Notice of Decision to Issue Permits for the Importation of Fresh Pomegranates and Baby Kiwi from Chile into the United States, 26707-26708 [2010-11438]
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WReier-Aviles on DSKGBLS3C1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 91 / Wednesday, May 12, 2010 / Notices
DATES: We will consider comments that
we receive by July 12, 2010.
ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit
comments on this notice. In your
comments, include date, volume, the
OMB control Number and the title of the
information collection and page number
of this issue of the Federal Register.
You may submit comments by any of
the following methods:
• Mail: Danny Jackson, Loan
Specialist, USDA/FSA/FLP, STOP 0522,
1400 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20250–0522.
• E-mail:
danny.jackson@wdc.usda.gov.
• Fax: 202–720–6797.
You may also send comments to the
Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs,
Office of Management and Budget,
Washington, DC 20503. Copies of the
information collection may be requested
by contacting Danny Jackson at the
above address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Danny Jackson, Loan Specialist, Farm
Service Agency, (202) 720–0588.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: (7 CFR 764) Farm Loan
Programs Direct Loan Making.
OMB Number: 0560–0237.
Expiration Date: 11/30/2010.
Type of Request: Extension with
revision.
Abstract: FSA’s Farm Loan Programs
provide loans to family farmers to
purchase real estate and equipment, and
finance agricultural production. Direct
Loan Making, as specified in 7 CFR part
764, provides the requirements
associated with direct loans. FSA is
required to actively supervise its
borrowers and provide credit
counseling, management advice, and
financial guidance. Additionally, FSA
must document that credit is not
available to the borrower from
commercial credit sources in order to
maintain eligibility for assistance. Direct
loan making information collection
requirements include financial and
production records of the operation to
ensure that cash flow projections are
based on actual production history, a
loan is adequately secured, the
applicant meets established eligibility
requirements, and assignments on
income and sales can be obtained when
appropriate.
Respondents: Individuals or
households, businesses or other for
profit farms.
Estimate of Average Time to Respond:
.52 hour.
Estimated Annual Number of
Respondents: 145,201.
Estimated Number of Reponses per
Respondent: 3.87.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
15:00 May 11, 2010
Jkt 220001
Total Annual Responses: 561,362.
Estimated Total Annual Burden
Hours: 289,632.
We are requesting comments on all
aspects of this information collection
and to help us to:
(1) Evaluate whether the collection of
information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of FSA,
including whether the information will
have practical utility;
(2) Evaluate the accuracy of FSA’s
estimate of burden including the
validity of the methodology and
assumptions used;
(3) Enhance the quality, utility and
clarity of the information to be
collected;
(4) 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.
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 for Office of Management
and Budget approval.
Signed at Washington, DC, on May 5, 2010.
Jonathan W. Coppess,
Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 2010–11225 Filed 5–11–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–05–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2009-0097]
Notice of Decision to Issue Permits for
the Importation of Fresh Pomegranates
and Baby Kiwi from Chile into the
United States
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
SUMMARY: We are advising the public of
our decision to begin issuing permits for
the importation into the continental
United States of fresh pomegranates and
fresh baby kiwi from Chile. Based on the
findings of pest risk analyses, which we
made available to the public for review
and comment through a previous notice,
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 fresh pomegranates and
fresh baby kiwi from Chile.
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
EFFECTIVE DATE:
26707
May 12, 2010.
For
information concerning pomegranates
´
from Chile, contact Mr. Tony Roman,
Regulatory Policy Specialist, Regulatory
Coordination and Compliance, PPQ,
APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133,
Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 7345820.
For information concerning baby kiwi
fruit from Chile, contact Mr. David B.
Lamb, Import Specialist, Regulatory
Coordination and Compliance, PPQ,
APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133,
Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 7340627.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the
regulations in ‘‘Subpart-Fruits and
Vegetables’’ (7 CFR 319.56 through
319.56-50, 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 of the regulations
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.
