AAM-46-10-00019-P Various Trees and Plants of the Prunus Species

11/17/10 N.Y. St. Reg. AAM-46-10-00019-P

NEW YORK STATE REGISTER

VOLUME XXXII, ISSUE 46

November 17, 2010

RULE MAKING ACTIVITIES

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND MARKETS

PROPOSED RULE MAKING

HEARING(S) SCHEDULED

 

I.D No. AAM-46-10-00019-P

Various Trees and Plants of the Prunus Species

PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE State Administrative Procedure Act, NOTICE is hereby given of the following proposed rule:

Proposed Action:

Repeal of Part 140 and addition of new Part 140 to Title 1 NYCRR.

Statutory authority:

Agriculture and Markets Law, sections 18, 164 and 167

Subject:

Various trees and plants of the Prunus species.

Purpose:

To amend the existing plum pox virus quarantine in New York State in response to the most recent detections of this virus.

Public hearing(s) will be held at:

11:00 a.m., Jan. 12, 2011 at Department of Agriculture and Markets, 10B Airline Dr., Albany, NY.

Interpreter Service:

Interpreter services will be made available to hearing impaired persons, at no charge, upon written request submitted within reasonable time prior to the scheduled public hearing. The written request must be addressed to the agency representative designated in the paragraph below.

Accessibility:

All public hearings have been scheduled at places reasonably accessible to persons with a mobility impairment.

Text of proposed rule:

Section 140.2 of Title 1 of the Official Compilation of Codes, Rules and Regulations of the State of New York is repealed and a new section 140.2 is added to read as follows:

(a) That area of Niagara County which is bordered on the north by Lake Ontario and bordered on the east Johnson Creek Road, which extends south to its intersection with Route 104 (Ridge Road); extends west on Route 104 (Ridge Road) to its intersection with Orangeport Road; and extends south on Orangeport Road to its intersection with Slayton-Settlement Road; extending west on Slayton-Settlement Road to its intersection with Route 78 (Lockport-Olcott Road); extending south on Route 78 (Lockport-Olcott Road) to its intersection with Stone Road; extending northwest on Stone Road to its intersection with Sunset Drive; extending south on Sunset Drive to its intersection with Shunpike Road; extending west on Shunpike Road to its intersection with Route 93 (Townline Road); extending south on Route 93 (Townline Road) to its intersection with Route 270 (Campbell Boulevard); extending south on Route 270 (Campbell Boulevard) to its intersection with Beach Ridge Road; extending southwest on Beach Ridge Road to its intersection with Townline Road; extending south on Townline Road to its intersection with the Tonawanda Creek; following the Tonawanda Creek west to its entry into the Niagara River; following the Niagara River north to its entry into Lake Ontario.

(b) That area of Orleans County which is bordered on the north by Lake Ontario, on the east heading South from Lake Ontario on Kent Road to intersection with Ridge Road (Route 104); extending south on Desmond Road to intersection with State Route 31 (Telegraph Road); extending west on State Route 31 to intersection with Richs Corners Road; extending south on Richs Corners Road to its intersection with State Route 31A (East Lee Street Road); extending west on Route 31A to Culver Road; extending south on Culver Road to intersection with East Barre Road; extending west on East Barre Road to its intersection with State Route 98 (Quaker Hill Road); extending south on State Route 98 to the southern border of Orleans County; extending west along the southern border of Orleans County; extending north along the western border of Orleans County.

