Notice of Availability of a Pest Risk Analysis for the Importation of Litchi, Longan, and Rambutan From the Philippines Into the Continental United States, 13260-13261 [2012-5365]
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13260
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 44 / Tuesday, March 6, 2012 / Notices
pmangrum on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
would warrant APHIS altering its
preliminary regulatory determination or
FONSI, substantially changing the
proposed action identified in the EA, or
substantially changing the analysis of
impacts in the EA, our preliminary
regulatory determination will become
final and effective upon notification of
the public through an announcement on
our Web site. APHIS will also furnish a
response to the petitioner regarding our
final regulatory determination. No
further Federal Register notice will be
published announcing the final
regulatory determination.
Should APHIS determine that we
have received substantive new
information within 30 days of
publication of the Federal Register
notice that would warrant APHIS
altering our preliminary regulatory
determination or FONSI, substantially
changing the proposed action identified
in the EA, or substantially changing the
analysis of impacts in the EA, our
preliminary determination will not
become effective. In this case, APHIS
intends to notify the public through an
announcement on our Web site of our
intent to conduct additional analysis.
APHIS will also inform the petitioner of
our intent.
Based on the information APHIS
received and our further analysis, the
Agency will prepare an amended EA, a
new FONSI, and/or a revised PPRA, as
necessary. APHIS will then publish a
notice in the Federal Register
announcing the availability of these
documents for public review and
APHIS’ preliminary regulatory
determination. After reviewing and
evaluating any additional information
received within 30 days of publication
of this Federal Register notice, our
preliminary regulatory determination
will become final and effective upon
notification of the public through an
announcement on our Web site. APHIS
will also furnish a response to the
petitioner regarding our final regulatory
determination. No further Federal
Register notice will be published
announcing the final regulatory
determination.
Approach 2
A second approach for public
participation will be used when APHIS
determines that the petition for a
determination of nonregulated status is
for a GE organism that raises substantive
new issues. This could include petitions
involving a recipient organism that has
not previously been determined by
APHIS to have nonregulated status or
when APHIS determines that gene
modifications raise substantive
biological, cultural, or ecological issues
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14:56 Mar 05, 2012
Jkt 226001
not previously analyzed by APHIS.
Substantive issues would be identified
by APHIS based on our review of the
petition and our evaluation and analysis
of comments received from the public
during the 60-day comment period on
the petition.
Under this approach, APHIS will
solicit written comments on a draft EA
and PPRA for 30 days through the
publication of a Federal Register notice.
The draft EA and PPRA will be made
available as indicated in the Federal
Register notice. Upon completion of the
30-day comment period, APHIS will
review and evaluate all written
comments received during the comment
period and any other relevant
information. After reviewing and
evaluating the comments on the draft
EA and PPRA and other information,
APHIS will revise the PPRA as
necessary and prepare a final EA. Based
on the final EA, APHIS will prepare a
NEPA decision document—either a
FONSI or NOI to prepare an EIS. If a
FONSI is reached, APHIS will furnish a
response to the petitioner, either
approving or denying the petition.
APHIS will publish a notice in the
Federal Register announcing the
regulatory status of the GE organism and
the availability of APHIS’ final EA,
PPRA, FONSI, and our regulatory
determination.
These changes to the public
participation process are effective
March 6, 2012. All petitions for
determinations of nonregulated status
for GE organisms received by APHIS on
or after this date will be handled using
the new process for handling petitions
described in this notice. For petitions
received before this date and currently
under consideration by APHIS, our
ability to transition to the new process
will depend upon the current status of
the petition. For those petitions where
APHIS has not completed a draft EA
and PPRA, APHIS will follow the new
process, i.e., the complete petition will
be published for a 60-day comment
period followed by later public
involvement regarding the EA and
PPRA. For those petitions where APHIS
has completed or is nearing completion
of a draft EA and PPRA, APHIS will
follow our previous process, i.e., the
petition, draft EA, and PPRA will be
made available in a single Federal
Register notice for a 60-day comment
period. APHIS will notify petitioners
which process their petition will follow
and will make this information available
at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/
biotechnology/pet_proc_imp.shtml.
These public participation process
changes are consistent with (1) 7 CFR
part 340, (2) the National Environmental
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Frm 00004
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), (3) regulations
of the Council on Environmental
Quality for implementing the
procedural provisions of NEPA (40 CFR
parts 1500–1508), (4) USDA regulations
implementing NEPA (7 CFR part 1b),
and (5) APHIS’ NEPA Implementing
Procedures (7 CFR part 372).
