Karnal Bunt; Compensation for the 1995-1996 Crop Season

We are adopting as a final rule, with changes, an interim rule that amended the regulations to provide compensation for certain growers and handlers, owners of grain storage facilities, and flour millers in order to mitigate losses and expenses incurred because of Karnal bunt in the 1995-1996 crop season. In this final rule, we are adding compensation provisions for handlers of wheat that was tested and found negative for Karnal bunt, handlers and growers with wheat inventories for past crop seasons, and participants in the National Karnal Bunt Survey whose wheat or grain storage facility is found positive for Karnal bunt. The payment of compensation is necessary in order to reduce the economic impact of the Karnal bunt quarantine on affected wheat growers and other individuals, and to help obtain cooperation from affected individuals in Karnal bunt eradication efforts.