TITLE 4.AGRICULTURE

Part 1. TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Chapter 12. WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

Subchapter A. GENERAL PROVISIONS

4 TAC §12.2

(Editor's note: The text of the following section proposed for repeal will not be published. The section may be examined in the offices of the Texas Department of Agriculture or in the Texas Register office, Room 245, James Earl Rudder Building, 1019 Brazos Street, Austin.)

The Texas Department of Agriculture (the Department) proposes the repeal of §12.2, concerning an expiration date for Chapter 12, relating to Weights and Measures. The repeal of §12.2 is proposed because the establishment of an expiration date for Chapter 12 is no longer necessary due to the enactment of legislation establishing a timeframe for review of agency rules. The deletion of §12.2 eliminates the expiration date for Chapter 12.

Dolores Alvarado Hibbs, Deputy General Counsel, has determined that for the first five-year period the repeal is in effect, there will be no fiscal implications for state or local government as a result of enforcing or administering the repeal.

Ms. Hibbs also has determined that for each year of the first five years the repeal is in effect the public benefit anticipated as a result of enforcing the repeal will be the elimination of unnecessary rules. There will be no effect on micro-businesses, small businesses or to persons who are required to comply with the repeal as proposed.

Comments on the proposal may be submitted to Dolores Alvarado Hibbs, Texas Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 12847, Austin, Texas, 78711. Comments must be received no later than 30 days from the date of publication of the proposal in the Texas Register .

The repeal is proposed under the Texas Agriculture Code, §12.016 which provides the Department with the authority to adopt rules to administer the Texas Agriculture Code.

The code that will be affected by the proposal is the Texas Agriculture Code, Chapters 12 and 13.

§12.2.Expiration Provision.

This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State, on April 17, 2000.

TRD-200002661

Dolores Alvarado Hibbs

Deputy General Counsel

Texas Department of Agriculture

Earliest possible date of adoption: May 28, 2000

For further information, please call: (512) 463-4075


Chapter 19. QUARANTINES

Subchapter A. GENERAL QUARANTINE PROVISIONS

4 TAC §19.8

(Editor's note: The text of the following section proposed for repeal will not be published. The section may be examined in the offices of the Texas Department of Agriculture or in the Texas Register office, Room 245, James Earl Rudder Building, 1019 Brazos Street, Austin.)

The Texas Department of Agriculture (the Department) proposes the repeal of §19.8 concerning an expiration date for Chapter 19, relating to Quarantines. The repeal of §19.8 is proposed because the establishment of an expiration date for Chapter 19 is no longer necessary due to the enactment of legislation establishing a timeframe for review of agency rules. The deletion of §19.8 eliminates the expiration date for Chapter 19.

Dolores Alvarado Hibbs, Deputy General Counsel, has determined that for the first five-year period the repeal is in effect, there will be no fiscal implications for state or local government as a result of enforcing or administering the repeal.

Ms. Hibbs also has determined that for each year of the first five years the repeal is in effect the public benefit anticipated as a result of enforcing the repeal will be the elimination of unnecessary rules. There will be no effect on micro-businesses, small businesses or to persons who are required to comply with the repeal as proposed.

Comments on the proposal may be submitted to Dolores Alvarado Hibbs, Texas Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 12847, Austin, Texas, 78711. Comments must be received no later than 30 days from the date of publication of the proposal in the Texas Register .

The repeal is proposed under the Texas Agriculture Code, §12.016 which provides the Department with the authority to adopt rules to administer the Texas Agriculture Code.

The code that will be affected by the proposal is the Texas Agriculture Code, Chapters 12 and 71, Subchapter A.

§19.8.Expiration Provision.

This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State, on April 17, 2000.

