Citrus Greening and Asian Citrus Psyllid; Availability of an Environmental Assessment, 46409-46411 [E9-21669]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 173 / Wednesday, September 9, 2009 / Notices by e-mail to the respondents. Respondents would return the survey by e-mail to the address on the survey form. Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average .25 hours per response. Respondents: Importers and receivers. Estimated Number of Respondents: 200. Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1. Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 50 hours. Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden of the proposed 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 those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology. All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments received will become a matter of public record. Dated: September 2, 2009. Rayne Pegg, Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service. [FR Doc. E9–21655 Filed 9–8–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–02–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Rural Utilities Service Information Collection Activity; Comment Request Rural Utilities Service, USDA. Notice and request for comments. AGENCY: cprice-sewell on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES ACTION: SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) invites comments on this information collection for which RUS intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by November 9, 2009. VerDate Nov<24>2008 15:47 Sep 08, 2009 Jkt 217001 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michele L. Brooks, Director, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, USDA, Rural Utilities Service, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., STOP 1522, Room 5162 South Building, Washington, DC 20250–1522. Telephone: (202) 690–1078. Fax: (202) 720–8435. E-mail: michele.brooks@wdc.usda.gov. The Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) regulation (5 CFR part 1320) implementing provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–13) requires that interested members of the public and affected agencies have an opportunity to comment on information collection and recordkeeping activities (see 5 CFR 1320.8(d)). This notice identifies an information collection that RUS is submitting to OMB for extension. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Agency’s estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments may be sent to: Michele L. Brooks, Director, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, USDA, Rural Utilities Service, STOP 1522, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250–1522. FAX: (202) 720–8435. E-mail: michele.brooks@wdc.usda.gov. Title: Emergency and Imminent Community Water Assistance Grants. OMB Control Number: 0572–0110. Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection. Abstract: This action amends the existing regulation for the Emergency Community Water Assistance Grant (ECWAG) Program to allow grants to be made before an emergency has actually occurred. The ECWAG program was authorized by the Rural Development Act of 1972. The grants are made to public bodies, nonprofit corporations, and Indian Tribes for the purpose of improving rural living standards and for other purposes that create safe and affordable drinking water in rural areas SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 46409 or towns with a population not exceeding 10,000 inhabitants. These grants can be made to construct or improve drinking water facilities serving the most financially needy communities. This revision is undertaken specifically to respond to requirements of Section 6009 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107–171). (2002 Farm Bill). Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1.6 hours per response. Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions; State, local or Tribal Government. Estimated Number of Respondents: 100. Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 2. Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 400 hours. Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Gale Richardson, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis at (202) 720–0992. FAX: (202) 720–8435. All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of public record. Dated: September 2, 2009. James R. Newby, Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service. [FR Doc. E9–21722 Filed 9–8–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service [Docket No. APHIS–2008–0015] Citrus Greening and Asian Citrus Psyllid; Availability of an Environmental Assessment AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments. SUMMARY: We are advising the public that an environmental assessment has been prepared by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service relative to a proposed control program for citrus greening disease and the Asian citrus psyllid. The environmental assessment documents our review and analysis of the potential environmental impacts associated with the implementation of this program. We are making this environmental assessment available to the public for review and comment. E:\FR\FM\09SEN1.SGM 09SEN1 46410 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 173 / Wednesday, September 9, 2009 / Notices DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before November 9, 2009. 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=APHIS2008-0015 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–2008–0015, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A–03.8, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737–1238. Please state that your comment refers to Docket No. APHIS– 2008–0015. 