(c) That area of Wayne County which is bordered on the north by Lake Ontario and is bordered on the east by Mapleview Heights; extending south on Mapleview Heights to its intersection with Wright Road; extending east on Wright Road. to its intersection with Dutch Street Road; extending south on Dutch Street Road to its intersection with Lasher Road; extending south on Lasher Road to its intersection with Wilson Road; extending west on Wilson Road to its intersection with Brown Road; extending south on Brown Road to its intersection with Salter Road; extending west on Salter Road and becoming Clinton Avenue; continuing west on Clinton Avenue to its intersection with Route 414; extending south on Route 414 to its intersection with Catch Pole Road; extending west on Catch Pole Road to its intersection with Covell Road; extending south on Covell Road to its intersection with Wayne Center Rose Road; extending west on Wayne Center Rose Road and becoming Ackerman Road; continuing west on Ackerman Road to its intersection with Route 14; extending south on Route 14 to its intersection with Burton Road; extending west on Burton Road to its intersection with Middle Sodus Road; extending north on Middle Sodus Road to its intersection with Maple Street Road; extending north on Maple Street Road to its intersection with McMullen Road; extending northwest on McMullen Road to its intersection with Deneef Road; extending south on Deneef Road to its intersection with Zurich Road; extending west on Zurich Road to its intersection with Arcadia-Zurich-Norris Road; extending south on Arcadia-Zurich-Norris Road to its intersection with Henkle Road; extending west on Henkle Road to its intersection with Heidenreich Road; extending south on Heidenreich Road to its intersection with Fairville Station Road; extending northwest on Fairville Station Road to its intersection with Maple Ridge Road; extending northwest on Maple Ridge Road to its intersection with Decker Road; extending west on Decker Road to its intersection with Sand Hill Road; extending north on Sand Hill Road to its intersection with Smith Road; extending west on Smith Road to its intersection with Newark Road; extending south on Newark Road to its intersection with Desmith Road; extending west on Desmith Road to its intersection with Schilling Road; extending northwest on Schilling Road to its intersection with State Route 21; extending south on state Route 21 to its intersection with Cole Road; extending west on Cole Road to its intersection with Parker Road; extending south on Parker Road to its intersection with LeRoy Road; extending west on LeRoy Road to its intersection with Maple Avenue; extending north on Maple Avenue to its intersection with Marion Road; extending west on Marion Road to its intersection with Ontario Center Road; extending north on Ontario Center Road to its intersection with Atlantic Avenue; extending west on Atlantic Avenue to its intersection with Lincoln Road; extending north on Lincoln Road to its intersection with Haley Road; extending west on Haley Road to its intersection with County Line Road; extending north on County Line Road to its intersection with Lake Ontario.

Section 140.3 of Title 1 of the Official Compilation of Codes, Rules and Regulations of the State of New York is repealed and a new section 140.3 is added to read as follows:

(a) That area of Niagara County bordered on the north by Lake Ontario; bordered on the west by Maple Road; extending south on Maple Road to its intersection with Wilson-Burt Road; extending east on Wilson-Burt Road to its intersection with Beebe Road; extending south on Beebe Road to its intersection with Ide Road; extending east on Ide Road to its intersection with Route 78 (Lockport-Olcott Road); extending north on Route 78 (Lockport-Olcott Road) to its intersection with Lake Ontario, in the Towns of Burt, Newfane, and Wilson in the County of Niagara, State of New York.

(b) That area of Niagara County bordered on the [east] west by Porter Center Road starting at its intersection with Route 104 (Ridge Road) and extending north-northeast on Porter Center Road to its intersection with Langdon Road; extending east on Langdon Road to its intersection with Dickersonville Road; extending north on Dickersonville Road to its intersection with Schoolhouse Road; extending east on Schoolhouse Road to its intersection with Ransomville Road; extending south on Ransomville Road to its intersection with Route 104 (Ridge Road); [extends east] extending northeast on Route 104 (Ridge Road) to its intersection with Simmons Road; extending south on Simmons Road to its intersection with Albright Road; extending east on Albright Road to its intersection with Townline Road; extending south on Townline Road to its intersection with Lower Mountain Road; extending west on Lower Mountain Road to its intersection with Meyers Hill Road; extending south on Meyers Hill Road to its intersection with Upper Mountain Road; extending west on Upper Mountain Road to its intersection with Indian Hill Road; extending northeast on Indian Hill Road to its intersection with Route 104 (Ridge Road); extending east on Route 104 (Ridge Road) to its intersection with Porter Center Road, in the Town of Lewiston, in the County of Niagara, State of New York.

