4 TAC §19.101
The Texas Department of Agriculture (the Department) adopts
an amendment to §19.101(b) concerning red imported fire ant quarantine,
without changes to the proposal published in the December 29, 2000 issue
of the
Texas Register
(25 TexReg 12874).
The amendment adds Mills County to the areas listed in §19.101 as quarantined.
During March 2000, a detection survey was conducted in Mills County for
the presence of red imported fire ant. The results indicated widespread infestation
of the pest. The amendment adds Mills County to the list of quarantined
areas, thereby restricting the movement of quarantined articles when transported
from Mills County to a free area. The amendment will mitigate the risk of
introduction of the red imported fire ant from infested areas to free areas
of Texas.
No oral or written comments were received concerning the amendment.
The amendment is adopted 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 interests of the zone.
This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed
by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.
Filed with the Office of
the Secretary of State on February 14, 2001.
TRD-200100952
Dolores Alvarado Hibbs
Deputy General Counsel
Texas Department of Agriculture
Effective date: March 6, 2001
Proposal publication date: December 29, 2000
For further information, please call: (512) 463-4075