Under that process, APHIS publishes a
notice in the Federal Register
announcing the availability of the pest
risk analysis that evaluates the risks
associated with the importation of a
particular fruit or vegetable. Following
the close of the 60-day comment period,
APHIS may begin issuing permits for
importation of the fruit or vegetable
subject to the identified designated
measures if: (1) No comments were
received on the pest risk analysis; (2)
the comments on the pest risk analysis
revealed that no changes to the pest risk
analysis were necessary; or (3) changes
to the pest risk analysis were made in
response to public comments, but the
changes did not affect the overall
conclusions of the analysis and the
Administrator’s determination of risk.
In accordance with that process, we
published a notice1 in the Federal
Register on February 9, 2010 (75 FR
6344-6345, Docket No. APHIS-20090097), in which we announced the
availability, for review and comment, of
two pest risk analyses that evaluate the
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
1 To view the notice and the comments we
received, go to (https://www.regulations.gov/
fdmspublic/component/
main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2009-0097).
E:\FR\FM\12MYN1.SGM
12MYN1
WReier-Aviles on DSKGBLS3C1PROD with NOTICES
26708
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 91 / Wednesday, May 12, 2010 / Notices
risks associated with the importation
into the continental United States of
fresh figs, pomegranates, and baby kiwi
fruit from Chile. We solicited comments
on the notice for 60 days ending on
April 12, 2010. We received 25
comments by that date, from port
terminal operators, growers’
associations, trade associations, a
fumigation service, a State agriculture
department, a foreign Government
agency, a foreign trade association, and
several produce importers, exporters,
and wholesalers. Most of the
commenters agreed that the mitigation
measures described in the pest risk
analysis would be adequate. However,
three commenters raised concerns about
the pest risk analyses or proposed
mitigation measures. These concerns are
discussed below.
One commenter raised several
concerns regarding the risks associated
with the importation of fresh figs from
Chile. In order to give ourselves
adequate time to explore the issues
raised by the commenter, we are
delaying our decision on figs and will
address only pomegranates and baby
kiwi from Chile in this notice. Our
decision with respect to fresh figs from
Chile will be announced in a later
notice.
Two commenters stated that APHIS
should conduct assessments at regular
intervals to ensure that Chilean
pomegranates remain safe from the
Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly).
APHIS does not believe that this is
necessary. We currently recognize all of
Chile, with the exceptions of the
provinces of Arica and Parinacota, as
free of Medfly. Furthermore, on
February 1, 2010, we published a notice
in the Federal Register (75 FR 50345035, Docket No. APHIS-2009-0082) in
which we announced our determination
that Arica and Parinacota Provinces are
free from Medfly and solicited
comments on that determination. We
received only supportive comments on
this announcement and intend to
proceed with a followup notice
formalizing this determination. This
will result in all of Chile being
recognized as a pest-free area for
Medfly. Until the decision is
implemented, APHIS will allow export
of pomegranates only from areas of
Chile currently recognized as free of
Medfly. Commercial consignments must
have a phytosanitary certificate with an
additional declaration stating that the
fruit comes from an area found free of
Medfly.
The same commenter endorsed the
use of methyl bromide as a treatment to
mitigate the risks associated with the
Chilean false red mite (Brevipalpis
VerDate Mar<15>2010
15:00 May 11, 2010
Jkt 220001
chilensis) but went on to suggest that
APHIS develop a quarantine program
that could be implemented in the event
that pest should enter the United States.
APHIS does not believe it is necessary
to develop a quarantine program as a
precautionary measure. APHIS has
established protocols that we use to
guide our response to incursions of new
plant pests.
One commenter questioned whether
our estimate of the number of hectares
of pomegranate production in Chile was
accurate. The commenter stated that
U.S. pomegranate growers had observed
larger areas under cultivation than were
estimated in our pest risk analysis.
In our pest risk analysis, we stated
that Chile had 150 hectares of
pomegranate cultivation in zones III and
IV, that is, in Atacama and Coquimbo
provinces, in 2007. According to the
Association of Chilean Exporters, Chile
currently has 300 hectares of
pomegranates in production at present.
It is possible that Chile has a greater
number of hectares under cultivation,
but that some of those orchards are not
yet mature and thus are not considered
to be in production.
