A comprehensive summary of today’s judicial, legislative, and regulatory developments in agriculture and food. Email important additions HERE.
LEGISLATIVE: Includes Hawaii
HAWAII
HB 1854 authorizes state’s Department of Agriculture (DOA), in conjunction with the Hawaii Ant Lab, to identify best practices for the treatment of little fire ants. Requires DOA to post those best practices on its website. Adds any application that may defeat the best practices for the treatment of little fire ants, as identified by the DOA, to the prohibited acts of pesticides. Clarifies that training for invasive species be based on the best available technology and best practices in a manner consistent with state and federal laws. Info here.
HB 2486 establishes a statewide sustainability branch within the Office of Planning. Updates and reaffirms the role of the office to coordinate among state agencies regarding climate change adaptation and sustainability. Info here.
SB 2701 grants county agencies the right to enter property to investigate agricultural buildings for violations of and compliance with building permit and building code exemption requirements. Info here.
REGULATORY: Includes EPA, FWS, NOAA
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Final rule establishes an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of 1-octanamine, N,N-dimethyl-, N-oxide (CAS Reg. No. 2605-78-9) when used as an inert ingredient (surfactant) in pesticide formulations applied to growing crops and raw agricultural commodities after harvest, at a concentration of not more than 15% by weight in pesticide formulations. Info here.
Final rule eliminates the need to establish a maximum permissible level for residues of 2-propenoic acid, 2-methyl-, polymer with 2,5-furandione and 2,4,4-trimethyl-1-pentene, potassium salt on food or feed commodities. Info here.
FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
Notice announcing 12-month findings on a petition to remove the distinct population segment (DPS) of the western yellow-billed cuckoo from the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife (i.e., to “delist” that DPS) and a petition to list a DPS of the U.S. population of northwestern moose under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Info here.
NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION
Temporary rule NMFS announces that the Closed Area I Scallop Access Area is closed to Limited Access General Category Individual Fishing Quota scallop vessels for the remainder of the 2020 fishing year. Info here.
Temporary rule NMFS has determined that the recreational landings limit for Atlantic blue marlin, white marlin, and roundscale spearfish has been reached and exceeded for 2020, based upon a review of landings data. Therefore, NMFS is prohibiting retention of Atlantic blue marlin, white marlin, and roundscale spearfish in the Atlantic HMS recreational fisheries. Info here.
Temporary rule NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 meters (m)) length overall (LOA) using hook-and-line or pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). Info here.
Temporary rule NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher/processors using pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). Info here.