Notice of Affirmation; New and Revised Treatments for Various Plant Commodities, 43052-43053 [2015-17840]
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43052
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 139 / Tuesday, July 21, 2015 / Notices
closed on April 1, 2015, instead of the
originally scheduled March 26, 2015.
The USDA–ARS used and
coordinated the NEPA commenting
process to satisfy the public
involvement process for Section 106 of
the National Historic Preservation Act
(16 U.S.C. 470(f) as provided for in 36
CFR 800.2(d)(3)). During the public
comment period, USDA–ARS received
two public comments regarding the
transfer of lands and facilities from
USDA–ARS to FAMU. None of the
public comments received identified
any substantial evidence regarding
significant environmental impacts
resulting from the proposed land
transfer.
Based on its analysis of the Final EA
for the property transfer, USDA–ARS
has found that the transfer of properties
could have adverse effects on previously
identified historic properties. USDA–
ARS, Florida Division of Historical
Resources (FLDHR) and FAMU have
signed a Memorandum of Agreement
(MOA) to address the adverse effects
from the proposed transfer and to avoid,
minimize, or mitigate the adverse effects
to any previously identified historic
properties. The MOA also stipulates a
Programmatic Agreement (PA) between
FAMU and FLDHR for the long-term
management of historic properties on
the conveyed parcels; the PA will
establish a consultation process that
mirrors Section 106 and continue
consultations with the FLDHR and the
Seminole Tribe of Florida on Native
American sites located on the
properties. With the implementation of
the MOA to address adverse effects on
historic properties, there would be no
significant impact to the environment
from transferring approximately 3,800
acres of land and facilities at the USDA–
ARS STARS in Brooksville, Florida, to
the Board of Trustees of the Florida
Agricultural and Mechanical University,
for use by FAMU. Therefore, USDA–
ARS will not prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement for this proposed
action.
Dated: July 13, 2015.
Chavonda Jacobs-Young,
Administrator, Agricultural Research Service.
[FR Doc. 2015–17912 Filed 7–20–15; 8:45 am]
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
BILLING CODE 3410–03–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Submission for OMB Review;
Comment Request
July 15, 2015.
The Department of Agriculture has
submitted the following information
collection requirement(s) to OMB for
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:58 Jul 20, 2015
Jkt 235001
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 should be addressed to: Desk
Officer for Agriculture, Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs,
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB), OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov
or fax (202) 395–5806 and to
Departmental Clearance Office, USDA,
OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC
20250–7602. Comments regarding these
information collections are best assured
of having their full effect if they are
received within 30 days of this
notification. Copies of the submission(s)
may be obtained by calling (202) 720–
8958.
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
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.
Food and Nutrition Service
Title: Request for Administrative
Review.
OMB Control Number: 0584–0520.
Summary of Collection: The Food and
Nutrition Service (FNS) of the U.S.
Department of Agriculture is the Federal
agency responsible for the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program (SNAP). The Food and
Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011–
2036), as codified under 7 CFR parts 278
and 279, requires that the FNS
determine the eligibility of retail food
stores and certain food service
organizations to participate in the
SNAP. If a retail or wholesale firm is
found to be ineligible by FNS, or is
otherwise aggrieved by certain FNS
actions(s), that firm has the right to file
a written request for review of the
administrative action with FNS.
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Need and Use of the Information: The
request for administrative review is a
formal letter, provided by the requester,
with an original signature. FNS receives
the letter requesting an administrative
review and maintains it as part of the
official review record. The designated
reviewer will adjudicate the appeals
process and make a final determination
regarding the aggrieved action.
Description of Respondents: Business
or other for profit; Farms.
Number of Respondents: 1,459.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting:
On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 298.
Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015–17796 Filed 7–20–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–30–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service
[Docket No. APHIS–2013–0009]
Notice of Affirmation; New and
Revised Treatments for Various Plant
Commodities
Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
We are affirming our earlier
determination that it was necessary to
immediately add to the Plant Protection
and Quarantine Treatment Manual
treatment schedules for various plant
commodities. In a previous notice, we
made available to the public for review
and comment treatment evaluation
documents that described the new
treatment and revised schedules and
explained why we have determined that
they are effective at neutralizing certain
target pests.
DATES: Effective [Insert date of
publication in the Federal Register], we
are affirming the addition to the Plant
Protection and Quarantine Treatment
Manual of the treatments described in
the notice published at 79 FR 17496–
17497 on March 28, 2014.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.
Inder P.S. Gadh, Senior Risk Manager—
Treatments, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River
Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737–
1231; (301) 851–2018.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
regulations in 7 CFR chapter III are
intended, among other things, to
prevent the introduction or
dissemination of plant pests and
noxious weeds into or within the United
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\21JYN1.SGM
21JYN1
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 139 / Tuesday, July 21, 2015 / Notices
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
States. Under the regulations, certain
plants, fruits, vegetables, and other
articles must be treated before they may
be moved into the United States or
interstate. The phytosanitary treatments
regulations contained in 7 CFR part 305
(referred to below as the regulations) set
out standards for treatments required in
parts 301, 318, and 319 of 7 CFR chapter
III for fruits, vegetables, and other
articles.
