(a) Notice of quarantine. Under the authority of sections 411, 412, 414, and 434 of the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7711, 7712, 7714, and 7754), 1 the Secretary of Agriculture establishes a quarantine within the United States to prevent the artificial spread of European larch canker (Lachnellula willkommi (Dasycypha)). The regulations in this subpart govern the interstate movement from regulated areas of regulated articles.

(b) Restrictions on interstate movement of regulated articles. No common carrier or other person shall move interstate from any regulated area any regulated article except in accordance with the conditions prescribed in this subpart.

Terms used in the singular form in this subpart shall be construed as the plural and vice versa, as the case may demand. The following terms, when used in this subpart, shall be construed, respectively, to mean:

Certificate. A document which is issued for a regulated article by an inspector or by a person operating under a compliance agreement, and which represents that such article is eligible for interstate movement in accordance with § 301.91-5(a).

Compliance agreement. A written agreement between Plant Protection and Quarantine and a person engaged in the business of growing, handling, or moving regulated articles, wherein the person agrees to comply with the provisions of this subpart and any conditions imposed pursuant thereto.

Deputy Administrator. The Deputy Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service for Plant Protection and Quarantine, or any officer or employee of the Department to whom authority to act in his/her stead has been or may hereafter be delegated.

European larch canker. The plant disease known as European larch canker, Lachnellula willkommi (Dasycypha), in any stage of development.

Infestation. The presence of European larch canker or the existence of circumstances that make it reasonable to believe that the European larch canker is present.

Inspector. Any employee of Plant Protection and Quarantine, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, or other person, authorized by the Deputy Administrator in accordance with law to enforce the provisions of the quarantines and regulations in this subpart.

Interstate. From any State into or through any other State.

Limited permit. A document which is issued for a regulated article by an inspector or by a person operating under a compliance agreement, and which represents that such regulated article is eligible for interstate movement in accordance with § 301.91-5(b).

Moved (movement, move). Shipped, offered for shipment to a common carrier, received for transportation or transported by a common carrier, or carried, transported, moved, or allowed to be moved or caused to be moved by any means. “Movement” and “move” shall be construed accordingly.

Person. Any individual, partnership, corporation, company, society, association, or other organized group.

Plant Protection and Quarantine. The organizational unit within the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, delegated responsibility for enforcing provisions of the Plant Protection Act and related legislation, quarantines, and regulations.

Regulated area. Any State, or any portion thereof, listed in accordance with § 301.91-3.

Regulated article. Any article identified as a regulated article under § 301.91-2 as follows: listed as of January 30, 2023, added in accordance with § 301.91-2(b), or otherwise designated in accordance with § 301.91-2(c).

State. Each of the several States of the United States, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands of the United States and all other Territories and Possessions of the United States.

(a) List of regulated articles. The Deputy Administrator has determined that certain articles present a risk of spreading European larch canker. A list of all such regulated articles is found on the internet at www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/plant-pest-and-disease-programs/pests-and-diseases/plant-disease/elc/european-larch-canker. Lists of all regulated articles may also be obtained by request from any local Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) office; local offices are listed in telephone directories and on the internet at www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/ppq-program-overview/sphd.

(b) Normal process for designating additional regulated articles. (1) If the Deputy Administrator determines that an article not already listed at www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/plant-pest-and-disease-programs/pests-and-diseases/plant-disease/elc/european-larch-canker presents a risk of spreading European larch canker, APHIS will publish a notice in the Federal Register proposing to designate the article as a regulated article for European larch canker. The notice will provide the basis for this determination, and will request public comment.

(2) If no comments are received on the notice, or if the comments do not change the Deputy Administrator's determination, APHIS will publish a second notice in the Federal Register designating the article as a regulated article for European larch canker and listing it.

