Emergency Sections 
 An agency may adopt a new or amended section or repeal an existing section on 
an emergency basis if it determines that such action is necessary for the public 
health, safety, or welfare of this state. The section may become effective 
immediately upon filing with the Texas Register, or on a stated date less than 
20 days after filing, for no more than 120 days. The emergency action is 
renewable once for no more than 60 days. 
 Symbology in amended emergency sections. New language added to an existing 
section is indicated by the use of bold text. [Brackets] indicate deletion of 
existing material within a section. 
 
   
  TITLE 4. AGRICULTURE 
 Part I. Texas Department of Agriculture 
  Chapter 6. Boll Weevil Control 
  
  4 TAC sec.6.4 
 
  The Texas Department of Agriculture (the department) adopts on an emergency 
basis an amendment to sec.6.4, concerning the cotton stalk destruction date in 
the Lower Coastal Bend and South Texas Pest Management Zone. 
 The department is acting upon requests from the Executive Director, David 
Oefinger, on behalf of the Lower Coastal Bend Pest Management Zone Committee. 
The amendment to the stalk destruction deadline is necessary on an emergency 
basis to give the cotton procedures in this area an extension of the impending 
destruction date. The extension is necessary because early season rains hampered 
cotton planing, resulting in considerable variation in cotton growth and 
maturity. The current deadline is September 10. 
 The Department has determined that a public emergency exists in the Lower 
Coastal Bend and South Texas Pest Management Zone, Area 1, which requires the 
department to extend the stalk destruction deadline. The department's failure to 
act could result in significant economic lost to procedures by requiring the 
early destruction of cotton plants before they have adequate time to mature. 
 The emergency amendment extends the stalk destruction deadline for the Lower 
Coastal Bend and South Texas Pest Management Zone from September 10 to September 
15. The emergency rule change is authorized under the Texas Agriculture Code, 
sec.74.004, which provides the department with the authority to, upon petition 
of the administrative committee of a pest management zone, establish stalk 
destruction dates. 
 
 
  sec.6.4. Authorized Planting and Cotton Destruction Dates. 
 
  (a) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, all cotton in the 
pest management zones must be planted and/or mechanically destroyed by the 
following authorized dates. Destruction must be accomplished by shredding and 
plowing out the plants to prevent further growth and to prohibit any cotton 
plants from remaining after the following cotton destruction dates. 
 
  (1) (No change.) 
   
  (2) Lower Coastal Bend and South Texas boll weevil pest management zone. 
 
  (A) Area (1): 
 
  (i) (No change.) 
   
  (ii) cotton destruction date: on or before September <nl>15<ol> [10]. 
     
  (B) (No change.) 
     
  (3)-(4) (No change.) 
     
  (b)-(d) (No change.) 
 
  Issued in Austin, Texas, on August 26, 1993. 
 TRD-9327896 
  Dolores Alvarado Hibbs 
 Chief Administrative Law Judge 
 Texas Department of Agriculture 
    Effective date: August 26, 1993 
 Expiration date: September 26, 1993 
 For further information, please call: (512) 463-7583