this
final rule that codifies program updates that were made to existing
regulations--we note that we will continue to monitor detections of P.
ramorum and will update program protocols should it become necessary to
do so.
Lack of Transparency
Citing a lack of publicly-available data, several commenters noted
the difficulty for non-regulators to be able to adequately evaluate the
existing efficacy of the P. ramorum program and the provisions to
codify them in the proposed rule. The commenters requested that APHIS
reinstate the P. ramorum quarterly program updates that were
discontinued in 2014.
We appreciate the commenters' concerns and will be reinstating the
P. ramorum program updates beginning in April of 2019.
Therefore, for the reasons given in the proposed rule and in this
document, we are adopting the proposed rule as a final rule, with the
changes discussed in this document.
Executive Orders 12866 and 13771 and Regulatory Flexibility Act
This rule is not an Executive Order 13771 regulatory action because
this rule is not significant under Executive Order 12866. Further,
APHIS considers this rule to be a deregulatory action under Executive
Order 13771 as the action would remove regulated areas for P. ramorum
from the regulations, as well as the regulatory requirements specific
to such areas, thus relieving restrictions on affected entities living
in those areas. This final rule has been determined to be not
significant for the purposes of Executive Order 12866 and, therefore,
has not been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget.
In accordance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act, we have analyzed
the potential economic effects of this action on small entities. The
analysis is summarized below. Copies of the full analysis are available
by contacting the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
or on the Regulations.gov website (see ADDRESSES above for instructions
for accessing Regulations.gov).
This rule revises the Phytophthora ramorum domestic regulations in
accordance with Federal Orders issued 2013-2015. The Federal Orders
have allowed APHIS and State regulatory agencies to focus regulatory
controls on the nurseries that present a significant
[[Page 16192]]
risk of spreading the pathogen and away from those nurseries that pose
a negligible risk of contributing to its artificial spread, thereby
more efficiently apportioning resources and the regulatory burden.
The rule removes the designation of P. ramorum regulated areas, as
well as all restrictions and protocols specific to those areas. It will
relieve the regulatory burden on approximately 1,500 nurseries where
the pathogen is not present in the environment. As an alternative to
regulated areas, this action codifies the concept of regulated
establishments that will be required to enter into compliance agreement
with APHIS.
The annual cost of complying with the P. ramorum management
requirements in the regulations ranges from $14,000 to $16,000 per
nursery. Thus, the cost savings for the 1,500 operations that will be
relieved of these management requirements range from $21 million to $24
million per year. In accordance with guidance on complying with
Executive Order 13771, the single primary estimate of the cost savings
of this rule is about $22.5 million ($15,000 per nursery), the mid-
point estimate of cost savings annualized in perpetuity using a 7
percent discount rate. In addition, by not requiring annual
certification by APHIS or State officials, there will be public cost
savings of about $363,000 per year.
This rule will not deregulate the current P. ramorum quarantine
areas, nor will it deregulate interstate shipping nurseries located
within these quarantined areas. For regulated establishments and
establishments located within quarantined areas, compliance costs may
increase or decrease depending on amended best management practices,
but any related change in operational costs is not expected to be
significant.
The majority of establishments that will be affected by this rule
are small entities. The rule codifies current Federal Orders, and will
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small
entities.
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 2 CFR chapter IV.)
Executive Order 12988
This final 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
In accordance with section 3507(d) of the Paperwork Reduction Act
of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the reporting, recordkeeping, and
third party disclosure requirements included in this final rule have
already been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
under OMB control numbers 0579-0088 and 0579-0310.
E-Government Act Compliance
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is committed to
compliance with the E-Government Act to promote the use of the internet
and other information technologies, to provide increased opportunities
for citizen access to Government information and services, and for
other purposes. For information pertinent to E-Government Act
compliance related to this final rule, please contact Ms. Kimberly
Hardy, APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 851-2483.
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
0
1. The authority citation for part 301 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7701-7772 and 7781-7786; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80,
and 371.3.
