APHIS Adds Portions of Brazoria, Fort Bend, and Harris Counties in Texas to the Domestic Citrus Canker (Xanthomonas spp.) Quarantine Area

FOR INFORMATION AND ACTION

DA-2019-25

September 20, 2019

 

 

Subject:           APHIS Adds Portions of Brazoria, Fort Bend, and Harris Counties in Texas to the Domestic Citrus Canker (Xanthomonas spp.) Quarantine Area

 

To:                   State and Territory Agricultural Regulatory Officials

 

Effective immediately, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is expanding the area quarantined for citrus canker in Texas to include portions of Brazoria and Harris Counties in and near Pearland and additional portions of Fort Bend and Harris Counties in and near Richmond to prevent the spread of the disease.

 

On May 18, 2018, APHIS confirmed the positive identification of citrus canker in a residential citrus tree in Pearland, Texas following a homeowner report. The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) completed a delimiting survey around the location and found 22 additional citrus trees positive for citrus canker. APHIS confirmed citrus canker in additional trees around the existing Richmond Citrus Canker Quarantine area during routine surveys. TDA established an intrastate quarantine area for citrus canker that parallels the federal citrus canker regulatory requirements as specified in 7 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) §301.75.

 

Under the citrus canker quarantine regulations, the interstate movement of citrus plants and plant parts, other than commercially packed and disinfected citrus fruit, remains prohibited. Citrus nursery stock that is moved in accordance with regulations as noted in 7 CFR 301.75-6 may move from areas quarantined for citrus canker.

 

For additional information regarding the citrus canker program, you may call Citrus Health Response Program National Policy Manager Angela McMellen-Brannigan at 301-851-2314.

 

 

 

/s/

Osama El-Lissy

Deputy Administrator

Plant Protection and Quarantine

 

Attachment: Federal Order

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FEDERAL ORDER

 

Domestic Quarantine for Portions of Harris, Fort Bend, and Brazoria Counties in Texas for Citrus Canker (Xanthomonas spp.)

 

DA-2019-25

 

 

The purpose of this Federal Order is to prevent the spread of the plant disease citrus canker caused by Xanthomonas spp.[1] This Federal Order is issued in accordance with the regulatory authority provided by the Plant Protection Act of June 20, 2000, as amended, Section 412(a), 7 U.S.C. 7712(a). The Act authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to prohibit or restrict the movement in interstate commerce of any plant, plant part, or article, if the Secretary determines the prohibition or restriction is necessary to prevent the dissemination of a plant pest within the United States. The regulatory authority provided by 7 U.S.C. 7754 allows the Secretary to issue orders to carry out this provision of the Plant Protection Act. This Federal Order is likewise issued pursuant to the regulations promulgated under the Plant Protection Act found at 7 CFR 301.75 et. seq.

 

This Federal Order supersedes the citrus canker Federal Order DA-2018-10 for Texas issued on April 17, 2018, and revises the areas quarantined for citrus canker in Texas.

 

Addition of Quarantined Area

 

Effective immediately, this Federal Order adds additional portions of Brazoria, Fort Bend, and Harris Counties in Texas to the citrus canker quarantine area in Texas. This action is in response to detections of citrus canker and subsequent delimiting surveys in these areas. APHIS has determined that these areas in Texas meet the criteria in § 301.75-4 (b) of the regulation to be designated as quarantined areas.

 

To prevent the spread of citrus canker, the Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) finds it necessary to regulate portions of Brazoria, Fort Bend, and Harris Counties in Texas. Accordingly and effective immediately, all interstate movement of regulated articles from these areas must be done in accordance with the regulations promulgated in the Plant Protection Act found at 7 CFR 301.75 et seq. and any applicable provisions of this Federal Order.

 

The establishment of this quarantine area is reflected on the following designated website, which contains a description of all the current federal citrus canker quarantine areas:

 

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-health/citrus-canker

 

Section 7 CFR 301.75-4 (d) allows the designation of less than an entire state as a citrus canker regulated area only when the Administrator of APHIS has determined, as in this case, that the designation of less than an entire state is adequate to prevent the interstate spread of infestations of citrus canker. In addition, 7 CFR 301.75-4 (d) (2) requires that the state enforce an intrastate citrus canker quarantine that is equivalent to the federal citrus canker regulations. The State Plant Regulatory Official for Texas has confirmed the establishment of an intrastate quarantine area for citrus canker that mirrors the federal regulatory requirements as specified in 7 CFR 301.75.

