Notice of Availability of a Pest Risk Analysis for the Importation of Fresh Apricot, Sweet Cherry, and Plumcot Fruit From South Africa Into the Continental United States, 31577-31578 [2011-13503]

Download as PDF mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 105 / Wednesday, June 1, 2011 / Notices Regulations authorized by the PPA concerning the importation of fruits and vegetables into the United States from certain parts of the world are contained in ‘‘Subpart-Fruits and Vegetables’’ (7 CFR 319.56–1 through 319.5650). Under these regulations, clementines from Spain are subject to certain conditions before entering the United States to ensure that exotic plant pests, such as the Mediterranean fruit fly, are not introduced into the United States. The regulations require the use of information collection activities including a trust fund agreement, grower registration and agreement, a Mediterranean fruit fly management program, fruit fly trapping and control activities, recordkeeping, a phytosanitary certificate, and box labeling. We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve our use of these information collection activities for an additional 3 years. The purpose of this notice is to solicit comments from the public (as well as affected agencies) concerning our information collection. These comments will help us: (1) Evaluate whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the burden of the collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, through use, as appropriate, of automated, electronic, mechanical, and other collection technologies; e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses. Estimate of burden: The public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 0.0032364 hours per response. Respondents: National plant health officials of Spain and growers and shippers of clementines. Estimated annual number of respondents: 4,509. Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 434.54281. Estimated annual number of responses: 1,958,919. Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 6,340 hours. (Due to averaging, the total annual burden hours may not equal the product of the annual number of responses multiplied by the reporting burden per response.) VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:48 May 31, 2011 Jkt 223001 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. Done in Washington, DC, this 25th day of May 2011. Kevin Shea, Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. 2011–13502 Filed 5–31–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–34–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service [Docket No. APHIS–2011–0039] Notice of Availability of a Pest Risk Analysis for the Importation of Fresh Apricot, Sweet Cherry, and Plumcot Fruit From South Africa Into the Continental United States Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: We are advising the public that we have prepared a pest risk analysis that evaluates the risks associated with the importation into the continental United States of fresh apricot, sweet cherry, and plumcot fruit from South Africa. Based on our analysis, we have concluded that the application of one or more designated phytosanitary measures will be sufficient to mitigate the risks of introducing or disseminating plant pests via the importation of those commodities from South Africa. We are making the pest risk analysis available to the public for review and comment. Based on the results of our analysis, we also determined that it is necessary to revise a treatment schedule in the Plant Protection and Quarantine Treatment Manual. SUMMARY: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before August 1, 2011. 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=APHIS2011-0039 to submit or view comments and to view supporting and related materials available electronically. • Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send one copy of your comment to Docket No. APHIS–2011–0039, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A–03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD DATES: PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 31577 20737–1238. Please state that your comment refers to Docket No. APHIS– 2011–0039. 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: Ms. Dorothy C. Wayson, Senior Regulatory Coordination Specialist, Regulations, Permits, and Manuals, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 141, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734–0772. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Under the regulations in ‘‘Subpart— Fruits and Vegetables’’ (7 CFR 319.56–1 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 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. APHIS received a request from the Government of South Africa to allow the importation of fresh apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.), sweet cherry (Prunus avium (L.) L., and plumcot (Prunus domestica × Prunus armeniaca) fruit from South Africa into the continental United States. APHIS completed a risk assessment to identify pests of quarantine significance that could follow the pathway of importation of those stone fruits. Based on that risk assessment, APHIS completed a risk management document identifying phytosanitary measures that could be applied to mitigate the possible pest risks. We have concluded that fresh apricot, sweet cherry, and plumcot fruit can be imported safely into the continental United States from South E:\FR\FM\01JNN1.SGM 01JNN1 mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 31578 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 105 / Wednesday, June 1, 2011 / Notices Africa using one or more of the five designated phytosanitary measures listed in § 319.56–4(b). The specific measures that we would require for apricot, sweet cherry, and plumcot fruit imported from South Africa are as follows: • The fruit must be imported as a commercial consignment, as defined in § 319.56–2. • Each consignment of fruit must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by the national plant protection organization of South Africa. For apricots and plumcots only, the phytosanitary certificate must include an additional declaration stating that the fruit was inspected and found