In § 305.2, paragraph (b) states that
approved treatment schedules are set
out in the Plant Protection and
Quarantine (PPQ) Treatment Manual.1
Section 305.3 sets out the processes for
adding, revising, or removing treatment
schedules in the PPQ Treatment
Manual. In that section, paragraph (b)
sets out the process for adding, revising,
or removing treatment schedules when
there is an immediate need to make a
change. The circumstances in which an
immediate need exists are described in
§ 305.3(b)(1). They are:
• PPQ has determined that an
approved treatment schedule is
ineffective at neutralizing the targeted
plant pest(s).
• PPQ has determined that, in order
to neutralize the targeted plant pest(s),
the treatment schedule must be
administered using a different process
than was previously used.
• PPQ has determined that a new
treatment schedule is effective, based on
efficacy data, and that ongoing trade in
a commodity or commodities may be
adversely impacted unless the new
treatment schedule is approved for use.
• The use of a treatment schedule is
no longer authorized by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency or by
any other Federal entity.
In accordance with § 305.3(a)(1), we
published a notice 2 in the Federal
Register on March 28, 2014 (79 FR
17496–17497, Docket No. APHIS–2013–
0009), announcing our determination
that several additions to the PPQ
Treatment Manual were necessary to
mitigate the risk from various plant
pests, based on evidence presented in
treatment evaluation documents (TEDs)
we made available with the notice. We
also determined that the ongoing trade
of commodities would be adversely
impacted unless the new and revised
treatment schedules were approved for
1 The PPQ Treatment Manual is available 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.
2 To view the notice, TEDs, and comment we
received, go to https://www.regulations.gov/
#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2013-0009.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:58 Jul 20, 2015
Jkt 235001
use. The treatments were added to the
PPQ Treatment Manual, but subject to
change or removal based on public
comment.
We solicited comments on the notice
for 60 days ending on May 27, 2014. We
received one comment by that date,
from an importers association
representative who raised concerns
about the revised treatment schedule for
asparagus.
Specifically, the commenter stated
that there have been no pests detected
during post-fumigation inspections to
justify the revision of the fumigation
process from 2 hours to 2.5 hours.
Furthermore, the commenter stated that
the additional 30 minutes of fumigation
would have a negative impact on the
quality of the asparagus. The commenter
suggested that Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service (APHIS) and Peru
collaborate to develop a systems
approach to mitigate the plant pest
risks, rather than use the prescribed
fumigation treatment.
As noted in the TED, in 2007, live
Copitarsia spp. larvae were detected on
Peruvian asparagus during a postfumigation inspection. As an interim
measure to ensure trade would continue
uninterrupted, PPQ increased the
treatment duration by 30 minutes for all
temperature ranges and monitored its
effectiveness against all stages of the
pest. Since the revision was made there
have been no interceptions of Copitarsia
spp. larvae on asparagus imported into
the United States from Peru.
We understand the commenters’
concern regarding the negative effects
the fumigation process has on the
quality of the vegetables. We
acknowledge that there is a potential
risk of negative impacts on the quality
or shelf life of commodities treated with
fumigation and seek to minimize those
efforts to the extent possible, but note
that our primary concern must be to
prevent the introduction of plant pests
into the United States. We will,
however, add a statement to the
treatment T101–b–1 regarding the
potential reduction in the shelf life of
the treated asparagus.
We welcome and encourage
opportunities to collaborate with our
stakeholders and trading partners to
further mitigate the risks associated
with the importation of commodities. If
we receive scientific information that
supports the development of a systems
approach, we would consider the
information and make appropriate
recommendations based on that
information.
Therefore, in accordance with our
regulations in § 305.3(b)(3), we are
affirming our addition of the new and
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Fmt 4703
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43053
revised treatment schedules for use for
the various plant commodities to the
PPQ Treatment Manual.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 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 15th day of
July 2015.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2015–17840 Filed 7–20–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service
[Docket No. APHIS–2014–0097]
Monsanto Co.; Availability of
Preliminary Plant Pest Risk
Assessment and Draft Environmental
Assessment of Maize Genetically
Engineered for Increased Ear Biomass
Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
We are advising the public
that the Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service is making available
for public comment a preliminary plant
pest risk assessment and draft
environmental assessment for maize
designated as event MON 87403, which
has been genetically engineered for
increased ear biomass.
DATES: We will consider all comments
that we receive on or before August 20,
2015.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
by either of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
https://www.regulations.gov/
#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2014-0097.
• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery:
Send your comment to Docket No.
APHIS–2014–0097, Regulatory Analysis
and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station
3A–03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118,
Riverdale, MD 20737–1238.
Supporting documents for this
petition and any comments we receive
on this docket may be viewed at https://
www.regulations.gov/
#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2014-0097 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) 799–7039
before coming.