(c) That area of Niagara County bordered on the north by Lake Ontario extending east to the intersection of Keg Creek, extending south to its intersection with Route 18 (Lake Road); extending east on Route 18 (Lake Road) to its intersection with Hess Road, extending south on Hess Road to its intersection with Drake Settlement Road, west on Drake Settlement Road to its intersection with Transit Road; extending north on Transit Road to its intersection with Route 18 (Lake Road); extending west on Route 18 (Lake Road) to its intersection with Lockport Olcott Road; extending north on Lockport Olcott Road to the border with Lake Ontario.

(d) That area of Orleans County bordered on the north by Route 104 (Ridge Road) at its intersection with Eagle Harbor Waterport Road; extending south on Eagle Harbor Waterport Road to its intersection with Eagle Habor Knowlesville Road; west on Eagle Harbor Knowlesville Road to its intersection with Presbyterian Road; extending southwest on Presbyterian Road to its intersection with Longbridge Road; extending south on Longbridge Road to its intersection with State Route 31; extending west on State Route 31 to its intersection with Wood Road; extending south on Wood Road to West County House Road; extending west on West County House Road to its intersection with Maple Ridge Road; extending west on Maple Ridge Road to its intersection with Culvert Rd; extending north on Culvert Rd. to its intersection with Telegraph Road; extending west on Telegraph Road to its intersection with Beales Road; extending north on Beales Road to its intersection with Portage Road; extending east on Portage Road to its intersection with Culvert Rd; extending north on Culvert Rd. to its intersection with Route 104 (Ridge Road), in the Towns of Ridgeway and Gaines, in the County of Orleans, State of New York.

(e) That area of Wayne County bordered on the north by Lake Road at its intersection with Redman Road; extending east to its intersection with Maple Avenue; extending south on Maple Avenue to its intersection with Middle Road; extending west on Middle Road to its intersection with Rotterdam Road; extending south on Rotterdam Road to its intersection with State Route 104; extending west on State Route 104 to its intersection with Pratt Road; extending south on Pratt Road to its intersection with Ridge Road; extending west on Ridge Road to its intersection with Richardson Road; extending south on Richardson Road to its intersection with Tripp Road; extending south on Tripp Road to its intersection with Podger Road; extending west on Podger Road to its intersection with East Townline Road; extending north on East Townline Road to its intersection with Everdyke Road; extending west on Everdyke Road to its intersection with Russell Road; extending south on Russell Road to its intersection with Pearsall Road; extending west on Pearsall Road to its intersection with State Route 21; extending north on State Route 21 to its intersection with State Route 104; extending east on State Route 104 to its intersection with East Townline Road; extending north on East Townline Road to its intersection with Van Lare Road; extending east on Van Lare Road to its intersection with Redman Road; extending north on Redman Road to its intersection with Lake Road, in the Town of Sodus, in the County of Wayne, State of New York.

(f) That area of Wayne County bordered on the north by Shepard Road at its intersection with Fisher Road; extending east on Shepard Road to its intersection with Salmon Creek Road; extending southwest on Salmon Creek Road to its intersection with Kenyon Road; extending west on Kenyon Road to its intersection with Furnace Road; extending north on Furnace Road to its intersection with Putnam Road; extending east on Putnam Road to its intersection with Fisher Road; extending north on Fisher Road to its intersection with Shepard Road, in the Towns of Ontario and Williamson, in the County of Wayne, State of New York.

(g) That area of Wayne County bordered on the northeast by Sodus Bay to its intersection with Ridge Road; extending west on Ridge Road to its intersection with Boyd Road; extending north on Boyd Road to its intersection with Sergeant Road; extending north on Sergeant Road to its intersection with Morley Road; extending east on Morley Road to its intersection with State Route 14; extending north on State Route 14 to its intersection with South Shore Road; extending east on South Shore Road; than bordered on the east north east by Sodus Bay, in the Town of Sodus, in the County of Wayne, State of New York.

