Notice of Availability of a Pest Risk Analysis for Importation of Guavas From Mexico Into the United States, 36296-36297 [E8-14504]

Download as PDF 36296 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 124 / Thursday, June 26, 2008 / Notices rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with NOTICES persons are not required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Title: Domestic Quarantines. OMB Control Number: 0579–0088. Summary of Collection: Under the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701– 7772) the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to prohibit or restrict the importation, entry, or movement of plants and plant pests to prevent the introduction of plant pests into the United States or their dissemination within the United States. Plant Protection and Quarantine, a program within USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), is responsible for implementing this Act and does so through the enforcement of its domestic quarantine regulations contained in Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations, CFR Part 301. Administering these regulations often requires APHIS to collect information from a variety of individuals who are involved in growing, packing, handling, transporting, plants and plant products. The information collected from these individuals is vital to helping ensure that injurious plant diseases and insect pests do not spread within the United States. Information to be collected is necessary to determine compliance with domestic quarantines. Federal/State domestic quarantines are necessary to regulate the movement of articles from infested areas to noninfested area. Collecting information requires the use of a number of forms and documents. APHIS will collect information using various forms and documents. Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information by interviewing growers and shippers at the time the inspections are being conducted and by having growers and shippers of exported plants and plant products complete an application for a transit permit. Information is collected from the growers, packers, shippers, and exporters of regulated articles to ensure that the articles, when moved from a quarantined area, do not harbor injurious plant diseases and insect pests. The information obtained will be used to determine compliance with regulations and for issuance of forms, permits, certificates, and other required documents. Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Farm; Individuals or households; Farms; Federal Government; State, Local or Tribal Government. Number of Respondents: 194,085. VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:05 Jun 25, 2008 Jkt 214001 Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion. Total Burden Hours: 134,486. Ruth Brown, Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer. [FR Doc. E8–14505 Filed 6–25–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–34–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service [Docket No. APHIS–2008–0070] by sending them to the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Written statements may also be filed at the meeting. Please refer to Docket No. APHIS–2008–0070 when submitting your statements. This notice of meeting is given pursuant to section 10 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App. 2). Done in Washington, DC, this 20th day of June 2008. Kevin Shea, Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. E8–14498 Filed 6–25–08; 8:45 am] National Wildlife Services Advisory Committee; Meeting BILLING CODE 3410–34–P Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of meeting. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AGENCY: SUMMARY: We are giving notice of a meeting of the National Wildlife Services Advisory Committee. DATES: The meeting will be held on August 5, 6, and 7, 2008, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m each day. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in the Oklahoma City Memorial Conference Center, USDA Center at Riverside, 4700 River Road, Riverdale, MD. Mrs. Joanne Garrett, Director, Operational Support Staff, WS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 87, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734–7921. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Wildlife Services Advisory Committee (the Committee) advises the Secretary of Agriculture concerning policies, program issues, and research needed to conduct the Wildlife Services (WS) program. The Committee also serves as a public forum enabling those affected by the WS program to have a voice in the program’s policies. The meeting will focus on operational and research activities. The Committee will discuss WS efforts to increase operational capacity through prioritizing research objectives. Additionally, the Committee will discuss pertinent national programs and how to increase their effectiveness, as well as ensuring WS remains an active participant in the goal of agricultural protection. The meeting will be open to the public. However, due to time constraints, the public will not be allowed to participate in the discussions during the meeting. Written statements on meeting topics may be filed with the Committee before or after the meeting FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service [Docket No. APHIS–2008–0066] Notice of Availability of a Pest Risk Analysis for Importation of Guavas From Mexico Into the United States Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: SUMMARY: We are advising the public that we have prepared a pest risk analysis that evaluates the risks associated with the importation into the United States of fresh guava fruit from Mexico. Based on that analysis, we believe that the application of one or more designated phytosanitary measures will be sufficient to mitigate the risks of introducing or disseminating plant pests or noxious weeds via the importation of guavas from Mexico. We are making the pest risk analysis available to the public for review and comment. We will consider all comments that we receive on or before August 25, 2008. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/ component/ main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS– 2008–0066 to submit or view comments and to view supporting and related materials available electronically. • Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send two copies of your comment to Docket No. APHIS–2008–0066, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A–03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737–1238. Please state that your DATES: E:\FR\FM\26JNN1.SGM 26JNN1 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 124 / Thursday, June 26, 2008 / Notices comment refers to Docket No. APHIS– 2008–0066. Reading Room: You may read any comments that we receive on this docket in our reading room. The reading room is located in room 1141 of the USDA South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC. Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you, please call (202) 690–2817 before coming. Other Information: Additional information about APHIS and its programs is available on the Internet at https://www.aphis.usda.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. David B. Lamb, Import Specialist, Commodity Import Analysis and Operations, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737– 1231; (301) 734–8758. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with NOTICES Background Under the regulations in ‘‘SubpartFruits and Vegetables’’ (7 CFR 319.56 through 319.56–47, referred to below as the regulations), the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture prohibits or restricts the importation of fruits and vegetables into the United States from certain parts of the world to prevent plant pests from being introduced into and spread within the United States. Section 319.56–4 contains a performance-based process for approving the importation of commodities that, based on the findings of a pest risk analysis, can be safely imported subject to one or more of the designated phytosanitary measures listed in paragraph (b) of that section. These measures are: • The fruits or vegetables are subject to inspection upon arrival in the United States and comply with all applicable provisions of § 319.56–3; • The fruits or vegetables are imported from a pest-free area in the country of origin that meets the requirements of § 319.56–5 for freedom from that pest and are accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate stating that the fruits or vegetables originated in a pest-free area in the country of origin; • The fruits or vegetables are treated in accordance with 7 CFR part 305; • The fruits or vegetables are inspected in the country of origin by an inspector or an official of the national plant protection organization of the exporting country, and have been found free of one or more specific quarantine VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:05 Jun 25, 2008 Jkt 214001 pests identified by the risk analysis as likely to follow the import pathway; and/or • The fruits or vegetables are a commercial consignment. APHIS received a request from the Government of Mexico to allow the importation of fresh guava fruit from Mexico into the United States. We have completed a pest risk assessment to identify pests of quarantine significance that could follow the pathway of importation into the United States and, based on that pest risk assessment, have prepared a risk management analysis to identify phytosanitary measures that could be applied to the commodity to mitigate the pest risk. We have concluded that guavas can be safely imported into the United States from Mexico using one or more of the five designated phytosanitary measures listed in § 319.56–4(b). Therefore, in accordance with § 319.56–4(c), we are announcing the availability of our pest risk analysis for public review and comment. The pest risk analysis may be viewed on the Regulations.gov Web site or in our reading room (see ADDRESSES above for instructions for accessing Regulations.gov and information on the location and hours of the reading room). You may request paper copies of the pest risk analysis by calling or writing to the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Please refer to the subject of the pest risk analysis when requesting copies. After reviewing the comments we receive, we will announce our decision regarding the import status of guavas from Mexico in a subsequent notice. If the overall conclusions of the analysis and the Administrator’s determination of risk remain unchanged following our consideration of the comments, then we will begin issuing permits for importation of guavas from Mexico into the United States subject to the requirements specified in the risk management analysis. Authority: 7 U.S.C. 450, 7701–7772, and 7781–7786; 21 U.S.C. 136 and 136a; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.3. Done in Washington, DC, this 20th day of June 2008. Kevin Shea, Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. E8–14504 Filed 6–25–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–34–P PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 36297 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Information Collection; Valuation of Hemlock Decline on Public Forests in the Southern Appalachian Mountains Forest Service, USDA. Notice; request for comment. AGENCY: ACTION: SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested individuals and organizations on the new information collection, Valuation of Hemlock Decline on Public Forests in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before August 25, 2008 to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date will be considered to the extent practicable. ADDRESSES: Comments concerning this notice should be addressed to Thomas P. Holmes, Forestry Sciences Lab, Southern Research Station, USDA Forest Service, P.O. Box 12254, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709. Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to (919) 549–4047 or by e-mail to: tholmes@fs.fed.us. The public may inspect comments received at the Forestry Sciences Lab, 3041 Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, main building reception area during normal business hours. Visitors are encouraged to call ahead to (919) 549–4000 to facilitate entry to the building. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas P. Holmes, Southern Research Station, (919) 549–4031. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1–800–877–8339, 24 hours a day, every day of the year, including holidays. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Valuation of Hemlock Decline on Public Forests in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. OMB Number: 0596–New. Type of Request: New. Abstract: The Forest Service is seeking to determine the appropriate level of effort to take to protect hemlock forests on public land in the eastern United States from the hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA). The HWA is an exotic forest insect pest currently spreading across the eastern United States and threatens the widespread decline of hemlock forests. This insect has no known effective native predators; eastern and Carolina hemlocks have shown no resistance to HWA; and hemlock forests have not shown any E:\FR\FM\26JNN1.SGM 26JNN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 124 (Thursday, June 26, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36296-36297]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-14504]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2008-0066]