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\21JYN1.SGM
21JYN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 139 (Tuesday, July 21, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43052-43053]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-17840]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2013-0009]
Notice of Affirmation; New and Revised Treatments for Various
Plant Commodities
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We are affirming our earlier determination that it was
necessary to immediately add to the Plant Protection and Quarantine
Treatment Manual treatment schedules for various plant commodities. In
a previous notice, we made available to the public for review and
comment treatment evaluation documents that described the new treatment
and revised schedules and explained why we have determined that they
are effective at neutralizing certain target pests.
DATES: Effective [Insert date of publication in the Federal Register],
we are affirming the addition to the Plant Protection and Quarantine
Treatment Manual of the treatments described in the notice published at
79 FR 17496-17497 on March 28, 2014.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Inder P.S. Gadh, Senior Risk
Manager--Treatments, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale,
MD 20737-1231; (301) 851-2018.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The regulations in 7 CFR chapter III are
intended, among other things, to prevent the introduction or
dissemination of plant pests and noxious weeds into or within the
United
[[Page 43053]]
States. Under the regulations, certain plants, fruits, vegetables, and
other articles must be treated before they may be moved into the United
States or interstate. The phytosanitary treatments regulations
contained in 7 CFR part 305 (referred to below as the regulations) set
out standards for treatments required in parts 301, 318, and 319 of 7
CFR chapter III for fruits, vegetables, and other articles.
In Sec. 305.2, paragraph (b) states that approved treatment
schedules are set out in the Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ)
Treatment Manual.\1\ Section 305.3 sets out the processes for adding,
revising, or removing treatment schedules in the PPQ Treatment Manual.
In that section, paragraph (b) sets out the process for adding,
revising, or removing treatment schedules when there is an immediate
need to make a change. The circumstances in which an immediate need
exists are described in Sec. 305.3(b)(1). They are:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The PPQ Treatment Manual is available 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
PPQ has determined that an approved treatment schedule is
ineffective at neutralizing the targeted plant pest(s).
PPQ has determined that, in order to neutralize the
targeted plant pest(s), the treatment schedule must be administered
using a different process than was previously used.
PPQ has determined that a new treatment schedule is
effective, based on efficacy data, and that ongoing trade in a
commodity or commodities may be adversely impacted unless the new
treatment schedule is approved for use.
The use of a treatment schedule is no longer authorized by
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or by any other Federal
entity.
In accordance with Sec. 305.3(a)(1), we published a notice \2\ in
the Federal Register on March 28, 2014 (79 FR 17496-17497, Docket No.
APHIS-2013-0009), announcing our determination that several additions
to the PPQ Treatment Manual were necessary to mitigate the risk from
various plant pests, based on evidence presented in treatment
evaluation documents (TEDs) we made available with the notice. We also
determined that the ongoing trade of commodities would be adversely
impacted unless the new and revised treatment schedules were approved
for use. The treatments were added to the PPQ Treatment Manual, but
subject to change or removal based on public comment.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ To view the notice, TEDs, and comment we received, go to
https://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2013-0009.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
We solicited comments on the notice for 60 days ending on May 27,
2014. We received one comment by that date, from an importers
association representative who raised concerns about the revised
treatment schedule for asparagus.
Specifically, the commenter stated that there have been no pests
detected during post-fumigation inspections to justify the revision of
the fumigation process from 2 hours to 2.5 hours. Furthermore, the
commenter stated that the additional 30 minutes of fumigation would
have a negative impact on the quality of the asparagus. The commenter
suggested that Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and
Peru collaborate to develop a systems approach to mitigate the plant
pest risks, rather than use the prescribed fumigation treatment.
As noted in the TED, in 2007, live Copitarsia spp. larvae were
detected on Peruvian asparagus during a post-fumigation inspection. As
an interim measure to ensure trade would continue uninterrupted, PPQ
increased the treatment duration by 30 minutes for all temperature
ranges and monitored its effectiveness against all stages of the pest.
Since the revision was made there have been no interceptions of
Copitarsia spp. larvae on asparagus imported into the United States
from Peru.
We understand the commenters' concern regarding the negative
effects the fumigation process has on the quality of the vegetables. We
acknowledge that there is a potential risk of negative impacts on the
quality or shelf life of commodities treated with fumigation and seek
to minimize those efforts to the extent possible, but note that our
primary concern must be to prevent the introduction of plant pests into
the United States. We will, however, add a statement to the treatment
T101-b-1 regarding the potential reduction in the shelf life of the
treated asparagus.
We welcome and encourage opportunities to collaborate with our
stakeholders and trading partners to further mitigate the risks
associated with the importation of commodities. If we receive
scientific information that supports the development of a systems
approach, we would consider the information and make appropriate
recommendations based on that information.
Therefore, in accordance with our regulations in Sec. 305.3(b)(3),
we are affirming our addition of the new and revised treatment
schedules for use for the various plant commodities to the PPQ
Treatment Manual.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 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 15th day of July 2015.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-17840 Filed 7-20-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P