Text of proposed rule and any required statements and analyses may be obtained from:

Kevin King, Director, Division of Plant Industry, NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets, 10B Airline Drive, Albany, New York 12235, [phone]

Data, views or arguments may be submitted to:

Same as above.

Public comment will be received until:

Five days after the last scheduled public hearing.

Regulatory Impact Statement

1. Statutory authority:

Section 18 of the Agriculture and Markets Law provides, in part, that the Commissioner may enact, amend and repeal necessary rules which shall provide generally for the exercise of the powers and performance of the duties of the Department as prescribed in the Agriculture and Markets Law and the laws of the State and for the enforcement of their provisions and the provisions of the rules that have been enacted.

Section 164 of the Agriculture and Markets Law provides, in part, that the Commissioner shall take such action as he may deem necessary to control or eradicate any injurious insects, noxious weeds, or plant diseases existing within the State.

Section 167 of the Agriculture and Markets Law provides, in part, that the Commissioner is authorized to make, issue, promulgate and enforce such order, by way of quarantines or otherwise, as he may deem necessary or fitting to carry out the purposes of Article 14 of said Law. Said Section also provides that the Commissioner may adopt and promulgate such rules and regulations to supplement and give full effect to the provisions of Article 14 of the Agriculture and Markets Law as he may deem necessary.

2. Legislative objectives:

The proposed rule establishing a quarantine accords with the public policy objectives the Legislature sought to advance by enacting the statutory authority in that it will help to prevent the further spread within the State of a serious viral infection of plants, the plum pox virus (Potyvirus).

3. Needs and benefits:

This proposed rule repeals the existing plum pox virus quarantine in New York State and replaces it with a new regulation which responds to the most recent detections of this virus in the State. The purpose of the amendments is to help prevent the further spread of this viral infection of stone fruit trees within the State.

The plum pox virus, Potyvirus, is a serious viral disease of stone fruit trees that affects many of the Prunus species. This includes species of plum, peach, apricot, almond and nectarine. The plum pox virus does not kill infected plants, but debilitates the productive life of the trees. This affects the quality and quantity of the fruit, which reduces its marketability. Symptoms of the plum pox virus may manifest themselves on the leaves, flowers and fruits of infected plants and include green or yellow veining on leaves; streaking or pigmented ring patterns on the petals of flowers; and ring or spot blemishing on the fruit which may also become misshapen. There is no known treatment or cure for this virus. The virus is spread naturally by several aphid species. These insects serve as vectors for the spread of the plum pox virus by feeding on the sap of infected trees and then feeding on plants which aren't infected with the virus. Plum pox virus may also be spread through the exchange of budwood and its propagation.

The plum pox virus was first reported in Bulgaria in 1915. It subsequently spread through Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Plum pox was first discovered in North America in 1999 when trees in an orchard in Pennsylvania were found to be infected with the virus. In the summer of 2000, the plum pox virus was discovered in Ontario within five miles of its border with New York. This prompted the Department, with the support of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), to begin annual plum pox surveys of stone fruit orchards in New York. From 2000 through 2005, more than 89,000 leaf samples were taken, analyzed and found to be negative for plum pox.

In 2006, the plum pox virus was detected in two locations in Niagara County near the Canadian border. As a result, on July 16, 2007, the Department adopted, on an emergency basis, a rule which immediately established a plum pox virus quarantine in that portion of Niagara County. The plum pox virus was subsequently detected in four (4) other locations in Niagara County as well as one location in Orleans County. In response to these detections, on October 8, 2008, the Department adopted, on an emergency basis, amendments to the rule, which established the quarantine in Orleans County and extended the quarantine in Niagara County. This rule was adopted on a permanent basis on December 10, 2008.

On June 1, 2009 and June 17, 2009, the plum pox virus was detected in two separate locations in Wayne County. On July 17, 2009, the virus was found in a third location in Wayne County and on July 22, 2009, a location in Orleans County tested positive for the virus. In response to these latest findings, the proposed rule amends the existing quarantine areas in Niagara and Orleans County and establishes a new quarantine area in Wayne County. The rule also amends two (2) of the three (3) regulated areas in Niagara County, establishes a new regulated area in Orleans County and establishes three (3) new regulated areas in Wayne County. Finally, the rule deregulates the third of the three (3) regulated areas in Niagara County. This is due to the fact that surveys and sampling within this regulated area have yielded negative results for the virus for three (3) consecutive years which justifies deregulation under existing federal protocols.