 

7 CFR 301.75-4 (b) provides for the temporary designation of new regulated areas pending publication of a rule to add the new areas to the list shown in 7 CFR 301.75-4 (a). 7 CFR 301.75-4 (b) further requires written notification be given to the owner or person in possession of a newly quarantined area. This is the responsibility of the federal and/or state regulatory personnel responsible for the citrus canker program in the affected state.

 

For additional information regarding the citrus canker program, you may call Citrus Health Response Program National Policy Manager Angela McMellen-Brannigan at 301-851-2314.

 

We continue to appreciate the cooperative relationship with the state regulatory officials and citrus industry in Texas in our efforts to prevent the spread of citrus canker.

 

Quarantine Boundaries

 

This Federal Order updates the quarantined area for citrus canker in Texas as follows:

 

Rancho Viejo Citrus Canker Quarantined Area

Cameron County, Texas

 

The quarantine boundary is described as:

Starting at a point described as N26.037815 degrees and W97.662652 degrees, then North West along US 281 to a point described as N26.043182 degrees and W97.662384 degrees, then North

East along FM 732 to a point described as N26.045021 degrees and W97.666146 degrees, then

North West along Joines Rd to a point described as N26.07366 degrees and W97.640404 degrees, then North to a point described as N26.077092 degrees and W97.64515 degrees, then

North East along FM 732 to a point described as N26.077092 degrees and W97.64515 degrees, then South East along Pennsylvania to a point described as N26.101461 degrees and

W97.627285 degrees, then East along SH 100 to a point described as N26.073305515 degrees and W97.499314413 degrees, then South along Old Alice to a point described as

N26.045394196 degrees and W97.504870042 degrees, then South West to a point described as

N26.040001059 degrees and W97.510593706 degrees, then South to a point described as

N26.003180323 degrees and W97.515121111 degrees, then East to a point described as

N26.00304269 degrees and W97.512721575 degrees, then South to a point described as

N26.0015193 degrees and W97.512867198 degrees, then East to a point described as

N26.001250533 degrees and W97.508846831 degrees, then South to a point described as

N25.995337159 degrees and W97.50931978 degrees, then East along Abilene Trail to a point described as N25.993839022 degrees and W97.495641435 degrees, then South along State

Coach Trail to a point described as N25.978458918 degrees and W97.496850497 degrees, then

West along FM 3248 to a point described as N25.945208997 degrees and W97.54445823 degrees, then North West along US 281 to a point described as N25.961952175 degrees and

W97.578028281 degrees, then South to a point described as N25.944069784 degrees and

W97.580010328 degrees, then North West along the Rio Grande to the starting point.

 

Pearland Citrus Canker Quarantined Area

Harris and Brazoria Counties, Texas

 

The quarantine boundary is described as:

 

Starting at a point described as the intersection of Almeda Genoa Road and Monroe Boulevard, then East along Almeda Genoa Road to its intersection with Blackhawk Boulevard/Clearwood Drive, then North Easterly along Clearwood Drive to its intersection with I-45 (Gulf Freeway), then North Westerly along I-45 to its intersection with College Avenue, then Easterly to its intersection with SH3 (Galveston Road), then South Easterly on SH3 to its intersection with South Shaver Street, then South Westerly along South Shaver Street to its intersection with I-45 then South Easterly down I-45 to its intersection with the Gateway at Ellington Neighborhood, then South Westerly to the intersection of Beamer Road with Dixie Farm Road (FM 1959), then South Westerly along Dixie Farm Road to its intersection with East Broadway Street (FM 518), then North Westerly to its intersection with SH 35 (South Main Street), then Northerly to its intersection with McHard Road, then Easterly on McHard Road to its intersection with Pearland Parkway, then Northerly on Pearland Parkway/Monroe Boulevard to its intersection with Almeda Genoa Road, returning to the starting point.

 

Richmond Citrus Canker Quarantined Area

Fort Bend and Harris Counties, Texas

 

The quarantine boundary is described as:

 

Starting at a point described as N29.7166139524 degrees and W95.6013268808 degrees, then South along Shady Breeze to a point described as N29.7142932806 degrees and W95.6011334915 degrees, then East along West Park Tollway to a point described as N29.7146800592 degrees and W95.5962987587 degrees, then South along Cook to a point described as N29.6763889689 degrees and W95.5959119801 degrees, then East along Bissonette to a point described as N29.6655591655 degrees and W95.5885631843 degrees, then South East along Kirkwood to a point described as N29.6415788853 degrees and W95.5723184784 degrees, then East along Airport to a point described as N29.6440929481 degrees and W95.5388621218 degrees, then South East along SL 8 to a point described as N29.6172118282 degrees and W95.5595547819 degrees, then North West along UA 90 to a point described as N29.629588746 degrees and W95.5922375822 degrees, then South West along IH 69 to a point described as N29.6168250495 degrees and W95.6061616155 degrees, then South East to a point described as N29.611410147 degrees and W95.6030673847 degrees, then South West along Country