(c) Immediate designation of regulated articles. An inspector may designate any other product, article, or means of conveyance as a regulated article for European larch canker, if the inspector determines that it presents a risk of spreading European larch canker, and after the inspector provides actual notification to the person in possession of the product, article, or means of conveyance that it is subject to the restrictions of this subpart.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b) of this section, the Deputy Administrator will list as a regulated area each State, or each portion of a State, in which European larch canker has been found by an inspector, or in which the Deputy Administrator has reason to believe that European larch canker is present, or any portion of a quarantined State which the Deputy Administrator deems necessary to regulate because of its proximity to a European larch canker infestation or its inseparability for quarantine enforcement purpose from localities in which European larch canker occurs. The Deputy Administrator will publish a list of all regulated areas (the regulated areas list) on the PPQ website at www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/plant-pest-and-disease-programs/pests-and-diseases/plant-disease/elc/european-larch-canker. The list will include the date that the list was last updated. Lists of all regulated areas may also be obtained by request from any local PPQ office; local offices are listed in telephone directories and on the internet at www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/ppq-program-overview/sphd. After a change is made to the list of regulated areas, APHIS will publish a notice in the Federal Register informing the public that the change has occurred and describing the change to the regulated areas. Less than an entire quarantined State will be designated as a regulated area only if the Deputy Administrator determines that:

(1) The State has adopted and is enforcing a quarantine or regulation which imposes restrictions on the intrastate movement of the regulated articles which are substantially the same as those which are imposed with respect to the interstate movement of such articles under this subpart; and

(2) The designation of less than the entire State as a regulated area will otherwise be adequate to prevent the artificial interstate spread of European larch canker.

(b) The Deputy Administrator or an inspector may temporarily designate any nonregulated area in a quarantined State as a regulated area in accordance with the criteria specified in paragraph (a) of this section. The Deputy Administrator will give a copy of this subpart along with written notice of the temporary designation to the owner or person in possession of the nonregulated area, or, in the case of publicly owned land, to the person responsible for the management of the nonregulated area. Thereafter, the interstate movement of any regulated article from an area temporarily designated as a regulated area will be subject to this subpart. As soon as practicable, the area will be added to the regulated areas list or the designation will be terminated by the Deputy Administrator or an inspector. The owner or person in possession of, or, in the case of publicly owned land, the person responsible for the management of, an area for which designation is terminated will be given written notice of the termination as soon as practicable.

Any regulated article may be moved interstate from any regulated area in a quarantined State only if moved under the following conditions: 1

(a) With a certificate or limited permit issued and attached in accordance with §§ 301.91-5 and 301.91-8; or

(b) Without a certificate or limited permit;

(1) If moved to a contiguous regulated area; or

(2)(i) If moved directly through (moved without stopping except under normal traffic conditions such as traffic lights or stop signs) any regulated area in an enclosed vehicle or in an enclosed container on a vehicle to prevent the introduction of European larch canker;

(ii) If the article originated outside of any regulated area; and

(iii) If the point of origin of any article is clearly indicated by shipping documents and its identity has been maintained.

(a) A certificate shall be issued by an inspector, except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, for the movement of a regulated article if such inspector:

(1)(i) Determines based on inspection of the premises of origin that the premises are free from European larch canker; or

(ii) Determines that it has been grown, processed, stored, or handled in such a manner that the regulated article is free of European larch canker; and

(2) Determines that it is to be moved in compliance with any additional conditions deemed necessary under section 414 of the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7714) 1 to prevent the spread of European larch canker; and

(3) Determines that it is eligible for unrestricted movement under all other Federal domestic plant quarantines and regulations applicable to such article.

(b) A limited permit shall be issued by an inspector, except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, for the movement of a regulated article if such inspector:

(1) Determines, in consultation with the Deputy Administrator, that it is to be moved to a specified destination for specified handling, utilization, or processing (such destination and other conditions to be specified on the limited permit), when, upon evaluation of all of the circumstances involved in each case, it is determined that such movement will not result in the spread of European larch canker because the disease will be destroyed by such specified handling, utilization, or processing;

(2) Determines that it is to be moved in compliance with any additional conditions deemed necessary under section 414 of the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7714) 1 to prevent the spread of European larch canker; and

(3) Determines that it is eligible for such movement under all other Federal domestic plant quarantines and regulations applicable to such article.