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. Patrick Gomes, APHIS, PPQ, 920 Main Campus Drive, Suite 200, Raleigh, NC 27606–5213; (919) 855–7313. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: cprice-sewell on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES Background Citrus greening, also known as huanglongbing disease of citrus, is considered to be one of the most serious citrus diseases in the world. Citrus greening is a bacterial disease caused by strains of the bacterial pathogen ‘‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’’ that attacks the vascular system of host plants. The bacteria are phloem-limited, inhabiting the food-conducting tissue of the host plant, and causes yellow shoots, blotchy mottling and chlorosis, reduced foliage, and tip dieback of citrus plants. Citrus greening greatly reduces production, destroys the economic value of the fruit, and can kill trees. Once a tree is infected with citrus greening, there is no cure for the disease. In areas of the world where citrus greening is endemic, citrus trees decline and die within a few years and may never produce usable fruit. Citrus greening was first detected in the United States in Miami-Dade County, FL, in VerDate Nov<24>2008 15:47 Sep 08, 2009 Jkt 217001 2005, and is only known to be present in the United States in the States of Florida and Georgia, two parishes in Louisiana, and two counties in South Carolina. The bacterial pathogen causing citrus greening can be transmitted by grafting, and under laboratory conditions, by dodder. There also is some evidence that seed transmission may occur. The pathogen can also be transmitted by two insect vectors in the family Psyllidae: Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), and Trioza erytreae (del Guercio), the African citrus psyllid. ACP can also cause economic damage to citrus in groves and nurseries by direct feeding. Both adults and nymphs feed on young foliage, depleting the sap and causing galling or curling of leaves. High populations feeding on a citrus shoot can kill the growing tip. ACP is currently present in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, and Texas. Based on regular surveys of domestic commercial citrus-producing areas, the African citrus psyllid is not present in the United States. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has undertaken measures to control the artificial spread of citrus greening to noninfested areas of the United States since its introduction in 2005. On September 16, 2005, APHIS issued a Federal Order designating one affected county in Florida as a quarantined area, and imposing restrictions on the interstate movement all citrus greening and ACP host material from this area.1 In January 2006, we issued an environmental assessment titled ‘‘Citrus Greening Control Program in Florida Nurseries’’ (January 2006).2 This document assessed the environmental impacts associated with the use of the pesticide treatments acetamiprid, chlorpyrifos, fenpropathrin, imidacloprid, kaolin, and a cyfluthrin/ imidacloprid mixture as part of a disease control program for citrus greening and ACP. On November 2, 2007, we issued a revised order that designated additional counties in Florida as areas quarantined for citrus greening, and that quarantined 32 counties in Texas, the entire States 1 To view the September 2005 Federal Order or any other Federal order referenced in this document, go to https://www.aphis.usda.gov/ plant_health/plant_pest_info/citrus_greening/ regs.shtml. 2 To view the 2006 environmental assessment, go to https://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/ea/ downloads/citrusgreening1-06ea.pdf. PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 of Florida and Hawaii, the entire Territory of Guam, and the entire Commonwealth of Puerto Rico for ACP. The November 2007 order also contained treatments that could be performed on ACP regulated articles to allow their movement from a quarantined area to areas of the United States other than commercial citrusproducing States. The order stated that, prior to movement, host material (other than Bergera (Murraya) koenigii, or curryleaf) had to be treated using an Environmental Protection Agencyapproved product labeled for use in nurseries. The articles had to subsequently be treated with a drench containing imidacloprid as the active ingredient within 30 days prior to movement and with a foliar spray with a product containing acetamiprid, chlorpyrifos, or fenpropathrin as the active ingredient within 10 days prior to movement. Provided that it did not originate from an area quarantined for citrus greening, curryleaf could be moved interstate to any State following treatment with methyl bromide according to the APHIS-approved treatment schedule MB T101-n-2, found in 7 CFR part 305. We accompanied this revised order with a notice 3 published in the Federal Register on November 2, 2007 (72 FR 62204–62205; Docket No. APHIS–2007– 0135), in which we announced to the public the availability of an environmental assessment titled ‘‘Movement of Regulated Articles from Citrus Greening and Asian Citrus Psyllid Quarantine Zones’’ (October 2007). The assessment evaluated the possible environmental impacts associated with implementation of the revised Federal Order, and, in particular, the treatment schedules specified within it. Since issuance of these documents, we have issued six additional Federal Orders to designate new areas as quarantined areas for citrus greening or ACP. In these