Club Blvd to a point described as N29.6048349094 degrees and W95.6104161804 degrees, then North West along William Trace to a point described as N29.5974861137 degrees and W95.6222129303 degrees, then West along IH 69 to a point described as N29.6007737338 degrees and W95.6314956191 degrees, then North West along SH 6 to a point described as N29.6090894752 degrees and W95.6438725379 degrees, then South West along University to a point described as N29.5936183274 degrees and W95.6492874387 degrees, then West along New Territory to a point described as N29.5898513129 degrees and W95.6774894667 degrees, then North West along SH 99 to a point described as N29.6573433334 degrees and W95.7154981303 degrees, then North along Harlem to a point described as N29.6619612082 degrees and W95.7151429089 degrees, then East along Madden to a point described as N29.6620781561 degrees and W95.7057571299 degrees, then North to a point described as N29.6688467839 degrees and W95.7059505183 degrees, then East to a point described as N29.6688467839 degrees and W95.7028562893 degrees, then North to a point described as N29.6702005099 degrees and W95.7024695107 degrees, then East to a point described as N29.6698137304 degrees and W95.694540547 degrees, then North to a point described as N29.6707806779 degrees and W95.694540547 degrees, then East to a point described as N29.6713608449 degrees and W95.6800363467 degrees, then North to a point described as N29.683931153 degrees and W95.6810032933 degrees, then West to a point described as N29.6845113218 degrees and W95.7013091739 degrees, then North along Clondine to a point described as N29.7009494162 degrees and W95.7011157855 degrees, then East along Bellaire to a point described as N29.700756026 degrees and W95.6846776911 degrees, then South along Chickory Woods to a point described as N29.6984353533 degrees and W95.6846776911 degrees, then East along Espinosa to a point described as N29.6982419649 degrees and W95.6792627885 degrees, then South along Caracas to a point described as N29.6955345136 degrees and W95.6790693983 degrees, then East along Sinaloa to a point described as N29.6959212931 degrees and W95.6765553373 degrees, then North East along San Pablo to a point described as N29.6966948504 degrees and W95.6755883907 degrees, then East along Alametos to a point described as N29.697081629 degrees and W95.6653387553 degrees, then North East along Addicks Clondine to a point described as N29.7100387148 degrees and W95.6603106322 degrees, then East along West Park Tollway to a point described as N29.7104254934 degrees and W95.653348616 degrees, then North along Cedar Gardens to a point described as N29.7140998913 degrees and W95.6529618365 degrees, then East along Bend to a point described as N29.7144866699 degrees and W95.6444527058 degrees, then South East along West Park Tollway to a point described as N29.7135197234 degrees and W95.6158310829 degrees, then North Synott to a point described as N29.717000731 degrees and W95.6154443043 degrees, then East along Brant Rock Dr. to the starting point.

 

Houston Citrus Canker Quarantined Area

Harris County, Texas

 

The quarantine boundary is described as:

 

Starting at the intersection of Stella Link Road and North Braeswood Boulevard, then westerly along North Braeswood Boulevard to its intersection with Academy Street, then northerly along

Academy Street to its intersection with Merrick Street, then easterly along Merrick Street to its intersection with Stella Link Road, then northerly along Stella Link Road to its intersection with

Blue Bonnet Boulevard, then easterly along Blue Bonnet Boulevard to its intersection with

Sewanee Street, then northerly along Sewanee Street to its intersection with Glen Haven

Boulevard, then easterly along Glen Haven Boulevard to its intersection with Buffalo Speedway, then southerly along Buffalo Speedway to its intersection with South Braeswood Boulevard, then easterly along South Braeswood Boulevard to its intersection with Greenbush Drive, then southerly along Greenbush Drive to its intersection with Buffalo Speedway, then southerly along

Buffalo Speedway to its intersection with Durhill Street, then westerly along Durhill Street to its intersection with Latma Drive, then northwesterly along Latma Drive to its intersection with

Stella Link Road, then northerly along Stella Link Road to its intersection with Linkwood Drive, then northwesterly along Linkwood Drive to its intersection with South Braeswood Boulevard, then easterly along South Braeswood Boulevard to its intersection with Stella Link Road, then northerly along Stella Link Road to the starting point.

 

 

 

 

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