Notice of Decision To Authorize the Importation of Fresh Figs From Peru Into the Continental United States, 52812-52813 [2016-18990]
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 154 / Wednesday, August 10, 2016 / Notices
In the December 2015 notice, we
mistakenly announced our intent to
recognize Romania as a region of
negligible risk for BSE. In December
2014, the OIE suspended Romania’s
status as a negligible risk region because
Romania reported a case of atypical
BSE. Since then, the OIE has announced
its intent to reinstate Romania’s status
as a region of negligible risk for BSE. We
will be seeking information to verify
Romania’s status and will announce our
intent to concur with the OIE’s
designation in a future notice.
Also in the December 2015 notice, we
announced our intent to recognize
France as a region of negligible risk for
BSE in concurrence with the OIE. Since
then, France has confirmed a case of
classical BSE in a 5-year-old cow.
Accordingly, the OIE has suspended
France’s status as a region of negligible
risk for BSE and reinstated its status as
a region of controlled risk effective
March 25, 2016. For this reason we have
removed France from the list of regions
of negligible risk for BSE in this
document. We will continue to
recognize France as a region of
controlled risk for BSE.
Therefore, in accordance with the
regulations in § 92.5, we are announcing
our decision to concur with the OIE risk
classifications of the following
countries:
• Regions of negligible risk for BSE:
Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
Estonia, Hungary, India, Korea
(Republic of), Latvia, Liechtenstein,
Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Slovakia,
and Switzerland.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1622 and 8301–8317;
21 U.S.C. 136 and 136a; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 7
CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.4.
Done in Washington, DC, this 4th day of
August, 2016.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2016–18985 Filed 8–9–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
[Docket No. APHIS–2016–0011]
Notice of Decision To Authorize the
Importation of Fresh Figs From Peru
Into the Continental United States
Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
We are advising the public of
our decision to authorize the
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:34 Aug 09, 2016
Jkt 238001
importation of fresh figs (Ficus carica)
from Peru into the continental United
States. Based on the findings of a pest
risk analysis, which we made available
for the public to review and comment
through a previous notice, we have
concluded that the application of
designated phytosanitary measures will
be sufficient to mitigate the risks of
introducing or disseminating plant pests
via the importation of fresh figs from
Peru.
DATES:
Effective August 10, 2016.
Ms.
Claudia Ferguson, Senior Regulatory
Policy Specialist, Regulatory
Coordination and Compliance, Imports,
Regulations, and Manuals, PPQ, APHIS,
4700 River Road, Unit 133, Riverdale,
MD 20737–1231; (301) 851–2352;
Claudia.Ferguson@aphis.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the
regulations in ‘‘Subpart–Fruits and
Vegetables’’ (7 CFR 319.56–1 through
319.56–75, referred to below as the
regulations), 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 plant pests from being
introduced into or disseminated within
the United States.
Section 319.56–4 contains a
performance-based process for
approving the importation of certain
fruits and vegetables 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.
In accordance with that process, we
published a notice 1 in the Federal
Register on March 14, 2016 (81 FR
13310–13311, Docket No. APHIS–2016–
0011), in which we announced the
availability, for review and comment, of
a pest risk assessment (PRA) that
identifies pests of quarantine
significance that could follow the
pathway of importation of figs from
Peru into the continental United States.
Based on the PRA, a risk management
document (RMD) was prepared to
identify phytosanitary measures that
could be applied to the figs to mitigate
the pest risk. The RMD recommended
that all of the following phytosanitary
measures be applied to the importation
of figs from Peru into the continental
United States:
• The figs must be imported as
commercial consignments only;
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
1 To view the notice, PRA, RMD, and comments
we received, go to https://www.regulations.gov/
#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2016-0011.
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
• Each consignment of figs must be
accompanied by a phytosanitary
certificate issued by the national plant
protection organization (NPPO) of Peru;
• Each consignment of figs must be
treated in accordance with 7 CFR part
305; and
• Each consignment of figs is subject
to inspection upon arrival at the port of
entry to the United States.
We solicited comments on the PRA
and RMD for 60 days, ending on May
13, 2016. We received four comments by
that date, from a State department of
agriculture, the Peruvian Government,
the Peruvian embassy, and a U.S. port
of entry.
Three of the commenters supported
the importation of fresh figs from Peru
into the continental United States.
One commenter pointed out that the
notice would allow figs from Peru to be
irradiated in the United States. The
commenter expressed concern that this
could present a risk of introducing
quarantine pests that could follow the
pathway of figs from Peru into the
United States, and that such
introduction would present a significant
risk to States in which the pests could
become established. For this reason, the
commenter stated that irradiation
should either have to take place in Peru
or in areas of the United States north of
the 39th parallel, in which the pests
could not become established.