orders, we have added irradiation treatment at 400 gray as an approved treatment for ACP host articles, provided that the articles do not originate from an area that is quarantined for citrus greening. The latest Federal Order was issued on July 29, 2009. Concurrent with the issuance of these Federal Orders, we have also received requests from citrus industry representatives and State plant health officials in several States with 3 To view the notice and the environmental assessment, go to https://www.regulations.gov/ fdmspublic/component/ main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2007-0135. E:\FR\FM\09SEN1.SGM 09SEN1 cprice-sewell on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 173 / Wednesday, September 9, 2009 / Notices commercial citrus production to examine the efficacy of in-ground granular applications containing dinotefuran and foliar sprays containing bifenthrin, deltamethrin, dinotefuran, or a mixture of imidacloprid and cyfluthrin as pesticide treatments for ACP. We have found them to be effective in treating regulated nursery stock for ACP. Accordingly, we have completed an assessment of the environmental impacts anticipated from a control program that would incorporate the provisions of the latest Federal order, the use of these new granular applications and foliar sprays as treatments for ACP, and additional measures that are currently not included in the July 29, 2009 Federal Order but that we consider necessary to prevent the spread of citrus greening and ACP to currently unaffected areas of the United States. APHIS’ review and analysis of these potential environmental impacts are documented in detail in an environmental assessment titled ‘‘Quarantine and Interstate Movement of Citrus Greening and Asian Citrus Psyllid’’ (July 2009). We are making this assessment available to the public for review and comment. We will consider all comments that we receive on or before the date listed under the heading DATES at the beginning of this notice. The environmental assessment may be viewed on the Regulations.gov Web site or in our reading room (see ADDRESSES above for instructions for accessing the document on Regulations.gov and information on the location and hours of the reading room). You may request paper copies of the environmental assessment by calling or writing to the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Please refer to title of the assessment when requesting copies. The environmental assessment has been prepared in accordance with: (1) The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), (2) regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality for implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500–1508), (3) USDA regulations implementing NEPA (7 CFR part 1b), and (4) APHIS’ NEPA Implementing Procedures (7 CFR part 372). Done in Washington, DC, this 2nd day of September 2009. Kevin Shea, Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. E9–21669 Filed 9–8–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–34–P VerDate Nov<24>2008 15:47 Sep 08, 2009 Jkt 217001 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Agricultural Marketing Service [Doc. No. AMS–TM–09–0060; TM–09–07] Notice of Meeting of the National Organic Standards Board AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is announcing a forthcoming meeting of the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). DATES: The meeting dates are Tuesday, November 3, 2009, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Wednesday, November 4, 2009, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Thursday, November 5, 2009, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Requests from individuals and organizations wishing to make oral presentations at the meeting are due by the close of business on October 19, 2009. ADDRESSES: The meeting will take place at the Washington Plaza Hotel, 10 Thomas Circle, NW., Washington, DC 20005. • Requests for copies of the NOSB meeting agenda, may be sent to Ms. Valerie Frances, Executive Director, NOSB, USDA–AMS–TMP–NOP, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Room 4004– So., Ag Stop 0268, Washington, DC 20250–0268. The NOSB meeting agenda and proposed recommendations may also be viewed at https:// www.ams.usda.gov/nop. • Comments on proposed NOSB recommendations may be submitted by the close of business of October 19, 2009, in writing to Ms. Valerie Frances at either the postal address above or via the Internet at https:// www.regulations.gov only. The comments should identify Docket No. AMS–TM–09–0060. It is our intention to have all comments to this notice whether they are submitted by mail or the Internet available for viewing on the https://www.regulations.gov Web site. • Requests to make an oral presentation at the meeting may also be sent by October 19, 2009, to Ms. Valerie Frances at the postal address above, by e-mail at valerie.frances@ams.usda.gov, via facsimile at (202) 205–7808, or phone at (202) 720–3252. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Valerie Frances, Executive Director, NOSB, National Organic Program (NOP), (202) 720–3252, or visit the NOP Web site at: https://www.ams.usda.gov/ nop. PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 46411 Section 2119 (7 U.S.C. 6518) of the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (OFPA), as amended (7 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.) requires the establishment of the NOSB. The purpose of the NOSB is to make recommendations about whether a substance should be allowed or prohibited in organic production or handling, to assist in the development of standards for substances to be used in organic production, and to advise the Secretary on other aspects of the implementation of the OFPA. The NOSB met for the first time in Washington, DC, in March 1992, and currently has six subcommittees working on various aspects of the organic program. The committees are: Compliance, Accreditation, and Certification; Crops; Handling; Livestock; Materials; and Policy Development. In August of 1994, the NOSB provided its initial recommendations for the NOP to the Secretary of Agriculture. Since that time, the NOSB has submitted 170 addenda to its recommendations and reviewed more than 353 substances for inclusion on the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) published its final National Organic Program regulation in the Federal Register on December 21, 2000, (65 FR 80548). The rule became effective April 21, 2001. In addition, the OFPA authorizes the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances and provides that no allowed or prohibited substance would remain on the National List for a period exceeding five years unless the exemption or prohibition is reviewed and recommended for renewal by the NOSB and adopted by the Secretary of Agriculture. This expiration is commonly referred to as sunset of the National List. The National List appears at 7 CFR part 205, subpart G. The principal purposes of the NOSB meeting are to provide an opportunity for the NOSB to receive an update from the USDA/NOP and hear progress reports from NOSB committees regarding work plan items and proposed action items. The last NOSB meeting was held on May 4–6, 2009, in Washington, DC. At its last meeting, the Board recommended the addition of three materials with one on the National List § 205.601 for use in crops, one on § 205.603 for use in livestock and with one on § 205.606 for use in handling. At this meeting, the NOSB will conclude its review of 11 of the 12 materials scheduled to expire after September 12, 2011. There are two SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: E:\FR\FM\09SEN1.SGM 09SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 173 (Wednesday, September 9, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46409-46411]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-21669]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2008-0015]


Citrus Greening and Asian Citrus Psyllid; Availability of an 
Environmental Assessment

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: We are advising the public that an environmental assessment 
has been prepared by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
relative to a proposed control program for citrus greening disease and 
the Asian citrus psyllid. The environmental assessment documents our 
review and analysis of the potential environmental impacts associated 
with the implementation of this program. We are making this 
environmental assessment available to the public for review and 
comment.

[[Page 46410]]


DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
November 9, 2009.

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-2008-0015 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-2008-0015, Regulatory Analysis and 
Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, 
Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that your comment refers to 
Docket No. APHIS-2008-0015.
    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. Patrick Gomes, APHIS, PPQ, 920 
Main Campus Drive, Suite 200, Raleigh, NC 27606-5213; (919) 855-7313.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Citrus greening, also known as huanglongbing disease of citrus, is 
considered to be one of the most serious citrus diseases in the world. 
Citrus greening is a bacterial disease caused by strains of the 
bacterial pathogen ``Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus'' that attacks 
the vascular system of host plants. The bacteria are phloem-limited, 
inhabiting the food-conducting tissue of the host plant, and causes 
yellow shoots, blotchy mottling and chlorosis, reduced foliage, and tip 
dieback of citrus plants. Citrus greening greatly reduces production, 
destroys the economic value of the fruit, and can kill trees. Once a 
tree is infected with citrus greening, there is no cure for the 
disease. In areas of the world where citrus greening is endemic, citrus 
trees decline and die within a few years and may never produce usable 
fruit. Citrus greening was first detected in the United States in 
Miami-Dade County, FL, in 2005, and is only known to be present in the 
United States in the States of Florida and Georgia, two parishes in 
Louisiana, and two counties in South Carolina.
    The bacterial pathogen causing citrus greening can be transmitted 
by grafting, and under laboratory conditions, by dodder. There also is 
some evidence that seed transmission may occur. The pathogen can also 
be transmitted by two insect vectors in the family Psyllidae: 
Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), and Trioza 
erytreae (del Guercio), the African citrus psyllid. ACP can also cause 
economic damage to citrus in groves and nurseries by direct feeding. 
Both adults and nymphs feed on young foliage, depleting the sap and 
causing galling or curling of leaves. High populations feeding on a 
citrus shoot can kill the growing tip. ACP is currently present in 
Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Louisiana, 
Mississippi, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, and Texas. Based on regular 
surveys of domestic commercial citrus-producing areas, the African 
citrus psyllid is not present in the United States.