free of cinch bug (Macchiademus diplopterus). • Apricots and plumcots must be cold treated for fruit flies (Ceratitis spp.) and false codling moth (Thaumatotibia leucotreta) in accordance with 7 CFR part 305. • Sweet cherries must be cold treated for the Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata) in accordance with 7 CFR part 305. • Each consignment of fruit is subject to inspection upon arrival in the United States. Therefore, in accordance with § 319.56–4(c), we are announcing the availability of our pest risk analysis for public review and comment. Based on the findings detailed in our risk management document, we are also updating the Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) Treatment Manual.1 As noted above, apricots, sweet cherries, and plumcots imported into the continental United States from South Africa would be required to undergo cold treatment in accordance with 7 CFR part 305. In § 305.2, paragraph (b) states that approved treatment schedules are set out in the PPQ Treatment Manual. Section 305.3 sets out a process for adding, revising, or removing treatment schedules in the PPQ Treatment Manual. In that section, paragraph (a) sets out the process for adding, revising, or removing treatment schedules when there is no immediate need to make a change. The circumstances in which an immediate need exists are described in § 305.3(b)(1). In accordance with § 305.3(a)(1), we are providing notice that we have determined that it is necessary to revise treatment schedule T107–e, which 1 The Treatment Manual is available on the Internet at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/ import_export/plants/manuals/index.shtml or by contacting the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine, Manuals Unit, 92 Thomas Johnson Drive, Suite 200, Frederick, MD 21702. VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:48 May 31, 2011 Jkt 223001 provides a cold treatment schedule intended to prevent the spread of false codling moth and Natal fruit fly (Ceratitis rosa) via the interstate movement or importation of apricot, grape, nectarine, peach, and plum fruit. Our risk management document states that apricots and plumcots must be treated for false codling moth and Natal fruit fly, as well as the Mediterranean fruit fly and the Bezzi fruit fly (Ceratitis quinaria), using treatment schedule T107–e. The risk management document further states that although T107–e is not specifically approved for the Mediterranean or the Bezzi fruit fly, APHIS considers it to be an adequate treatment for both because it is more stringent than any other cold treatment approved for fruit flies. Moreover, although the hybrid plumcot is not listed among commodities that this treatment is approved for, its parent fruits, plum and apricot, are. APHIS has concluded, therefore, that plumcots can be effectively treated in accordance with T107–e to protect against the spread of false codling moth and of other species of fruit fly in addition to Natal fruit fly. Therefore, we have determined that treatment schedule T107–e can include plumcots among the commodities to which the treatment may be applied and the Mediterranean and the Bezzi fruit fly among the pests it is intended to eliminate. The pest risk analysis may be viewed on the Regulations.gov Web site or in our reading room (see ADDRESSES above for a link to 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 you wish to review when requesting copies. After reviewing any comments we receive, we will announce our decision regarding the import status of fresh apricot, sweet cherry, and plumcot fruit from South Africa and the change to the PPQ Treatment Manual. 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 authorize the importation of fresh apricot, sweet cherry, and plumcot fruit from South Africa into the continental United States, subject to the requirements specified in the risk management document. We will also issue a new version of the PPQ Treatment Manual incorporating the changes to treatment schedule T107–e discussed above. PO 00000 Frm 00008 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 25th day of May 2011. Kevin Shea, Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. 2011–13503 Filed 5–31–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–34–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Siskiyou Resource Advisory Committee Forest Service, USDA. Notice of meeting. AGENCY: ACTION: The Siskiou Resource Advisory Committee will meet in Smith River, California. The committee is authorized under the Secure Rural Schools and Community SelfDetermination Act (Pub. L. 110–343) (the Act) and operates in compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The purpose of the committee is to improve collaborative relationships and to provide advice and recommendations to the Forest Service concerning projects and funding consistent with the title II of the Act. The meeting is open to the public. The purpose of the meeting is to review and recommend projects submitted for funding under Title II of The Secure Rural Schools and Cummunity and Self-Determination Act of 2000. Existing projects will be reviewed also. DATES: The meeting will be held June 30, 2011, 830 a.m. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at Howonquet Hall Community Center, 101 Indian Court, Smith River, CA. Written comments may be submitted as described under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. All comments, including names and addresses when provided, are placed in the record and are available for public inspection and copying. The public may inspect comments received at Medford Interagency Office, 3040 Biddle Road, Medford, OR 97504. Please call ahead to 541–618–2113 to facilitate entry into the building to view comments. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Virginia Gibbons, Public Affairs Officer, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, 541–618–2113. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\01JNN1.SGM 01JNN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 105 (Wednesday, June 1, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31577-31578]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-13503]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2011-0039]