Section 301.75-15 issued under Sec. 204, Title II, Public Law
106-113, 113 Stat. 1501A-293; sections 301.75-15 and 301.75-16
issued under Sec. 203, Title II, Public Law 106-224, 114 Stat. 400
(7 U.S.C. 1421 note).
0
2. Section 301.92 is amended as follows:
0
a. By revising paragraph (b); and
0
b. In paragraph (c), by removing the words ``quarantined or regulated
area'' and adding the words ``quarantined area or regulated
establishment'' in their place.
The revision reads as follows:
Sec. 301.92 Restrictions on interstate movement.
* * * * *
(b) No person may move interstate from any regulated establishment
any regulated, restricted, or associated articles except in accordance
with this subpart.
* * * * *
0
3. Section 301.92-1 is amended by removing the definition for Regulated
area and by adding, in alphabetical order, a definition for Regulated
establishment to reads as follows:
Sec. 301.92-1 Definitions.
* * * * *
Regulated establishment. Any nursery regulated by APHIS pursuant to
Sec. 301.92-3(b).
* * * * *
0
4. Section 301.92-2 is amended as follows:
0
a. In paragraph (d), by adding entries in alphabetical order for
Cinnamomum camphora and Gaultheria procumbens; and
0
b. In paragraph (e), by adding entries in alphabetical order for Ilex
cornuta, Illicium parviflorum, Larix kaempferi, Magnolia denudata,
Mahonia nervosa, Molinadendron sinaloense, Trachelospermum jasminoides,
and Veronica spicata Syn. Pseudolysimachion spicatum.
The additions read as follows:
Sec. 301.92-2 Restricted, regulated, and associated articles; lists
of proven hosts and associated plant taxa.
* * * * *
(d) * * *
* Cinnamomum camphora Camphor tree
* * * * *
* Gaultheria procumbens, Eastern teaberry
* * * * *
(e) * * *
Ilex cornuta Buford holly, Chinese holly
* * * * *
Illicium parviflorum Yellow anise
Larix kaempferi Japanese larch
* * * * *
Magnolia denudata Lily tree
* * * * *
Mahonia nervosa Creeping Oregon grape
* * * * *
Molinadendron sinaloense
* * * * *
Trachelospermum jasminoides Star jasmine, confederate jasmine
* * * * *
[[Page 16193]]
Veronica spicata Syn. Pseudolysimachion spicatum Spiked speedwell
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5. Section 301.92-3 is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 301.92-3 Quarantined areas and regulated establishments.
(a) Quarantined areas. (1) Except as otherwise provided in
paragraph (a)(2) of this section, the Administrator will designate as a
quarantined area in paragraph (a)(3) of this section each State, or
each portion of a State, in which Phytophthora ramorum has been
confirmed by an inspector to be established in the natural environment,
in which the Administrator has reason to believe that Phytophthora
ramorum is present in the natural environment, or that the
Administrator considers it necessary to quarantine because of its
inseparability for quarantine enforcement purposes from localities in
which Phytophthora ramorum has been found in the natural environment.
Less than an entire area will be designated as a quarantined area only
if the Administrator determines that:
(i) The State has adopted and is enforcing restrictions on the
intrastate movement of regulated, restricted, and associated articles
that are substantially the same as those imposed by this subpart on the
interstate movement of regulated, restricted, and associated articles;
and
(ii) The designation of less than the entire State as a quarantined
area will prevent the interstate spread of Phytophthora ramorum.
(2) The Administrator or an inspector may temporarily designate any
nonquarantined area as a quarantined area in accordance with paragraph
(a)(1) of this section. The Administrator will give a copy of this
regulation along with a written notice for the temporary designation to
the owner or person in possession of the nonquarantined area.
Thereafter, the interstate movement of any regulated, restricted, or
associated article from an area temporarily designated as a quarantined
area will be subject to this subpart. As soon as practicable, this area
will be added to the list in paragraph (a)(3) of this section or the
designation will be terminated by the Administrator or an inspector.