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7701–7772 and 7781–
7786; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and
371.3.
Done in Washington, DC, this 29th day of
February 2012.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2012–5364 Filed 3–5–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service
[Docket No. APHIS–2012–0005]
Notice of Availability of a Pest Risk
Analysis for the Importation of Litchi,
Longan, and Rambutan From the
Philippines Into the Continental United
States
Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of availability and
request for comments.
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 litchi,
longan, and rambutan fruit from the
Philippines. Based on that analysis, we
believe that the application of one or
more designated phytosanitary
measures will be sufficient to mitigate
the risks of introducing or disseminating
plant pests or noxious weeds via the
importation of fresh fruit of litchi,
longan, and rambutan from the
Philippines. We are making the pest risk
analysis available to the public for
review and comment.
DATES: We will consider all comments
that we receive on or before May 7,
2012.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
by either of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
https://www.regulations.gov/
#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2012-00050001.
• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery:
Send your comment to Docket No.
APHIS–2012–0005, Regulatory Analysis
and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\06MRN1.SGM
06MRN1
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 44 / Tuesday, March 6, 2012 / Notices
pmangrum on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
3A–03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118,
Riverdale, MD 20737–1238.
Supporting documents and any
comments we receive on this docket
may be viewed at https://
www.regulations.gov/
#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2012-0005 or
in our reading room, which 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Claudia Ferguson, Regulatory Policy
Coordinator, Regulations, Permits, and
Manuals, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road
Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737–1231;
(301) 851–2352.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Under the regulations in ‘‘Subpart—
Fruits and Vegetables’’ (7 CFR 319.56–
1 through 319.56–54, 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 the Philippines to allow
the importation of fresh fruit of litchi
(Litchi chinensis), longan (Dimocarpus
longan), and rambutan (Nephelium
lappaceum) from the Philippines into
the continental United States. Currently,
fresh fruits of litchi, longan, and
rambutan are not authorized for entry
from the Philippines. We have
completed a pest risk analysis for the
purpose of evaluating the pest risks
associated with the importation of fresh
fruit of litchi, longan, and rambutan into
the continental United States. The
analysis consists of a pest list
identifying pests of quarantine
significance that are present in the
Philippines and could follow the
pathway of importation into the United
States and a risk management document
identifying phytosanitary measures that
could be applied to the commodities to
mitigate the pest risk.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
14:56 Mar 05, 2012
Jkt 226001
We have concluded that fresh fruit of
litchi, longan, and rambutan can be
safely imported into the continental
United States from the Philippines
using one or more of the five designated
phytosanitary measures listed in
§ 319.56–4(b). The requirements for
shipments of fresh fruit of litchi, longan,
and rambutan from the Philippines
would be as follows:
• The fresh fruit of litchi, longan, and
rambutan may be imported into the
continental United States in commercial
consignments only;
• The fresh fruit of litchi, longan, and
rambutan must be irradiated in
accordance with 7 CFR part 305 with a
minimum absorbed dose of 400 Gy;
• If the irradiation treatment is
applied outside the United States, each
consignment of fresh fruit of litchi,
longan, and rambutan must be jointly
inspected by APHIS and the national
plant protection organization (NPPO) of
the Philippines and accompanied by a
phytosanitary certificate attesting that
the fruit received the required
irradiation treatment. In the case of
fresh rambutan fruit, the phytosanitary
certificate must also include an
additional declaration stating that the
consignment was inspected and found
free of the powdery mildew Oidium
nephelii;
• If irradiation is applied upon arrival
in the United States, each consignment
of fresh fruit of litchi, longan, and
rambutan must be inspected by the
NPPO of the Philippines prior to
departure. In the case of fresh rambutan
fruit, the phytosanitary certificate must
also include an additional declaration
stating that the consignment was
inspected and found free of the powdery
mildew Oidium nephelii; and
• The fresh fruit of litchi, longan, and
rambutan are subject to inspection upon
arrival at the U.S. port of entry.
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
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 fruit
of litchi, longan, and rambutan from the
Philippines in a subsequent notice. If
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
13261
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
fruit of litchi, longan, and rambutan
from the Phillipines into the continental
United States subject to the
requirements specified in the risk
management document.
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 29th day of
February 2012.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2012–5365 Filed 3–5–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Request for Applications: The
Community Forest and Open Space
Conservation Program
Forest Service.
Notice; Correction.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Department of
Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service,
State and Private Forestry, Cooperative
Forestry staff, published a document in
the Federal Register of February 15,
2011, concerning requests for
applications for the Community Forest
and Open Space Conservation Program
(Community Forest Program or CFP).