(c) Certificates and limited permits may be issued by any person engaged in the business of growing, handling, or moving regulated articles provided such person has entered into and is operating under a compliance agreement. Any such person may execute and issue a certificate or limited permit for the interstate movement of a regulated article if an inspector has previously made the determination that the article is eligible for a certificate in accordance with § 301.91-5(a) or is eligible for a limited permit in accordance with § 301.91-5(b).

(d) Any certificate or limited permit which has been issued or authorized may be withdrawn by an inspector if such inspector determines that the holder thereof has not complied with any conditions under the regulations for the use of such document. The reasons for the withdrawal shall be confirmed in writing as promptly as circumstances permit. Any person whose certificate or limited permit has been withdrawn may appeal the decision in writing to the Deputy Administrator within ten (10) days after receiving the written notification of the withdrawal. The appeal shall state all of the facts and reasons upon which the person relies to show that the certificate or limited permit was wrongfully withdrawn. The Deputy Administrator shall grant or deny the appeal, in witing, stating the reasons for such decision, as promptly as circmstances permit. If there is a conflict as to any material fact, a hearing shall be held to resolve such conflict. Rules of Practice concerning such a hearing will be adopted by the Deputy Administrator.

(a) Any person engaged in the business of growing, handling, or moving regulated articles may enter into a compliance agreement to facilitate the movement of regulated articles under this subpart. 1 The compliance agreement shall be a written agreement between a person engaged in such a business and Plant Protection and Quarantine, wherein the person agrees to comply with the provisions of this subpart and any conditions imposed pursuant thereto.

(b) Any compliance agreement may be cancelled orally or in writing by the inspector who is supervising its enforcement whenever the inspector finds that such person has failed to comply with the provisions of this subpart or any conditions imposed pursuant thereto. If the cancellation is oral, the decision and the reasons therefor shall be confirmed in writing, as promptly as circumstances permit. Any person whose compliance agreement has been cancelled may appeal the decision, in writing, to the Deputy Administrator within ten (10) days after receiving written notification of the cancellation. The appeal shall state all of the facts and reasons upon which the person relies to show that the compliance agreement was wrongfully cancelled. The Deputy Administrator shall grant or deny the appeal, in writing, stating the reasons for such decision, as promptly as circumstances permit. If there is a conflict as to any material fact, a hearing shall be held to resolve such conflict. Rules of Practice concerning such a hearing will be adopted by the Deputy Administrator.

(a) Any person (other than a person authorized to issue certificates or limited permits under § 301.91-5(c)), who desires to move interstate a regulated article accompanied by a certificate or limited permit shall, as far in advance as possible (should be no less than 48 hours before the desired movement), request an inspector 1 to take any necessary action under this subpart prior to movement of the regulated article.

(b) Such articles shall be assembled at such point and in such manner as the inspector designates as necessary to comply with the requirements of this subpart.

(a) A certificate or limited permit required for the interstate movement of a regulated article, at all times during such movement, shall be securely attached to the outside of the containers containing the regulated article, securely attached to the article itself if not in a container, or securely attached to the consignee's copy of the accompanying waybill or other shipping document; Provided, however, That the requirements of this section may be met by attaching the certificate or limited permit to the consignee's copy of the waybill or other shipping documents only if the regulated article is sufficiently described on the certificate, limited permit, or shipping document to identify such article.

(b) The certificate or limited permit for the movement of a regulated article shall be furnished by the carrier to the consignee at the destination of the shipment.

The services of the inspector shall be furnished without cost, except as provided in 7 CFR part 354. The U.S. Department of Agriculture will not be responsible for any costs or charges incident to inspections or compliance with the provisions of the quarantine and regulations in this subpart, other than for the services of the inspector.