The owner or person in possession of an area for which designation is
terminated will be given notice of the termination as soon as
practicable.
(3) The following areas are designated as quarantined areas:
California
Alameda County. The entire county.
Contra Costa County. The entire county.
Humboldt County. The entire county.
Lake County. The entire county.
Marin County. The entire county.
Mendocino County. The entire county.
Monterey County. The entire county.
Napa County. The entire county.
San Francisco County. The entire county.
San Mateo County. The entire county.
Santa Clara County. The entire county.
Santa Cruz County. The entire county.
Solano County. The entire county.
Sonoma County. The entire county.
Trinity County. The entire county.
Oregon
Curry County. The following portion of Curry County that lies
inside the area starting at the point where the mouth of the Rogue
River meets the Pacific Ocean and continuing east along the Rogue River
to the northeast corner of T35S R12W section 31; then south to the
northeast corner of T38S R12W section 18; then east to the northeast
corner of T38S R12W section 13; then south to northeast corner of T38S
R12W section 25; then east to the northeast corner of T38S R11W section
29; then south to the northeast corner of T40S R11W section 8; then
east to the northeast corner of T40S R11W section 10; then south to the
State border with California; then west to the intersection of the
State border and U.S. Highway 101; then northwest along U.S. Highway
101 to the intersection with West Benham Lane; then west along West
Benham Lane to the Pacific Coastline; then following the Pacific
Coastline northwest to the point of beginning.
(b) Regulated establishments--(1) Designation. The Administrator
will designate a nursery that is not located in a quarantined area for
Phytophthora ramorum as a regulated establishment for Phytophthora
ramorum if the nursery ships regulated, restricted, or associated
articles interstate and sources of Phytophthora ramorum are detected on
nursery stock, or in soil, growing media, pots used for nursery stock,
standing water, drainage water, water used for irrigation, or any other
regulated, restricted, or associated articles at the nursery.
(2) Deregulation. The Administrator will withdraw regulation of a
regulated establishment if, for 3 consecutive years, each time the
nursery is inspected by an inspector, it is found free of sources of
Phytophthora ramorum inoculum.
(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number
0579-0310)
0
6. Section 301.92-4 is amended by revising the section heading and
paragraphs (a)(2) and (d) to read as follows:
Sec. 301.92-4 Conditions governing the interstate movement of
regulated, restricted, and associated articles, and non-host nursery
stock from quarantined and regulated establishments.
(a) * * *
(2) Without a certificate. (i)(A) The regulated article or
associated article originated outside the quarantined area and the
point of origin of the article is indicated on the waybill of the
vehicle transporting the article; and
(B) The regulated or associated article is moved from outside of
the quarantined area through the quarantined area without stopping
except for refueling or for traffic conditions, such as traffic lights
or stop signs, and the article is not unpacked or unloaded in the
quarantined area.
(ii) Soil samples may be moved from a quarantined area for
Phytophthora ramorum for chemical or physical (compositional) analysis
provided that they are moved to a laboratory; and that laboratory:
(A) Has entered into and is operating under a compliance agreement
with APHIS in accordance with Sec. 301.92-6;
(B) Is abiding by all terms and conditions of that compliance
agreement; and
(C) Is approved by APHIS to test and/or analyze such samples.
* * * * *
(d) Interstate movement of regulated, restricted, and associated
articles from regulated establishments. Regulated, restricted, and
associated articles may be moved interstate from a regulated
establishment if the regulated establishment has entered into a
compliance agreement with APHIS in accordance with Sec. 301.92-6, and
the articles are accompanied by a certificate issued in accordance with
Sec. 301.92-5.
0
7. Section 301.92-5 is amended by revising paragraphs (a)(1)(iv)(A) and
(b) to read as follows:
Sec. 301.92-5 Issuance and cancellation of certificates.