The document contained incorrect
funding information in section 2
(Award).
ADDRESSES: All local governments’ and
qualified nonprofit organizations’
applications must be submitted to the
State Forester of the State where the
property is located. All Indian tribal
applications must be submitted to the
equivalent official of the Indian tribe.
The Forest Service encourages
applicants to contact and work with
their State Forester or equivalent official
of the Indian tribe when developing
their proposal. The State Forester’s
contact information may be found at
https://www.fs.fed.us/spf/coop/
programs/loa/cfp.shtml.
All applicants must also send an
email to communityforest@fs.fed.us to
confirm an application has been
submitted for funding consideration.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
questions regarding the grant
application or administrative
regulations, contact Kathryn Conant,
Program Manager, 202–401–4072,
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\06MRN1.SGM
06MRN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 6, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13260-13261]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-5365]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2012-0005]
Notice of Availability of a Pest Risk Analysis for the
Importation of Litchi, Longan, and Rambutan From the Philippines Into
the Continental United States
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 litchi, longan, and rambutan
fruit from the Philippines. Based on that analysis, we believe that the
application of one or more designated phytosanitary measures will be
sufficient to mitigate the risks of introducing or disseminating plant
pests or noxious weeds via the importation of fresh fruit of litchi,
longan, and rambutan from the Philippines. We are making the pest risk
analysis available to the public for review and comment.
DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before May
7, 2012.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2012-0005-0001.
Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to
Docket No. APHIS-2012-0005, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD,
APHIS, Station
[[Page 13261]]
3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238.
Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may
be viewed at https://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2012-
0005 or in our reading room, which 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Claudia Ferguson, Regulatory
Policy Coordinator, Regulations, Permits, and Manuals, PPQ, APHIS, 4700
River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 851-2352.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Under the regulations in ``Subpart--Fruits and Vegetables'' (7 CFR
319.56-1 through 319.56-54, 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 the Philippines to
allow the importation of fresh fruit of litchi (Litchi chinensis),
longan (Dimocarpus longan), and rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum) from the
Philippines into the continental United States. Currently, fresh fruits
of litchi, longan, and rambutan are not authorized for entry from the
Philippines. We have completed a pest risk analysis for the purpose of
evaluating the pest risks associated with the importation of fresh
fruit of litchi, longan, and rambutan into the continental United
States. The analysis consists of a pest list identifying pests of
quarantine significance that are present in the Philippines and could
follow the pathway of importation into the United States and a risk
management document identifying phytosanitary measures that could be
applied to the commodities to mitigate the pest risk.
We have concluded that fresh fruit of litchi, longan, and rambutan
can be safely imported into the continental United States from the
Philippines using one or more of the five designated phytosanitary
measures listed in Sec. 319.56-4(b). The requirements for shipments of
fresh fruit of litchi, longan, and rambutan from the Philippines would
be as follows:
The fresh fruit of litchi, longan, and rambutan may be
imported into the continental United States in commercial consignments
only;
The fresh fruit of litchi, longan, and rambutan must be
irradiated in accordance with 7 CFR part 305 with a minimum absorbed
dose of 400 Gy;
If the irradiation treatment is applied outside the United
States, each consignment of fresh fruit of litchi, longan, and rambutan
must be jointly inspected by APHIS and the national plant protection
organization (NPPO) of the Philippines and accompanied by a
phytosanitary certificate attesting that the fruit received the
required irradiation treatment. In the case of fresh rambutan fruit,
the phytosanitary certificate must also include an additional
declaration stating that the consignment was inspected and found free
of the powdery mildew Oidium nephelii;
If irradiation is applied upon arrival in the United
States, each consignment of fresh fruit of litchi, longan, and rambutan
must be inspected by the NPPO of the Philippines prior to departure. In
the case of fresh rambutan fruit, the phytosanitary certificate must
also include an additional declaration stating that the consignment was
inspected and found free of the powdery mildew Oidium nephelii; and
The fresh fruit of litchi, longan, and rambutan are
subject to inspection upon arrival at the U.S. port of entry.
Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 319.56-4(c), we are announcing
the availability of our pest risk analysis for public review and
comment. The pest risk analysis may be viewed on the Regulations.gov
Web site or in our reading room (see ADDRESSES above for 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 fruit of litchi, longan,
and rambutan from the Philippines 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 authorize the importation of fresh fruit of
litchi, longan, and rambutan from the Phillipines into the continental
United States subject to the requirements specified in the risk
management document.
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 29th day of February 2012.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-5365 Filed 3-5-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