Notice of Availability of a Pest Risk Analysis for Importation of 
Guavas From Mexico Into the United States

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We are advising the public that we have prepared a pest risk 
analysis that evaluates the risks associated with the importation into 
the United States of fresh guava fruit from Mexico. Based on that 
analysis, we believe that the application of one or more designated 
phytosanitary measures will be sufficient to mitigate the risks of 
introducing or disseminating plant pests or noxious weeds via the 
importation of guavas from Mexico. We are making the pest risk analysis 
available to the public for review and comment.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
August 25, 2008.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://
www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/
main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2008-0066 to submit or view comments and 
to view supporting and related materials available electronically.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send two copies of 
your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2008-0066, Regulatory Analysis and 
Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, 
Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that your

[[Page 36297]]

comment refers to Docket No. APHIS-2008-0066.
    Reading Room: You may read any comments that we receive on this 
docket in our reading room. The reading room is located in room 1141 of 
the USDA South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC. Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to 
help you, please call (202) 690-2817 before coming.
    Other Information: Additional information about APHIS and its 
programs is available on the Internet at https://www.aphis.usda.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. David B. Lamb, Import Specialist, 
Commodity Import Analysis and Operations, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road 
Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 734-8758.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Under the regulations in ``Subpart-Fruits and Vegetables'' (7 CFR 
319.56 through 319.56-47, referred to below as the regulations), the 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture prohibits or restricts the importation of 
fruits and vegetables into the United States from certain parts of the 
world to prevent plant pests from being introduced into and spread 
within the United States.
    Section 319.56-4 contains a performance-based process for approving 
the importation of commodities that, based on the findings of a pest 
risk analysis, can be safely imported subject to one or more of the 
designated phytosanitary measures listed in paragraph (b) of that 
section. These measures are:
     The fruits or vegetables are subject to inspection upon 
arrival in the United States and comply with all applicable provisions 
of Sec.  319.56-3;
     The fruits or vegetables are imported from a pest-free 
area in the country of origin that meets the requirements of Sec.  
319.56-5 for freedom from that pest and are accompanied by a 
phytosanitary certificate stating that the fruits or vegetables 
originated in a pest-free area in the country of origin;
     The fruits or vegetables are treated in accordance with 7 
CFR part 305;
     The fruits or vegetables are inspected in the country of 
origin by an inspector or an official of the national plant protection 
organization of the exporting country, and have been found free of one 
or more specific quarantine pests identified by the risk analysis as 
likely to follow the import pathway; and/or
     The fruits or vegetables are a commercial consignment.
    APHIS received a request from the Government of Mexico to allow the 
importation of fresh guava fruit from Mexico into the United States. We 
have completed a pest risk assessment to identify pests of quarantine 
significance that could follow the pathway of importation into the 
United States and, based on that pest risk assessment, have prepared a 
risk management analysis to identify phytosanitary measures that could 
be applied to the commodity to mitigate the pest risk. We have 
concluded that guavas can be safely imported into the United States 
from Mexico using one or more of the five designated phytosanitary 
measures listed in Sec.  319.56-4(b). Therefore, in accordance with 
Sec.  319.56-4(c), we are announcing the availability of our pest risk 
analysis for public review and comment. The pest risk analysis may be 
viewed on the Regulations.gov Web site or in our reading room (see 
ADDRESSES above for instructions for accessing Regulations.gov and 
information on the location and hours of the reading room). You may 
request paper copies of the pest risk analysis by calling or writing to 
the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Please refer 
to the subject of the pest risk analysis when requesting copies.
    After reviewing the comments we receive, we will announce our 
decision regarding the import status of guavas from Mexico in a 
subsequent notice. If the overall conclusions of the analysis and the 
Administrator's determination of risk remain unchanged following our 
consideration of the comments, then we will begin issuing permits for 
importation of guavas from Mexico into the United States subject to the 
requirements specified in the risk management analysis.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 450, 7701-7772, and 7781-7786; 21 U.S.C. 136 
and 136a; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.3.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 20th day of June 2008.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
 [FR Doc. E8-14504 Filed 6-25-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.