(a) * * *
(1) * * *
(iv) * * *
(A)(1) Are shipped from a nursery that has been inspected in
accordance with the inspection and sampling protocol described in Sec.
301.92-11(a)(1), and the nursery is free of evidence of Phytophthora
ramorum infestation; or
(2) Are shipped from a nursery that has been inspected in
accordance with the inspection and sampling protocol
[[Page 16194]]
described in Sec. 301.92-11(a)(2), and the nursery is free of evidence
of Phytophthora ramorum infestation; or
(3) Are shipped from a nursery that has been inspected in
accordance with the inspection and sampling protocol described in Sec.
301.92-11(a)(2), is not free of evidence of Phytophthora ramorum
infestation, but has entered into and is operating under a compliance
agreement with APHIS, and is determined by an inspector to be abiding
by all terms and conditions of that agreement; and
* * * * *
(b) Movements from regulated establishments. An inspector may issue
a certificate for the movement of regulated, restricted, and/or
associated articles from a regulated establishment if the inspector
determines that:
(1) The nursery has entered into a compliance agreement APHIS in
accordance with Sec. 301.92-6 and is abiding by all terms and
conditions of that agreement; and
(2) The nursery has been inspected in accordance with Sec. 301.92-
11(c); and
(3) The articles to be shipped interstate are free from
Phytophthora ramorum inoculum; and
(4) The movement of the articles is not subject to additional
restriction under section 414 of the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C.
7714) or other Federal domestic plant quarantines and regulations.
* * * * *
Sec. 301.92-6 [Amended]
0
8. Section 301.92-6 is amended as follows:
0
a. By redesignating footnote 15 as footnote 12; and
0
b. In the OMB citation at the end of the section, by adding the words
``0579-0088 and'' after the word ``numbers''.
Sec. 301.92-7 [Amended]
0
9. In Sec. 301.92-7, footnote 16 is redesignated as footnote 13.
0
10. Section 301.92-11 is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 301.92-11 Inspection and sampling protocols.
(a) Nurseries in quarantined areas shipping regulated articles of
nursery stock and associated articles interstate--(1) Nurseries in
which Phytophthora ramorum has not been detected since March 31, 2011.
To meet the requirements of Sec. 301.92-5(a)(1)(iv), nurseries that
are located in quarantined areas, that move regulated articles of
nursery stock, decorative trees without roots, wreaths, garlands, or
greenery, associated articles, or non-host nursery stock interstate,
and in which Phytophthora ramorum has not been detected since March 31,
2011, must meet the following requirements. Any such nurseries in
quarantined areas that do not meet the following requirements are
prohibited from moving regulated articles and associated articles
interstate. Any such nurseries in quarantined areas that do not meet
the following requirements or those in paragraph (b) of this section
are prohibited from moving non-host nursery stock interstate.
(i) Annual inspection, sampling, and testing--(A) Inspection. The
nursery must be inspected annually for symptoms of Phytophthora ramorum
by an inspector. Inspectors will visually inspect for symptomatic
plants throughout the nursery, and inspection will focus on, but not be
limited to, regulated articles and associated articles.
(B) Sampling. A minimum of 40 plant samples must be tested per
nursery location. Samples must be taken from all symptomatic plants if
symptomatic plants are present. If fewer than 40 symptomatic plants are
present, each symptomatic plant must be sampled and the remainder of
the 40 sample minimum must be taken from asymptomatic plants. If no
symptomatic plants are present, 40 asymptomatic plants must be sampled;
biased toward proven hosts. Each sample may contain more than one leaf,
and may come from more than one plant, but all plants in the sample
must be from the same lot. Asymptomatic samples, if collected, must be
taken from regulated and associated articles and nearby plants.
Inspectors must conduct inspections at times when the best expression
of symptoms is anticipated and must take nursery fungicide programs
into consideration. Nursery owners must keep records of fungicide
applications for 2 years and must make them available to inspectors
upon request.