The proposed amendments are necessary, since the failure to immediately establish or extend this quarantine could result in the further, unfettered spread of this plant virus throughout New York and into neighboring states. This would not only result in damage to the natural resources of New York, but could also result in the imposition on New York of a federal quarantine or quarantines by other states. Such quarantines would cause economic hardship for New York's nurseries and stone fruit growers, since such quarantines may be broader than this one. The consequent loss of business would harm industries which are important to New York's economy and as such, would harm the general welfare.

4. Costs:

(a) Costs to the State government:

Under this proposal, regulated articles in the newly established regulated areas that are exposed to plum pox virus would be destroyed. Compensation for the regulated articles is predicated upon the age of the plants and trees. Compensation would range from $4,368 to $17,647 per acre, of which the USDA would pay 85% of the compensation. Accordingly, New York's 15% share of the compensation would be $655 to $2,647 per acre, provided the owners of the regulated articles in question submit verified claims to the Department in accordance with section 165 of the Agriculture and Markets Law, and provided further that damages are awarded based on those claims.

Nursery dealers and nursery growers would also be eligible to receive compensation for regulated articles planted in the newly established regulated areas and nursery stock regulated areas that would otherwise be prohibited from sale. New York would pay up to $1,000 per acre in costs to remove such regulated articles.

(b) Costs to local government:

None.

(c) Costs to private regulated parties:

Regulated parties handling regulated articles in the newly established nursery stock regulated areas, pursuant to a compliance agreement, may require an inspection and the issuance of a federal or state phytosanitary certificate for interstate movement. This service is available at a rate of $25.00 per hour. Most inspections would take one hour or less. It is anticipated that there would be 100 such inspections each year with a total annual cost of $2,500.

Most shipments will be made pursuant to compliance agreements for which the costs may be lower.

Regulated parties would also incur those removal costs which exceed $1,000 per acre for removal of regulated articles planted in the newly established regulated areas and nursery stock regulated areas.

(d) Costs to the regulatory agency:

None. It is anticipated that the regulatory oversight and enforcement of the expanded quarantine under this proposal would be accomplished through use of existing staff and resources.

5. Local government mandate:

None.

6. Paperwork:

Nursery dealers and nursery growers handling regulated articles in the newly established nursery stock regulated areas would require a compliance agreement with the Department. They may also require an inspection and the issuance of a federal or state phytosanitary certificate for interstate movement of these regulated articles.

7. Duplication:

None.

8. Alternatives:

None. The failure of the State to establish and extend the quarantine under this proposal in response to the most recent findings of the plum pox virus could result in the establishment of quarantines by the federal government or other states. It could also place the State's own natural resources at risk from the further spread of plum pox virus which could result from the unrestricted movement of regulated articles in the regulated areas. In light of these factors, there does not appear to be any viable alternative to the establishment of the quarantine proposed in this rulemaking.

9. Federal standards:

Sections 301.74 through 301.74-5 of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) restricts the interstate movement of regulated articles susceptible to the plum pox virus. The proposed amendments do not exceed any minimum standards for the same or similar subject areas, since it restricts the intrastate, rather than interstate, movement of regulated articles by establishing a plum pox virus quarantine in New York State.

10. Compliance schedule:

It is anticipated that regulated persons would be able to comply with the proposed amendments immediately.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

1. Effect on small business:

In response to the most recent detections of the plum pox virus, this proposed rule amends the existing quarantine areas in Niagara and Orleans County and establishes a new quarantine area in Wayne County. The proposed rule also amends two (2) of the three (3) regulated areas in Niagara County, establishes a new regulated area in Orleans County and establishes three (3) new regulated areas in Wayne County. Finally, the proposed rule deregulates the third of the three (3) regulated areas in Niagara County, since the virus has not been detected in this regulated area for three (3) consecutive years.

