Public hearing regarding pecan weevil exterior quarantine amendments scheduled for Nov. 15
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Kristie Garcia Public Affairs Director, New Mexico Department of Agriculture krgarcia@nmda.nmsu.edu 575-646-2804
Oct. 13, 2021
Hearing to be held both virtually and in person
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LAS CRUCES – The New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA) will hold a virtual and in-person hearing Monday, Nov. 15 at 2 p.m. to receive public input on amendments to the 21.17.28 New Mexico Administrative Code (NMAC), Pecan Weevil Exterior rule. The amendments remove several West Texas counties from New Mexico’s list of quarantined counties, add a cold-storage treatment post-entry requirement, and add a second cold storage treatment option.
New Mexico’s Pecan Weevil Exterior Quarantine rule was promulgated in 1969 for the purpose of reducing the risk of importing pecan weevil in to New Mexico from weevil-infested areas exterior to New Mexico, areas of West Texas, Arizona and California. The rule requires all in-shell pecans and other regulated articles that originated in pecan weevil quarantined counties to undergo a cold storage treatment to kill pecan weevil prior to entry into the state.
The in-person hearing will be held at the New Mexico Department of Agriculture building on the New Mexico State University campus in Las Cruces, located at 3190 S. Espina, at the corner of Espina and Gregg. Parking is in lots 69 and 71 on Gregg Street and lot 70 on Sam Steel Way. To view a parking map, visit https://hr.nmsu.edu/parking/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/2021/06/Campus_Map_2021_withBldgGuide_11x17.pdf. For a free, one-day NMSU parking pass, visit https://auxadminforms.nmsu.edu/ParkingForms/ePermit.aspx. Per the State of New Mexico’s Public Health Order, facemasks must be worn indoors.
To join the hearing via video, go to: https://nmsu.zoom.us/j/93257469511 Meeting ID: 932 5746 9511 Passcode: 538839
To join the hearing via phone, dial 1-669-900-6833 or 1-253-215-8782. Meeting ID: 932 5746 9511 Passcode: 538839
Oral comments will be accepted at the hearing from members of the public and any interested parties. Written comments will be accepted through 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 15. Comments may be submitted via email to comments@nmda.nmsu.edu or may be filed by sending original copies to:
New Mexico Department of Agriculture Office of Director MSC 3189 PO Box 30005 3190 S. Espina Las Cruces, NM 88003-8005
Only signed statements, proposals or comments will be accepted. Scanned or electronic signatures conforming to federal and state court requirements will be accepted with the understanding that if there is any dispute regarding a signature, NMDA reserves the right to require that original signatures be provided to verify the electronic or facsimile signature. The director will consider all oral comments, and will review all timely submitted written comments and responses.
Copies of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and proposed rule amendments are available on the NMDA website at www.nmda.nmsu.edu/laws-regulations.
Individuals with a disability who need a reader, amplifier, qualified sign language interpreter or any other form of auxiliary aid or service to participate in the hearing should contact NMDA at 575-646-3702 at least one week prior to the hearing or as soon as possible.
Legal authority authorizing the rule amendments is granted to the board of regents of New Mexico State University under the Pest Control Act, Chapter 76, Article 6, Sections 1 through 9, NMSA 1978 Compilation.
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