(C) Testing. Samples must be labeled and sent for testing to a
laboratory approved by APHIS and must be tested using a test method
approved by APHIS, in accordance with Sec. 301.92-12.
(D) Annual certification. If all plant samples tested in accordance
with this section and Sec. 301.92-12 return negative results for
Phytophthora ramorum, an inspector may certify that the nursery is free
of evidence of Phytophthora ramorum infestation at the time of the
inspection, and the nursery is eligible to enter into or maintain its
compliance agreement in accordance with Sec. 301.92-6.
(ii) Pre-shipment inspection, sampling, and testing--(A)
Inspection. During the 30 days prior to interstate movement from a
nursery in a quarantined area, regulated articles or associated
articles intended for interstate movement must be inspected for
symptoms of Phytophthora ramorum by an inspector. Inspection will focus
on, but not be limited to, regulated articles and associated articles.
No inspections of shipments will be conducted unless the nursery from
which the shipment originates has a current and valid annual
certification in accordance with this section.
(1) If no symptomatic plants are found upon inspection, the
shipment may be considered free from evidence of Phytophthora ramorum
and is eligible for interstate movement, provided that the nursery is
operating under a compliance agreement with APHIS in accordance with
Sec. 301.92-6.
(2) If symptomatic plants are found upon inspection, the inspector
will collect at least one sample per symptomatic plant, and one sample
per regulated article or associated article that is in close proximity
to, or that has had physical contact with, a symptomatic plant.
(B) Testing and withholding from interstate movement. Samples taken
in accordance with this paragraph (a)(1) must be labeled and sent for
testing to a laboratory approved by APHIS and must be tested using a
test method approved by APHIS, in accordance with Sec. 301.92-12. The
interstate movement of plants in the shipment is prohibited until the
plants in the shipment are determined to be free of evidence of
Phytophthora ramorum infection in accordance with Sec. 301.92-12.
(2) Nurseries in which Phytophthora ramorum has been detected since
March 31, 2011. To meet the requirements of Sec. 301.92-5(a)(1)(iv),
nurseries that are located in quarantined areas, that move regulated
articles of nursery stock, decorative trees without roots, wreaths,
garlands, or greenery, associated articles, or non-host nursery stock
interstate, and in which Phytophthora ramorum has been detected since
March 31, 2011, must meet the following requirements. Any such
nurseries in quarantined areas that do not meet the following
requirements are prohibited from moving regulated articles and
associated articles interstate. Any such nurseries in quarantined areas
that do not meet the following requirements or those in paragraph (b)
of this section are prohibited from moving non-host nursery stock
interstate.
(i) Inspections. The nursery must be inspected at least twice
annually for symptoms of Phytophthora ramorum infestation by an
inspector. The
[[Page 16195]]
inspection will focus on regulated plants and other potential sources
of Phytophthora ramorum inoculum.
(ii) Sampling. Samples must be taken from host plants, soil,
standing water, drainage water, water for irrigation, and any other
articles determined by the inspector to be possible sources of
Phytophthora ramorum inoculum. The number of samples taken may vary
depending on the possible sources of inoculum identified at the
nursery, as well as the number of host articles in the nursery.
(iii) Testing. Samples must be labeled and sent for testing to a
laboratory approved by APHIS and must be tested using a test method
approved by APHIS in accordance with Sec. 301.92-12.
(iv) Negative results; certification. If all samples tested in
accordance with this section and Sec. 301.92-12 return negative
results for Phytophthora ramorum, an inspector may certify that the
nursery is free of Phytophthora ramorum at the time of the inspection.
If the nursery is inspected and determined by an inspector to be free
of Phytophthora ramorum inoculum each time it is inspected for 3
consecutive years, the nursery will thereafter be inspected in
accordance with paragraph (a)(1) of this section.
