Notice of Availability of a Pest Risk Analysis for the Importation of Swiss Chard From Colombia Into the Continental United States, 40688-40689 [2013-16207]

Download as PDF 40688 Notices Federal Register Vol. 78, No. 130 Monday, July 8, 2013 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency statements of organization and functions are examples of documents appearing in this section. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES July 1, 2013. The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104–13. Comments regarding (a) 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; (b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; (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 regarding this information collection received by August 7, 2013 will be considered. Written comments should be addressed to: Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), New Executive Office Building, 725—17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20503. Commenters are encouraged to submit their comments to OMB via email to: OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov or fax (202) 395–5806 and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250– 7602. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling (202) 720–8681. An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control number and the agency informs VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:27 Jul 05, 2013 Jkt 229001 potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information that such persons are not required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Total Burden Hours: 6,008. Charlene Parker, Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer. [FR Doc. 2013–16206 Filed 7–5–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–20–P National Agricultural Statistics Service Title: Census of Aquaculture. OMB Control Number: 0535–0237. Summary of Collection: The primary objective of the 2013 Census of Aquaculture is to obtain a comprehensive and detailed picture of the aquaculture sector of the economy. Authority to administer the census of aquaculture is covered by Public Law 105–113, the Census of Agriculture Act of 1997, and U.S. Code Title 7. The census of aquaculture will be the only source of data comparable and consistent at the national and State levels. It will cover all operations, commercial or noncommercial, for which $1,000 or more of aquaculture products were sold or normally would have been sold during the census year. The census of aquaculture is one of a series of special study programs that comprise the follow-ons to the census of agriculture and is designed to provide more detailed statistics on the aquaculture industry. Need and Use of the Information: The National Agricultural Statistics Service will collect data to provide a comprehensive inventory on the number of operations, freshwater and saltwater acreage used for aquaculture production, water sources used for production, methods of production, total production, sales outlets, value of aquaculture products sold and sales by aquaculture species, products distributed for recreation, restoration or conservation by species. These data will provide information on the aquaculture industry necessary for farmers, government and various groups, concerned with the aquaculture industry to evaluate policy and programs, make marketing decisions and determine the economic impact on the economy. Description of Respondents: Farms. Number of Respondents: 8,000. Frequency of Responses: Reporting: One-time (Every 5-years). PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service [Docket No. APHIS–2013–0052] Notice of Availability of a Pest Risk Analysis for the Importation of Swiss Chard From Colombia Into the Continental United States Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: We are advising the public that we have prepared a pest risk analysis that evaluates the risks associated with the importation of Swiss chard from Colombia into the continental United States. Based on that 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 or noxious weeds via the importation of Swiss chard from Colombia. 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 September 6, 2013. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov/#!document Detail;D=APHIS-2013-0052-0001. • Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to Docket No. APHIS–2013–0052, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 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/#!docket Detail;D=APHIS-2013-0052 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 SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\08JYN1.SGM 08JYN1 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 130 / Monday, July 8, 2013 / Notices through Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you, please call (202) 799–7039 before coming. Ms. Dorothy Wayson, Senior Regulatory Policy Specialist, Plant Health Programs, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737–1231; (301) 851–2036. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES Background Under the regulations in ‘‘Subpart— Fruits and Vegetables’’ (7 CFR 319.56– 1 through 319.56–58), the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) prohibits or restricts the importation of fruits and vegetables into the United States from certain parts of the world to prevent the introduction and dissemination of plant pests that are new to or not widely distributed 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 Colombia to allow the importation of Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris ssp. cicla (L.) Koch) into the United States. Currently, Swiss chard is not authorized for entry from Colombia. We completed a pest risk assessment (PRA) to identify pests of quarantine significance that could follow the pathway of importation if such imports were to be allowed. Based on the PRA, we then completed a risk management document (RMD) to identify phytosanitary measures that could be applied to mitigate the risks of introducing or disseminating the identified pests via the importation of Swiss chard from Colombia. We have concluded that Swiss chard can safely be imported into the continental United States from Colombia using one or more of the five designated phytosanitary measures listed in § 319.56–4(b). These measures are that: • Swiss chard may be imported into the continental United States in commercial consignments only; • The Swiss chard is subject to inspection at the port of entry; and • The Swiss chard must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by the national plant protection organization of Colombia with an additional declaration stating that the consignment was inspected and VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:27 Jul 05, 2013 Jkt 229001 found free of Copitarsia incommoda and Liriomyza huidobrensis. Therefore, in accordance with § 319.56–4(c), we are announcing the availability of our PRA and RMD for public review and comment. The PRA and RMD may be viewed on the Regulations.gov Web site or in our reading room (see ADDRESSES above for instructions for accessing Regulations.gov and information on the location and hours of the reading room). You may also request paper copies of the PRA and RMD by calling or writing to the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Please refer to the subject of the analysis that you wish to review when requesting copies. After reviewing any comments we receive, we will announce our decision regarding the import status of Swiss chard from Colombia 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 Swiss chard from Colombia into the continental United States subject to the requirements specified in the RMD. 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 1st day of July 2013. Kevin Shea, Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. 2013–16207 Filed 7–5–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–34–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE National Institute of Food and Agriculture Solicitation of Input From Stakeholders Regarding the New Water Challenge Area Within the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA. ACTION: Notice of web-based listening session and request for stakeholder input. AGENCY: As part of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s (NIFA) strategy to successfully implement the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), NIFA intends to initiate a new challenge area within AFRI in Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 to address water issues. NIFA will be holding a web-based listening session in order to solicit stakeholder input on this SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 40689 new challenge area. It is open to the public and the focus of the listening session is to gather stakeholder input that will be used in developing the Request for Applications (RFA) in FY 2014. NIFA is particularly interested in input on how best to achieve the most impact, within budget constraints, in the early years of this new challenge area. All comments must be received by close of business on July 30, 2013, to be considered in the initial drafting of the FY 2014 AFRI Water program RFA. DATES: The web-based listening session will be held on Tuesday, July 16, 2013, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time (EST). All written comments must be received by 5 p.m. EST on Tuesday, July 30, 2013. ADDRESSES: The web-based listening session will be hosted using Adobe Connect. On July 16th, please access the following Web site, https://nifaconnect.nifa.usda.gov/afri-water/. In addition, audio conference call capabilities can be accessed at 1–888– 858–2144, participant code 1512861#. You may submit written comments, identified by NIFA–2013–0010, by any of the following methods: Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. Email: AFRI@nifa.usda.gov. Include NIFA–2013–0010 in the subject line of the message. Fax: 202–401–1782. Mail: Paper, disk or CD–ROM submissions should be submitted to AFRI; Institute of Food Production and Sustainability (IFPS), National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, STOP 2240, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250–2220. Hand Delivery/Courier: AFRI, IFPS, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 3444, Waterfront Centre, 800 9th Street SW., Washington, DC 20024. Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name (NIFA) and reference to NIFA–2013–0010. All comments received will be posted to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Terri Joya, (202) 401–1282 (phone), (202) 401–1782 (fax), or tjoya@nifa.usda.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Additional Web-based Listening Session and Comment Procedures—Persons wishing to present oral comments during the web-based listening session on Tuesday, July 16, 2013 are requested E:\FR\FM\08JYN1.SGM 08JYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 130 (Monday, July 8, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40688-40689]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-16207]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2013-0052]