We appreciate the commenter’s
concern regarding irradiation of the figs
in areas of the United States where
quarantine plant pests that could
potentially follow the pathway of
importation of the figs from Peru could
become established. Indeed, our
regulations governing the approval of
irradiation facilities in the United
States, which are found in 7 CFR 305.9,
require that, if an irradiation facility is
located in a State where quarantine
pests that are targeted by irradiation
could become established, then it must
take additional safeguards, specified
within that section, in order to address
this pest risk. However, because § 305.9
also allows irradiation treatment for
imported commodities to take place
within the United States, and does not
preclude it from taking place in States
where establishment of quarantine pests
is possible, such as areas south of the
39th parallel, we cannot grant the
commenter’s request.
Therefore, in accordance with
§ 319.56–4(c)(2)(ii), we are announcing
our decision to authorize the
importation of figs from Peru into the
continental United States subject to all
of the following phytosanitary
measures:
E:\FR\FM\10AUN1.SGM
10AUN1
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 154 / Wednesday, August 10, 2016 / Notices
• The figs must be imported as
commercial consignments only;
• Each consignment of figs must be
accompanied by a phytosanitary
certificate issued by the NPPO of Peru;
• Each consignment of figs must be
treated in accordance with 7 CFR part
305; and
• Each consignment of figs is subject
to inspection upon arrival at the port of
entry to the United States.
These conditions will be listed in the
Fruits and Vegetables Import
Requirements database (available at
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/favir/). In
addition to these specific measures, figs
from Peru will be subject to the general
requirements listed in § 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 4th day of
August, 2016.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2016–18990 Filed 8–9–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Agency Information Collection
Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request—Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program: State
Issuance and Participation Estimates—
Recordkeeping for Forms FNS–388
and FNS–388A
Food and Nutrition Service
(FNS), USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the
Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is
publishing for public comment a
summary of a proposed information
collection. This is a revision of a
currently approved collection for the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program (SNAP), the forms FNS–388,
State Issuance and Participation
Estimates, and FNS–388A, Project Area
Data Format. The reporting burden for
forms FNS–388 and FNS–388A were
merged in 2015 with the burden for the
Food Programs Reporting System (OMB
control number 0584–0594, expiration
date June 30, 2019). This 60-day notice
serves to renew the recordkeeping
burden only for these two forms.
DATES: Written comments must be
received on or before October 11, 2016.
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:34 Aug 09, 2016
Jkt 238001
Comments are invited on:
(a) Whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the
agency, including whether the
information shall have practical utility;
(b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate
of the burden of the proposed collection
of information including the validity of
the methodology and assumptions used;
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility,
and clarity of the information to be
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the
burden of the collection of information
on those who are to respond, including
use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other
technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
Comments may be sent to Jane
Duffield, Chief, State Administration
Branch, Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program, Food and Nutrition
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture,
3101 Park Center Drive, Room 818,
Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may
also be submitted via email to
SNAPSAB@fns.usda.gov. Comments
will also be accepted through the federal
eRulemaking Portal. Go to https://
www.regulations.gov, and follow the
online instructions for submitting
comments electronically.
All responses to this notice will be
summarized and included in the request
for Office of Management and Budget
approval. All comments will become a
matter of public record.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Requests for additional information or
copies of this information collection
should be directed to Ralph Badette at
703–457–7717.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: State Issuance and Participation
Estimates.
Form Number: FNS–388 and FNS–
388A.
OMB Number: 0584–0081.
Expiration Date: July 31, 2016.
Type of Request: Revision of a
currently approved collection.
Abstract: Section 18(b) of the Food
and Nutrition Act, (the Act) 7 U.S.C.
2027(b), limits the value of allotments
paid to SNAP households to an amount
not in excess of the appropriation for
the fiscal year. If allotments in any fiscal
year would exceed the appropriation,
the Secretary of Agriculture is required
to direct State agencies to reduce the
value of SNAP allotments to the extent
necessary to stay within appropriated
funding limits. Timely State monthly
issuance estimates are necessary for
FNS to ensure that it remains within the
appropriation. The estimates will also
have a direct effect upon the manner in
ADDRESSES:
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
52813
which allotments would be reduced if
necessary. While benefit reductions
have never been ordered in the past
under section 18(b) nor are they
anticipated based on current data, the
Department must continue to monitor
actual program costs against the
appropriation. The reporting burden for
forms FNS–388 and FNS–388A was
merged in 2015 with the burden for the
Food Programs Reporting System (OMB
control number 0584–0594, expiration
date June 30, 2019). This 60-day notice
serves to renew the recordkeeping
burden only for these two forms.