(v) Positive results. If any samples tested in accordance with this
section and Sec. 301.92-12 return positive results for Phytophthora
ramorum, the nursery may ship lots of regulated, restricted, and
associated articles interstate pursuant to Sec. 301.92-5(b) only if
the lot is determined to be free from Phytophthora ramorum inoculum.
The method for this determination will be specified in the nursery's
compliance agreement with APHIS.
(b) Nurseries in quarantined areas shipping non-host nursery stock
interstate. Nurseries located in quarantined areas and that move non-
host nursery stock interstate must meet the requirements of this
paragraph or the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section. If such
nurseries contain any regulated or restricted articles, the nursery
must meet the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section. This
paragraph (b) only applies if there are no regulated or associated
articles or nursery stock at the nursery. Nurseries that do not meet
the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section or this paragraph (b)
are prohibited from moving non-host nursery stock interstate.
(1) Annual visual inspection. The nursery must be visually
inspected annually for symptoms of Phytophthora ramorum. Inspections
and determinations of freedom from evidence of Phytophthora ramorum
infestation must occur at the time when the best expression of symptoms
is anticipated.
(2) Sampling. All plants showing symptoms of infection with
Phytophthora ramorum upon inspection will be sampled and tested in
accordance with Sec. 301.92-12. If symptomatic plants are found upon
inspection, the following plants must be withheld from interstate
shipment until testing is completed and the nursery is found free of
evidence of Phytophthora ramorum in accordance with this paragraph (b)
and Sec. 301.92-12: All symptomatic plants, any plants located in the
same lot as the suspect plant, and any plants located within 2 meters
of this lot of plants.
(3) Certification. If all plant samples tested in accordance with
this section and Sec. 301.92-12 return negative results for
Phytophthora ramorum, or if an inspector at the nursery determines that
plants in a nursery exhibit no signs of infection with Phytophthora
ramorum, the inspector may certify that the nursery free of evidence of
Phytophthora ramorum infestation at the time of inspection.
Certification is valid for 1 year and must be renewed each year to
continue shipping plants interstate.
(c) Regulated establishments shipping regulated, restricted, or
associated articles of interstate--(1) Inspections. To meet the
conditions of Sec. 301.92-5(b), the regulated establishment must be
inspected at least twice annually for symptoms of Phytophthora ramorum
infestation by an inspector. The inspection will focus on regulated
plants and other potential sources of Phytophthora ramorum inoculum.
(2) Sampling. Samples must be taken from host plants, soil,
standing water, drainage water, water for irrigation, growing media,
and any other articles determined by the inspector to be possible
sources of Phytophthora ramorum inoculum. The number of samples taken
may vary depending on the possible sources of inoculum identified at
the nursery, as well as the number of host articles in the nursery.
(3) Testing. Samples must be labeled and sent for testing to a
laboratory approved by APHIS and must be tested using a test method
approved by APHIS in accordance with Sec. 301.92-12.
(4) Negative results; certification. If all samples tested in
accordance with this section and Sec. 301.92-12 return negative
results for Phytophthora ramorum, an inspector may certify that the
nursery is free of Phytophthora ramorum at the time of the inspection.
For purposes of Sec. 301.92-5(b), regulated, restricted, and
associated articles at a certified nursery are considered free from
Phytophthora ramorum until the time of the next inspection.
(5) Positive results. If any samples tested in accordance with this
section and Sec. 301.92-12 return positive results for Phytophthora
ramorum, the nursery may ship lots of regulated, restricted, and
associated articles interstate pursuant to Sec. 301.92-5(b) only if
the lot is determined to be free from Phytophthora ramorum inoculum.
The method for this determination will be specified in the nursery's
compliance agreement with APHIS.
(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number
0579-0310)
Sec. 301.92-12 [Amended]
0
11. In Sec. 301.92-12, paragraph (a) introductory text is amended by
removing the words ``prescreen plant samples'' and adding the words
``prescreen samples'' in their place.
Done in Washington, DC, this 12th day of April 2019.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-07798 Filed 4-17-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