Therefore, in accordance with the
regulations in § 319.56-4(c)(2)(ii), we are
announcing our decision to begin
issuing permits for the importation into
the continental United States of fresh
pomegranates and baby kiwi from Chile
subject to the following phytosanitary
measures:
∑ Each shipment of pomegranates or
baby kiwi must be accompanied by a
phytosanitary certificate. For shipments
of pomegranates, the phytosanitary
certificate must also bear the following
additional declaration: ‘‘The
pomegranates in this consignment
originated in an area free of
Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis
capitata).’’ The phytosanitary certificate
or phytosanitary certificate with
additional declaration must be issued by
the national plant protection
organization of Chile.
∑ The shipment must be fumigated
with methyl bromide using treatment
schedule T-101-i-2-1 in accordance with
7 CFR part 305.
∑ The pomegranates or baby kiwi
must be a commercial consignment as
defined in 7 CFR 319.56-2.
These conditions will be listed in the
Fruits and Vegetables Import
Requirements database (available at
(https://www.aphis.usda.gov/favir)) . In
addition to those specific measures, the
fresh pomegranates and baby kiwi will
be subject to the general requirements
listed in § 319.56-3 that are applicable to
the importation of all fruits and
vegetables.
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
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 10th day
of May, 2010.
Kevin Shea
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2010–11438 Filed 5–12–10; 7:26 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–34–S
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2008-0059]
ArborGen, LLC; Availability of an
Environmental Assessment and
Finding of No Significant Impact for a
Controlled Release of Genetically
Engineered Eucalyptus Hybrids
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
SUMMARY: We are advising the public
that the Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service has prepared an
environmental assessment for proposed
controlled field releases of a genetically
engineered clone of a Eucalyptus
hybrid. The purpose of this release is to
continue research on the efficacy of
genetic constructs intended to confer
cold tolerance, alter lignin biosynthesis
and alter fertility. After assessing the
application, reviewing pertinent
scientific information, and considering
comments provided by the public,
APHIS has concluded that these field
releases are unlikely to pose a plant pest
risk, nor are they likely to have a
significant impact on the quality of the
human environment. Based on its
finding of no significant impact, the
Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service has determined that an
environmental impact statement need
not be prepared for this field release.
EFFECTIVE DATE: May 12, 2010.
ADDRESSES: You may read the
documents referenced in this notice and
the comments we received 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. Those documents are also
available on the Internet at (https://
www.aphis.usda.gov/brs/
E:\FR\FM\12MYN1.SGM
12MYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 91 (Wednesday, May 12, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26707-26708]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-11438]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2009-0097]
Notice of Decision to Issue Permits for the Importation of Fresh
Pomegranates and Baby Kiwi from Chile into the United States
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We are advising the public of our decision to begin issuing
permits for the importation into the continental United States of fresh
pomegranates and fresh baby kiwi from Chile. Based on the findings of
pest risk analyses, which we made available to the public for review
and comment through a previous notice, 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 fresh pomegranates and fresh baby
kiwi from Chile.
EFFECTIVE DATE: May 12, 2010.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information concerning
pomegranates from Chile, contact Mr. Tony Rom[aacute]n, Regulatory
Policy Specialist, Regulatory Coordination and Compliance, PPQ, APHIS,
4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 734-5820.
For information concerning baby kiwi fruit from Chile, contact Mr.
David B. Lamb, Import Specialist, Regulatory Coordination and
Compliance, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737-
1236; (301) 734-0627.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the regulations in ``Subpart-Fruits
and Vegetables'' (7 CFR 319.56 through 319.56-50, 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 of the regulations 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. Under that process, APHIS publishes a notice in
the Federal Register announcing the availability of the pest risk
analysis that evaluates the risks associated with the importation of a
particular fruit or vegetable. Following the close of the 60-day
comment period, APHIS may begin issuing permits for importation of the
fruit or vegetable subject to the identified designated measures if:
(1) No comments were received on the pest risk analysis; (2) the
comments on the pest risk analysis revealed that no changes to the pest
risk analysis were necessary; or (3) changes to the pest risk analysis
were made in response to public comments, but the changes did not
affect the overall conclusions of the analysis and the Administrator's
determination of risk.
In accordance with that process, we published a notice\1\ in the
Federal Register on February 9, 2010 (75 FR 6344-6345, Docket No.
APHIS-2009-0097), in which we announced the availability, for review
and comment, of two pest risk analyses that evaluate the
[[Page 26708]]
risks associated with the importation into the continental United
States of fresh figs, pomegranates, and baby kiwi fruit from Chile. We
solicited comments on the notice for 60 days ending on April 12, 2010.