Notice of Availability of a Pest Risk Analysis for the 
Importation of Swiss Chard From Colombia Into the Continental United 
States

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: We are advising the public that we have prepared a pest risk 
analysis that evaluates the risks associated with the importation of 
Swiss chard from Colombia into the continental United States. Based on 
that 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 or noxious weeds via 
the importation of Swiss chard from Colombia. 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 
September 6, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2013-0052-0001.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2013-0052, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, 
APHIS, Station 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-2013-
0052 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

[[Page 40689]]

through Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to help 
you, please call (202) 799-7039 before coming.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Dorothy Wayson, Senior Regulatory 
Policy Specialist, Plant Health Programs, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road 
Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 851-2036.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Under the regulations in ``Subpart--Fruits and Vegetables'' (7 CFR 
319.56-1 through 319.56-58), the Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service (APHIS) prohibits or restricts the importation of fruits and 
vegetables into the United States from certain parts of the world to 
prevent the introduction and dissemination of plant pests that are new 
to or not widely distributed 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 Colombia to allow 
the importation of Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris ssp. cicla (L.) Koch) 
into the United States. Currently, Swiss chard is not authorized for 
entry from Colombia. We completed a pest risk assessment (PRA) to 
identify pests of quarantine significance that could follow the pathway 
of importation if such imports were to be allowed. Based on the PRA, we 
then completed a risk management document (RMD) to identify 
phytosanitary measures that could be applied to mitigate the risks of 
introducing or disseminating the identified pests via the importation 
of Swiss chard from Colombia. We have concluded that Swiss chard can 
safely be imported into the continental United States from Colombia 
using one or more of the five designated phytosanitary measures listed 
in Sec.  319.56-4(b). These measures are that:
     Swiss chard may be imported into the continental United 
States in commercial consignments only;
     The Swiss chard is subject to inspection at the port of 
entry; and
     The Swiss chard must be accompanied by a phytosanitary 
certificate issued by the national plant protection organization of 
Colombia with an additional declaration stating that the consignment 
was inspected and found free of Copitarsia incommoda and Liriomyza 
huidobrensis.
    Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  319.56-4(c), we are announcing 
the availability of our PRA and RMD for public review and comment. The 
PRA and RMD may be viewed on the Regulations.gov Web site or in our 
reading room (see ADDRESSES above for instructions for accessing 
Regulations.gov and information on the location and hours of the 
reading room). You may also request paper copies of the PRA and RMD by 
calling or writing to the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT. Please refer to the subject of the analysis that you wish to 
review when requesting copies.
    After reviewing any comments we receive, we will announce our 
decision regarding the import status of Swiss chard from Colombia 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 Swiss chard from Colombia into the continental United States subject 
to the requirements specified in the RMD.

    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 1st day of July 2013.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-16207 Filed 7-5-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
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