Information Collection; Valuation of Hemlock Decline on Public Forests in the Southern Appalachian Mountains, 36297-36298 [E8-14552]
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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]
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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
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36298
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 124 / Thursday, June 26, 2008 / Notices
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recovery following heavy, chronic
infestations. While public forest
managers have alternative protection
measures available, implementation of
these protection measures is costly and
the economic benefits of protecting
hemlock health are largely unknown.
Eastern hemlock forests provide a
suite of public and private goods that
have economic value, including wildlife
habitat, aesthetic landscapes, and
commercial timber. In addition,
hemlock forests located on public land
provide unique natural settings for
recreational activities, provide habitat
for many species of wildlife, and help
prevent soil erosion along the banks of
streams and rivers. As the impacts of
this invasion accrue, forest managers’
demand for information increases.
Forest Service and university
researchers will collect and analyze
information regarding the value of the
ecosystem services provided by
hemlock forests located on public land
in the Southern Appalachian Mountains
from residents living within 500 miles
of Asheville, North Carolina. The data
and analyses will provide guidance to
public forest managers regarding the
value of ecosystem services supplied by
hemlock forests on the land that they
manage and the level of public support
for alternative hemlock forest-protection
programs.
Telephone interviewers will contact
individual head-of-households via
random digit dialing. Those agreeing to
participate will receive a questionnaire
via the United States Postal Service,
along with a cover letter describing the
purpose of the study, information about
current hemlock forest conditions in
Southern Appalachian Mountain public
forests, and available protection
alternatives. Approximately two weeks
after receiving the questionnaire,
respondents will share answers via
telephone interview.
Estimate of Annual Burden: 45
minutes.
Type of Respondents: Individuals,
heads of households.
Estimated Annual Number of
Respondents: 500.
Estimated Annual Number of
Responses per Respondent: 1.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on
Respondents: 375 hours.
Comment Is Invited
Comment is invited on: (1) Whether
this collection of information is
necessary for the stated purposes and
the proper performance of the functions
of the agency, including whether the
information will have practical or
scientific utility; (2) the accuracy of the
agency’s estimate of the burden of the
VerDate Aug<31>2005
15:05 Jun 25, 2008
Jkt 214001
collection of information, including the
validity of the methodology and
assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance
the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and (4)
ways to minimize the burden of the
collection of information on
respondents, including the use of
automated, electronic, mechanical, or
other technological collection
techniques or other forms of information
technology.
All comments received in response to
this notice, including names and
addresses when provided, will be a
matter of public record. Comments will
be summarized and included in the
submission request toward Office of
Management and Budget approval.
Dated: June 23, 2008.
David A. Cleaves,
Associate Deputy Chief, Research and
Development.
[FR Doc. E8–14552 Filed 6–25–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Foreign–Trade Zones Board
(Docket 41–2008)
Foreign–Trade Zone 7 – Mayaguez,
Puerto Rico, Application for Subzone,
Amgen Manufacturing Limited,
(Biotechnology and Healthcare
Products), Juncos, Puerto Rico
An application has been submitted to
the Foreign–Trade Zones Board (the
Board) by the Puerto Rico Industrial
Development Company, grantee of FTZ
7, requesting special–purpose subzone
status for the manufacture of
biotechnology and healthcare products
at the facility of Amgen Manufacturing
Limited (Amgen), located in Juncos,
Puerto Rico. The application was
submitted pursuant to the provisions of
the Foreign–Trade Zones Act, as
amended (19 U.S.C. 81a–81u), and the
regulations of the Board (15 CFR part
400). It was formally filed on June 19,
2008.
The Amgen facility (2,000 employees,
28 buildings with 1,900,718 square feet
on 221 acres) is located at Road PR 31
Km. 24.6, in Juncos, Puerto Rico. The
facility will be used to manufacture,
test, package and warehouse Epogen,
(Epoetin Alfa), Neupogen (Filgrastim),
Aransep (Darbepoetin Alfa), Enbrel
(Etanercept), Kineret (Anakinra), and
Neulasta (Pegfilgrastim) (duty–free).