It is estimated that seven (7) stone fruit growers in Wayne County and three (3) stone fruit growers in Niagara County are located in the quarantine or regulated areas established by this proposal. All of these entities are small businesses.

It is not anticipated that local governments would be involved in the handling or movement of regulated articles within any part of the proposed quarantine areas.

2. Compliance requirements:

Any regulated parties in the nursery stock regulated areas established by this proposal would be prohibited from the propagation of regulated articles. Nursery growers and nursery dealers who wish to handle regulated articles in these newly established areas would be required to enter into compliance agreements.

The proposed amendments would prohibit regulated parties in the newly established nursery stock regulated areas from digging and moving regulated articles and planting or over-wintering regulated articles. In addition, regulated parties in these newly established areas would be required to maintain sales records of regulated articles for a period of three years.

All regulated parties in the regulated areas established under this proposal would be prohibited from moving regulated articles within those regulated areas. Regulated parties would, however, be able to move regulated articles to and from the newly established regulated areas pursuant to a limited permit.

3. Professional services:

In order to comply with the proposed amendments, regulated parties handling regulated articles in the newly established nursery stock regulated areas, pursuant to a compliance agreement, may require an inspection and issuance of a federal or state phytosanitary certificate for interstate movement.

4. Compliance costs:

(a) Initial capital costs that will be incurred by a regulated business or industry or local government in order to comply with the proposed rule:

None.

(b) Annual cost for continuing compliance with the proposed rule:

Regulated parties handling regulated articles in the newly established nursery stock regulated areas pursuant to a compliance agreement may require an inspection and the issuance of a federal or state phytosanitary certificate for interstate movement. This service is available at a rate of $25.00 per hour. Most inspections would take one hour or less. It is anticipated that there would be 100 such inspections each year with a total annual cost of $2,500.

Most shipments will be made pursuant to compliance agreements for which the costs may be lower.

Regulated parties would also incur those removal costs which exceed $1,000 per acre for removal of regulated articles planted in the regulated areas.

It is not anticipated that local governments would be involved in movement of regulated to or through the regulated areas.

5. Minimizing adverse impact:

The Department has designed the proposed rule to minimize adverse economic impact on small businesses and local governments. The proposed amendments establish and extend the quarantine to only those areas where the plum pox virus has been detected. Additionally, the proposal lifts the quarantine in one area of Niagara County where the virus has not been detected for three (3) years. The approaches for minimizing adverse economic impact required by section 202-a(1) of the State Administrative procedure Act and suggested by section 202-b(1) of the State Administrative Procedure Act were considered. Given all of the facts and circumstances, it is submitted that the proposed rule minimizes adverse economic impact as much as is currently possible.

6. Small business and local government participation:

In 1999, a Plum Pox Virus Task Force was established in response to the initial discovery of the plum pox virus in Pennsylvania. The Task Force presently consists of representatives of the Department, the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva; the United States Department of Agriculture, Cornell Cooperative Extension, the New York State Farm Bureau, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the stone fruit industry. The Task Force has convened annually via teleconference and assists in outreach as needed in response to changes in the spread of the virus. Outreach efforts will continue.

7. Assessment of the economic and technological feasibility of compliance with the rule by small businesses and local governments:

The economic and technological feasibility of compliance with the proposed rule by small businesses and local governments has been addressed and such compliance has been determined to be feasible. Nursery dealers and nursery growers handling regulated articles within the newly established nursery stock regulated areas, other than pursuant to a compliance agreement, would require an inspection and the issuance of a phytosanitary certificate. Most shipments, however, would be made pursuant to compliance agreements for which there is no charge.

Rural Area Flexibility Analysis

1. Type and estimated numbers of rural areas:

In response to the most recent detections of the plum pox virus, the proposed rule amends the existing quarantine areas in Niagara and Orleans County and establishes a new quarantine area in Wayne County. The proposal also amends two (2) of the three (3) regulated areas in Niagara County, establishes a new regulated area in Orleans County and establishes three (3) new regulated areas in Wayne County. Finally, the rule deregulates the third of the three (3) regulated areas in Niagara County, since the virus has not been detected in this regulated area for three (3) consecutive years.