Notice of Availability of a Pest Risk Analysis for the 
Importation of Fresh Apricot, Sweet Cherry, and Plumcot Fruit From 
South Africa Into the Continental 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 continental United States of fresh apricot, sweet cherry, and 
plumcot fruit from South Africa. Based on our analysis, we have 
concluded that the application of one or more designated phytosanitary 
measures will be sufficient to mitigate the risks of introducing or 
disseminating plant pests via the importation of those commodities from 
South Africa. We are making the pest risk analysis available to the 
public for review and comment. Based on the results of our analysis, we 
also determined that it is necessary to revise a treatment schedule in 
the Plant Protection and Quarantine Treatment Manual.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
August 1, 2011.

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-2011-0039 to submit or view comments and 
to view supporting and related materials available electronically.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send one copy of 
your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2011-0039, 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-2011-0039.
    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: Ms. Dorothy C. Wayson, Senior 
Regulatory Coordination Specialist, Regulations, Permits, and Manuals, 
PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 141, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734-
0772.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Under the regulations in ``Subpart--Fruits and Vegetables'' (7 CFR 
319.56-1 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 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.
    APHIS received a request from the Government of South Africa to 
allow the importation of fresh apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.), sweet 
cherry (Prunus avium (L.) L., and plumcot (Prunus domestica x Prunus 
armeniaca) fruit from South Africa into the continental United States. 
APHIS completed a risk assessment to identify pests of quarantine 
significance that could follow the pathway of importation of those 
stone fruits. Based on that risk assessment, APHIS completed a risk 
management document identifying phytosanitary measures that could be 
applied to mitigate the possible pest risks. We have concluded that 
fresh apricot, sweet cherry, and plumcot fruit can be imported safely 
into the continental United States from South

[[Page 31578]]

Africa using one or more of the five designated phytosanitary measures 
listed in Sec.  319.56-4(b). The specific measures that we would 
require for apricot, sweet cherry, and plumcot fruit imported from 
South Africa are as follows:
     The fruit must be imported as a commercial consignment, as 
defined in Sec.  319.56-2.
     Each consignment of fruit must be accompanied by a 
phytosanitary certificate issued by the national plant protection 
organization of South Africa. For apricots and plumcots only, the 
phytosanitary certificate must include an additional declaration 
stating that the fruit was inspected and found free of cinch bug 
(Macchiademus diplopterus).
     Apricots and plumcots must be cold treated for fruit flies 
(Ceratitis spp.) and false codling moth (Thaumatotibia leucotreta) in 
accordance with 7 CFR part 305.
     Sweet cherries must be cold treated for the Mediterranean 
fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata) in accordance with 7 CFR part 305.
     Each consignment of fruit is subject to inspection upon 
arrival in the United States.
    Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  319.56-4(c), we are announcing 
the availability of our pest risk analysis for public review and 
comment.
    Based on the findings detailed in our risk management document, we 
are also updating the Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) Treatment 
Manual.\1\ As noted above, apricots, sweet cherries, and plumcots 
imported into the continental United States from South Africa would be 
required to undergo cold treatment in accordance with 7 CFR part 305. 
In Sec.  305.2, paragraph (b) states that approved treatment schedules 
are set out in the PPQ Treatment Manual. Section 305.3 sets out a 
process for adding, revising, or removing treatment schedules in the 
PPQ Treatment Manual. In that section, paragraph (a) sets out the 
process for adding, revising, or removing treatment schedules when 
there is no immediate need to make a change. The circumstances in which 
an immediate need exists are described in Sec.  305.3(b)(1).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ The Treatment Manual is available on the Internet at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/index.shtml or by 
contacting the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant 
Protection and Quarantine, Manuals Unit, 92 Thomas Johnson Drive, 
Suite 200, Frederick, MD 21702.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In accordance with Sec.  305.3(a)(1), we are providing notice that 
we have determined that it is necessary to revise treatment schedule 
T107-e, which provides a cold treatment schedule intended to prevent 
the spread of false codling moth and Natal fruit fly (Ceratitis rosa) 
via the interstate movement or importation of apricot, grape, 
nectarine, peach, and plum fruit. Our risk management document states 
that apricots and plumcots must be treated for false codling moth and 
Natal fruit fly, as well as the Mediterranean fruit fly and the Bezzi 
fruit fly (Ceratitis quinaria), using treatment schedule T107-e. The 
risk management document further states that although T107-e is not 
specifically approved for the Mediterranean or the Bezzi fruit fly, 
APHIS considers it to be an adequate treatment for both because it is 
more stringent than any other cold treatment approved for fruit flies. 
Moreover, although the hybrid plumcot is not listed among commodities 
that this treatment is approved for, its parent fruits, plum and 
apricot, are. APHIS has concluded, therefore, that plumcots can be 
effectively treated in accordance with T107-e to protect against the 
spread of false codling moth and of other species of fruit fly in 
addition to Natal fruit fly. Therefore, we have determined that 
treatment schedule T107-e can include plumcots among the commodities to 
which the treatment may be applied and the Mediterranean and the Bezzi 
fruit fly among the pests it is intended to eliminate.
    The pest risk analysis may be viewed on the Regulations.gov Web 
site or in our reading room (see ADDRESSES above for a link to 
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 you wish to review when requesting copies.
    After reviewing any comments we receive, we will announce our 
decision regarding the import status of fresh apricot, sweet cherry, 
and plumcot fruit from South Africa and the change to the PPQ Treatment 
Manual. 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 authorize the importation 
of fresh apricot, sweet cherry, and plumcot fruit from South Africa 
into the continental United States, subject to the requirements 
specified in the risk management document. We will also issue a new 
version of the PPQ Treatment Manual incorporating the changes to 
treatment schedule T107-e discussed above.

    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 25th day of May 2011.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-13503 Filed 5-31-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.