Components and materials sourced from
abroad (representing 2% of the value of
the finished product) include: vials,
syringes, stoppers, plunger rods,
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partitions and dispenser packs (HTSUS
duty rate ranges from duty–free to
2.7%).
FTZ procedures would exempt
Amgen from customs duty payments on
the foreign components used in export
production. The company anticipates
that some 48 percent of the plant’s
shipments will be exported. On its
domestic sales, Amgen could choose the
duty–free rate during customs entry
procedures that applies to finished
biotechnology and healthcare products
for the foreign inputs noted above. The
request indicates that the savings from
FTZ procedures would help improve
the plant’s international
competitiveness.
In accordance with the Board’s
regulations, Elizabeth Whiteman of the
FTZ staff is designated examiner to
investigate the application and report to
the Board.
Public comment is invited from
interested parties. Submissions (original
and 3 copies) shall be addressed to the
Board’s Executive Secretary at the
address below. The closing period for
their receipt is August 25, 2008.
Rebuttal comments in response to
material submitted during the foregoing
period may be submitted during the
subsequent 15–day period to September
9, 2008.
A copy of the application and
accompanying exhibits will be available
for public inspection at each of the
following locations:
U.S. Department of Commerce Export
Assistance Center, Tower II Suite 702,
Road 165, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico 00968.
Office of the Executive Secretary,
Foreign–Trade Zones Board, U.S.
Department of Commerce, Room 2111,
1401 Constitution Ave. NW,
Washington, DC 20230.
For further information, contact
Elizabeth Whiteman at
ElizabethlWhiteman@ita.doc.gov or
(202) 482–0473.
Dated: June 19, 2008.
Andrew McGilvray,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. E8–14537 Filed 6–25–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–S
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of Industry and Security
Emerging Technology and Research
Advisory Committee; Notice of
Recruitment of Private-Sector
Members Date Extension
The Bureau of Industry and Security
(BIS) is announcing the creation of and
recruiting individuals for a technical
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 124 (Thursday, June 26, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36297-36298]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-14552]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Information Collection; Valuation of Hemlock Decline on Public
Forests in the Southern Appalachian Mountains
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice; request for comment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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
[[Page 36298]]
recovery following heavy, chronic infestations. While public forest
managers have alternative protection measures available, implementation
of these protection measures is costly and the economic benefits of
protecting hemlock health are largely unknown.
Eastern hemlock forests provide a suite of public and private goods
that have economic value, including wildlife habitat, aesthetic
landscapes, and commercial timber. In addition, hemlock forests located
on public land provide unique natural settings for recreational
activities, provide habitat for many species of wildlife, and help
prevent soil erosion along the banks of streams and rivers. As the
impacts of this invasion accrue, forest managers' demand for
information increases.
Forest Service and university researchers will collect and analyze
information regarding the value of the ecosystem services provided by
hemlock forests located on public land in the Southern Appalachian
Mountains from residents living within 500 miles of Asheville, North
Carolina. The data and analyses will provide guidance to public forest
managers regarding the value of ecosystem services supplied by hemlock
forests on the land that they manage and the level of public support
for alternative hemlock forest-protection programs.
Telephone interviewers will contact individual head-of-households
via random digit dialing. Those agreeing to participate will receive a
questionnaire via the United States Postal Service, along with a cover
letter describing the purpose of the study, information about current
hemlock forest conditions in Southern Appalachian Mountain public
forests, and available protection alternatives. Approximately two weeks
after receiving the questionnaire, respondents will share answers via
telephone interview.
Estimate of Annual Burden: 45 minutes.
Type of Respondents: Individuals, heads of households.
Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 500.
Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 375 hours.
Comment Is Invited
Comment is invited on: (1) Whether this collection of information
is necessary for the stated purposes and the proper performance of the
functions of the agency, including whether the information will have
practical or scientific utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's
estimate of the burden of the collection of information, including the
validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance
the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected;
and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on
respondents, including the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information
technology.
All comments received in response to this notice, including names
and addresses when provided, will be a matter of public record.
Comments will be summarized and included in the submission request
toward Office of Management and Budget approval.
Dated: June 23, 2008.
David A. Cleaves,
Associate Deputy Chief, Research and Development.
[FR Doc. E8-14552 Filed 6-25-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P