It is estimated that seven (7) stone fruit growers in Wayne County and three (3) stone fruit growers in Niagara County are located in the quarantine or regulated areas established by this proposal. All of these entities are located in rural areas of New York State.

2. Reporting, recordkeeping and other compliance requirements; and professional services:

Any regulated parties in the nursery stock regulated areas established by this proposal would be prohibited from the propagation of regulated articles. Nursery growers and nursery dealers who wish to handle regulated articles in these newly established nursery stock regulated areas would be required to enter into compliance agreements.

All regulated parties in the newly established regulated areas would be prohibited from moving regulated articles within those regulated areas. Regulated parties would, however, be able to move regulated articles to and from the newly established regulated areas pursuant to a limited permit.

In order to comply with the proposed rule, regulated parties handling regulated articles in the newly established nursery stock regulated areas, pursuant to a compliance agreement, may require an inspection and issuance of a federal or state phytosanitary certificate for interstate movement.

3. Costs:

Regulated parties handling regulated articles in the newly established nursery stock regulated areas pursuant to compliance agreement may require an inspection and the issuance of a federal or state phytosanitary certificate for interstate movement. This service is available at a rate of $25.00 per hour. Most inspections would take one hour or less. It is anticipated that there would be 100 such inspections each year with a total annual cost of $2,500.

Most shipments will be made pursuant to compliance agreements for which the costs will be lower.

Regulated parties would also incur those removal costs which exceed $1,000 per acre for removal of regulated articles exposed to the plum pox virus.

4. Minimizing adverse impact:

The Department has designed the proposed rule to minimize adverse economic impact on regulated parties in rural areas. The rule establishes and extends the quarantine to only those areas where the plum pox virus has been detected. Additionally, the rule deregulates in one area of Niagara County where the virus has not been detected for three (3) consecutive years. The approaches for minimizing adverse economic impact required by section 202-a(1) of the State Administrative Procedure Act and suggested by section 202-b(1) of the State Administrative Procedure Act were considered. Given all of the facts and circumstances, it is submitted that the rule minimizes adverse economic impact as much as is currently possible.

5. Rural area participation:

In 1999, a Plum Pox Virus Task Force was established in response to the initial discovery of the plum pox virus in Pennsylvania. The Task Force presently consists of representatives of the Department, the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva; the Untied States Department of Agriculture, Cornell Cooperative Extension, the New York State Farm Bureau, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the stone fruit industry. The Task Force has convenes annually via teleconference and assists in outreach as needed in response to changes in the spread of the virus. Outreach efforts will continue.

Job Impact Statement

The establishment and extension of the plum pox virus quarantine is designed to prevent the further spread of this viral infection throughout New York State as well as into neighboring states and provinces. In response to the most recent detections of the plum pox virus, the proposed rule amends the existing quarantine areas in Niagara and Orleans County and establishes a new quarantine area in Wayne County. The rule also amends two (2) of the three (3) regulated areas in Niagara County, establishes a new regulated area in Orleans County and establishes three (3) new regulated areas in Wayne County. Finally, the proposed rule deregulates the third of the three (3) regulated areas in Niagara County, since the virus has not been detected in this regulated area for three (3) consecutive years.

It is estimated that seven (7) stone fruit growers in Wayne County and three (3) stone fruit growers in Niagara County are located in the quarantine or regulated areas established by the proposed rule.

A further spread of this plant infection would have very adverse economic consequences to these industries in New York State, both from the destruction of the regulated articles upon which these industries depend, and from the more restrictive quarantines that could be imposed by the federal government and by other states. By helping to prevent the further spread of the plum pox virus, the proposed rule would help to prevent such adverse economic consequences and in so doing, protect the jobs and employment opportunities associated with the State's stone fruit and nursery industries.