TRD-200002662

Dolores Alvarado Hibbs

Deputy General Counsel

Texas Department of Agriculture

Earliest possible date of adoption: May 28, 2000

For further information, please call: (512) 463-4075


Subchapter F. LETHAL YELLOWING QUARANTINE

4 TAC §19.62

The Texas Department of Agriculture (the Department) proposes amendments to §19.62, concerning Lethal Yellowing Quarantine. The amendments are proposed to delete the following species of palms from the list of quarantined articles: Phoenix roebelenii , Corpha taliera and Corpha utan . There is no proof in the scientific literature that these palms are known to be hosts of lethal yellowing, and they pose no pest risk to palms grown in Texas. The amendments also add the following known palm host species of lethal yellowing,Cheliocarpus chuco , Crysophila warsecewiczii , Cyphophoenix nucele , Howea fosteriana , Phoenix ruficola and Veitchia mcdanielsi . Because these palms are used for landscaping as well as interiorscaping, they pose a pest risk to palms grown in Texas. The proposal also includes taxonomic changes, changing the name of genera Veitchia to Adonidia and Chrysalidocarpus , and Neodupsis to Dypsis , and species of Latan palm ( Latania sp.) to Latania lontaroides . Sod in the lethal yellowing infested area can harbor the planthopper vector, Myndus crudus , and is also considered as a quarantined article. The proposed changes are made after consultation with Dr. Nigel A. Harrison, palm specialist at the University of Florida, Research and Education Center, Fort Lauderdale, and his published reports on the hosts of lethal yellowing phytoplasma. The proposed amendments prohibit the movement of quarantined articles from the quarantined areas described in Chapter 19, §19.61 to Texas.

Dr. Awinash Bhatkar, Coordinator for Plant Quality Programs, has determined that for the first five-year period the rule, as amended, is in effect, there will be no fiscal implications for state or local government as a result of enforcing or administering the rule.

Dr. Bhatkar also has determined that for each year of the first five years the rule, as amended, is in effect the public benefit anticipated as a result of enforcing the rule will be to mitigate the risk of introduction of lethal yellowing disease of palms from infested areas to palm growing area of Texas. There will be no anticipated costs to small or micro-businesses or to individuals required to comply with the amendments.

Comments on the proposal may be submitted to Awinash Bhatkar, Coordinator for Plant Quality Programs, Texas Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 12847, Austin, Texas, 78711. Comments must be received no later that 30 days from the date of publication of the proposal in the Texas Register .

The amendments are proposed under the Texas Agriculture Code,§71.007 which authorizes the department to adopt rules as necessary to protect agricultural and horticultural interests, including rules preventing the entry into a pest-free zone of any plant, plant product or substance found to be dangerous to the agricultural and horticultural interest of the zone.

The Texas Agricultural Code, Chapter 71 is affected by the proposal.

§19.62.Quarantined Articles.

(a)

(No change.)

(b)

The following articles are quarantined:

Figure: 4 TAC §19.62(b)

(c)

(No change.)

This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State, on April 17, 2000.

TRD-200002663

Dolores Alvarado Hibbs

Deputy General Counsel

Texas Department of Agriculture

Earliest possible date of adoption: May 28, 2000

For further information, please call: (512) 463-4075


Chapter 22. NURSERY PRODUCTS AND FLORAL ITEMS

4 TAC §22.6

(Editor's note: The text of the following section proposed for repeal will not be published. The section may be examined in the offices of the Texas Department of Agriculture or in the Texas Register office, Room 245, James Earl Rudder Building, 1019 Brazos Street, Austin.)

The Texas Department of Agriculture (the Department) proposes the repeal of §22.6 concerning an expiration date for Chapter 22, relating to Nursery Products and Floral Items. The repeal of §22.6 is proposed because the establishment of an expiration date for Chapter 22 is no longer necessary due to the enactment of legislation establishing a timeframe for review of agency rules. The deletion of §22.6 eliminates the expiration date for Chapter 22.

Dolores Alvarado Hibbs, Deputy General Counsel, has determined that for the first five-year period the repeal is in effect, there will be no fiscal implications for state or local government as a result of enforcing or administering the repeal.

Ms. Hibbs also has determined that for each year of the first five years the repeal is in effect the public benefit anticipated as a result of enforcing the repeal will be the elimination of unnecessary rules. There will be no effect on micro-businesses, small businesses or to persons who are required to comply with the repeal as proposed.

Comments on the proposal may be submitted to Dolores Alvarado Hibbs, Texas Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 12847, Austin, Texas, 78711. Comments must be received no later than 30 days from the date of publication of the proposal in the Texas Register .

The repeal is proposed under the Texas Agriculture Code, §12.016 which provides the Department with the authority to adopt rules to administer the Texas Agriculture Code.

The code that will be affected by the proposal is the Texas Agriculture Code, Chapters 12 and 71, Subchapter B.

§22.6.Expiration Provision.

This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State, on April 17, 2000.

TRD-200002664

Dolores Alvarado Hibbs

Deputy General Counsel

Texas Department of Agriculture

Earliest possible date of adoption: May 28, 2000

For further information, please call: (512) 463-4075