    The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the 
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has undertaken measures 
to control the artificial spread of citrus greening to noninfested 
areas of the United States since its introduction in 2005. On September 
16, 2005, APHIS issued a Federal Order designating one affected county 
in Florida as a quarantined area, and imposing restrictions on the 
interstate movement all citrus greening and ACP host material from this 
area.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ To view the September 2005 Federal Order or any other 
Federal order referenced in this document, go to https://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/citrus_greening/regs.shtml.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In January 2006, we issued an environmental assessment titled 
``Citrus Greening Control Program in Florida Nurseries'' (January 
2006).\2\ This document assessed the environmental impacts associated 
with the use of the pesticide treatments acetamiprid, chlorpyrifos, 
fenpropathrin, imidacloprid, kaolin, and a cyfluthrin/imidacloprid 
mixture as part of a disease control program for citrus greening and 
ACP.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ To view the 2006 environmental assessment, go to https://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/ea/downloads/citrusgreening1-06ea.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    On November 2, 2007, we issued a revised order that designated 
additional counties in Florida as areas quarantined for citrus 
greening, and that quarantined 32 counties in Texas, the entire States 
of Florida and Hawaii, the entire Territory of Guam, and the entire 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico for ACP. The November 2007 order also 
contained treatments that could be performed on ACP regulated articles 
to allow their movement from a quarantined area to areas of the United 
States other than commercial citrus-producing States. The order stated 
that, prior to movement, host material (other than Bergera (Murraya) 
koenigii, or curryleaf) had to be treated using an Environmental 
Protection Agency-approved product labeled for use in nurseries. The 
articles had to subsequently be treated with a drench containing 
imidacloprid as the active ingredient within 30 days prior to movement 
and with a foliar spray with a product containing acetamiprid, 
chlorpyrifos, or fenpropathrin as the active ingredient within 10 days 
prior to movement. Provided that it did not originate from an area 
quarantined for citrus greening, curryleaf could be moved interstate to 
any State following treatment with methyl bromide according to the 
APHIS-approved treatment schedule MB T101-n-2, found in 7 CFR part 305.
    We accompanied this revised order with a notice \3\ published in 
the Federal Register on November 2, 2007 (72 FR 62204-62205; Docket No. 
APHIS-2007-0135), in which we announced to the public the availability 
of an environmental assessment titled ``Movement of Regulated Articles 
from Citrus Greening and Asian Citrus Psyllid Quarantine Zones'' 
(October 2007). The assessment evaluated the possible environmental 
impacts associated with implementation of the revised Federal Order, 
and, in particular, the treatment schedules specified within it.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ To view the notice and the environmental assessment, go to 
https://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2007-0135.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Since issuance of these documents, we have issued six additional 
Federal Orders to designate new areas as quarantined areas for citrus 
greening or ACP. In these orders, we have added irradiation treatment 
at 400 gray as an approved treatment for ACP host articles, provided 
that the articles do not originate from an area that is quarantined for 
citrus greening. The latest Federal Order was issued on July 29, 2009.
    Concurrent with the issuance of these Federal Orders, we have also 
received requests from citrus industry representatives and State plant 
health officials in several States with

[[Page 46411]]

commercial citrus production to examine the efficacy of in-ground 
granular applications containing dinotefuran and foliar sprays 
containing bifenthrin, deltamethrin, dinotefuran, or a mixture of 
imidacloprid and cyfluthrin as pesticide treatments for ACP. We have 
found them to be effective in treating regulated nursery stock for ACP.
    Accordingly, we have completed an assessment of the environmental 
impacts anticipated from a control program that would incorporate the 
provisions of the latest Federal order, the use of these new granular 
applications and foliar sprays as treatments for ACP, and additional 
measures that are currently not included in the July 29, 2009 Federal 
Order but that we consider necessary to prevent the spread of citrus 
greening and ACP to currently unaffected areas of the United States.
    APHIS' review and analysis of these potential environmental impacts 
are documented in detail in an environmental assessment titled 
``Quarantine and Interstate Movement of Citrus Greening and Asian 
Citrus Psyllid'' (July 2009). We are making this assessment available 
to the public for review and comment. We will consider all comments 
that we receive on or before the date listed under the heading DATES at 
the beginning of this notice.
    The environmental assessment may be viewed on the Regulations.gov 
Web site or in our reading room (see ADDRESSES above for instructions 
for accessing the document on Regulations.gov and information on the 
location and hours of the reading room). You may request paper copies 
of the environmental assessment by calling or writing to the person 
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Please refer to title of 
the assessment when requesting copies.
    The environmental assessment has been prepared in accordance with: 
(1) The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), (2) regulations of the Council on 
Environmental Quality for implementing the procedural provisions of 
NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), (3) USDA regulations implementing NEPA 
(7 CFR part 1b), and (4) APHIS' NEPA Implementing Procedures (7 CFR 
part 372).

    Done in Washington, DC, this 2nd day of September 2009.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E9-21669 Filed 9-8-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
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