We received 25 comments by that date, from port terminal operators,
growers' associations, trade associations, a fumigation service, a
State agriculture department, a foreign Government agency, a foreign
trade association, and several produce importers, exporters, and
wholesalers. Most of the commenters agreed that the mitigation measures
described in the pest risk analysis would be adequate. However, three
commenters raised concerns about the pest risk analyses or proposed
mitigation measures. These concerns are discussed below.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ To view the notice and the comments we received, go to
(https://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2009-0097).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
One commenter raised several concerns regarding the risks
associated with the importation of fresh figs from Chile. In order to
give ourselves adequate time to explore the issues raised by the
commenter, we are delaying our decision on figs and will address only
pomegranates and baby kiwi from Chile in this notice. Our decision with
respect to fresh figs from Chile will be announced in a later notice.
Two commenters stated that APHIS should conduct assessments at
regular intervals to ensure that Chilean pomegranates remain safe from
the Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly).
APHIS does not believe that this is necessary. We currently
recognize all of Chile, with the exceptions of the provinces of Arica
and Parinacota, as free of Medfly. Furthermore, on February 1, 2010, we
published a notice in the Federal Register (75 FR 5034-5035, Docket No.
APHIS-2009-0082) in which we announced our determination that Arica and
Parinacota Provinces are free from Medfly and solicited comments on
that determination. We received only supportive comments on this
announcement and intend to proceed with a followup notice formalizing
this determination. This will result in all of Chile being recognized
as a pest-free area for Medfly. Until the decision is implemented,
APHIS will allow export of pomegranates only from areas of Chile
currently recognized as free of Medfly. Commercial consignments must
have a phytosanitary certificate with an additional declaration stating
that the fruit comes from an area found free of Medfly.
The same commenter endorsed the use of methyl bromide as a
treatment to mitigate the risks associated with the Chilean false red
mite (Brevipalpis chilensis) but went on to suggest that APHIS develop
a quarantine program that could be implemented in the event that pest
should enter the United States.
APHIS does not believe it is necessary to develop a quarantine
program as a precautionary measure. APHIS has established protocols
that we use to guide our response to incursions of new plant pests.
One commenter questioned whether our estimate of the number of
hectares of pomegranate production in Chile was accurate. The commenter
stated that U.S. pomegranate growers had observed larger areas under
cultivation than were estimated in our pest risk analysis.
In our pest risk analysis, we stated that Chile had 150 hectares of
pomegranate cultivation in zones III and IV, that is, in Atacama and
Coquimbo provinces, in 2007. According to the Association of Chilean
Exporters, Chile currently has 300 hectares of pomegranates in
production at present. It is possible that Chile has a greater number
of hectares under cultivation, but that some of those orchards are not
yet mature and thus are not considered to be in production.
Therefore, in accordance with the regulations in Sec. 319.56-
4(c)(2)(ii), we are announcing our decision to begin issuing permits
for the importation into the continental United States of fresh
pomegranates and baby kiwi from Chile subject to the following
phytosanitary measures:
Each shipment of pomegranates or baby kiwi must be
accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate. For shipments of
pomegranates, the phytosanitary certificate must also bear the
following additional declaration: ``The pomegranates in this
consignment originated in an area free of Mediterranean fruit fly
(Ceratitis capitata).'' The phytosanitary certificate or phytosanitary
certificate with additional declaration must be issued by the national
plant protection organization of Chile.
The shipment must be fumigated with methyl bromide using
treatment schedule T-101-i-2-1 in accordance with 7 CFR part 305.
The pomegranates or baby kiwi must be a commercial
consignment as defined in 7 CFR 319.56-2.
These conditions will be listed in the Fruits and Vegetables Import
Requirements database (available at (https://www.aphis.usda.gov/favir))
. In addition to those specific measures, the fresh pomegranates and
baby kiwi will be subject to the general requirements listed in Sec.
319.56-3 that are applicable to the importation of all fruits and
vegetables.
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 10\th\ day of May, 2010.
Kevin Shea
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-11438 Filed 5-12-10; 7:26 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-S