Section 11(e)(12) of the Food and
Nutrition Act, 7 U.S.C. 2020 (e)(12),
requires that the State Plan of
Operations provide for the submission
of reports required by the Secretary of
Agriculture. State agencies are required
to report on a monthly basis on the
FNS–388, State Issuance and
Participation Estimates, estimated or
actual issuance and participation data
for the current month and previous
month, and actual participation data for
the second preceding month. The FNS–
388 report provides the necessary data
for an early warning system to enable
the Department to monitor actual and
estimated costs for all benefit types
against the appropriation.
Disaster SNAP is authorized by
sections 402 and 502 of the Robert T.
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.)
and the temporary emergency
provisions contained in Section 5 of the
Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, and in
7 CFR part 280 of the SNAP regulations.
State agencies may request FNS
approval to operate a Disaster SNAP in
an area that has received a Presidential
declaration as a Major Disaster area
eligible for Individual Assistance. In
accordance with 7 CFR 274.4, State
agencies shall keep records and report
SNAP participation and issuance totals
to FNS.
State agencies in general only submit
one statewide FNS–388 per month,
which covers benefits from their
Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT)
system. The exception is State agencies
that choose to operate an approved
alternative issuance demonstration
project such as a cash-out system submit
a separate report for each additional
type of issuance system. As a result of
the reporting burden for these forms
being merged with 0584–0594, the
collective burden will be reduced by
5,187 hours. The remaining 17.28 hours
represents the State recordkeeping
burden for these forms. Per 7 CFR
272.1(f), State agencies are required to
retain all records associated with the
administration of SNAP for no less than
E:\FR\FM\10AUN1.SGM
10AUN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 154 (Wednesday, August 10, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52812-52813]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-18990]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2016-0011]
Notice of Decision To Authorize the Importation of Fresh Figs
From Peru Into the Continental United States
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We are advising the public of our decision to authorize the
importation of fresh figs (Ficus carica) from Peru into the continental
United States. Based on the findings of a pest risk analysis, which we
made available for the public to review and comment through a previous
notice, we have concluded that the application of designated
phytosanitary measures will be sufficient to mitigate the risks of
introducing or disseminating plant pests via the importation of fresh
figs from Peru.
DATES: Effective August 10, 2016.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Claudia Ferguson, Senior
Regulatory Policy Specialist, Regulatory Coordination and Compliance,
Imports, Regulations, and Manuals, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit
133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 851-2352;
Claudia.Ferguson@aphis.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the regulations in ``Subpart-Fruits
and Vegetables'' (7 CFR 319.56-1 through 319.56-75, referred to below
as the regulations), 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 plant
pests from being introduced into or disseminated within the United
States.
Section 319.56-4 contains a performance-based process for approving
the importation of certain fruits and vegetables 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.
In accordance with that process, we published a notice \1\ in the
Federal Register on March 14, 2016 (81 FR 13310-13311, Docket No.
APHIS-2016-0011), in which we announced the availability, for review
and comment, of a pest risk assessment (PRA) that identifies pests of
quarantine significance that could follow the pathway of importation of
figs from Peru into the continental United States. Based on the PRA, a
risk management document (RMD) was prepared to identify phytosanitary
measures that could be applied to the figs to mitigate the pest risk.
The RMD recommended that all of the following phytosanitary measures be
applied to the importation of figs from Peru into the continental
United States:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ To view the notice, PRA, RMD, and comments we received, go
to https://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2016-0011.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The figs must be imported as commercial consignments only;
Each consignment of figs must be accompanied by a
phytosanitary certificate issued by the national plant protection
organization (NPPO) of Peru;
Each consignment of figs must be treated in accordance
with 7 CFR part 305; and
Each consignment of figs is subject to inspection upon
arrival at the port of entry to the United States.
We solicited comments on the PRA and RMD for 60 days, ending on May
13, 2016. We received four comments by that date, from a State
department of agriculture, the Peruvian Government, the Peruvian
embassy, and a U.S. port of entry.
Three of the commenters supported the importation of fresh figs
from Peru into the continental United States.
One commenter pointed out that the notice would allow figs from
Peru to be irradiated in the United States. The commenter expressed
concern that this could present a risk of introducing quarantine pests
that could follow the pathway of figs from Peru into the United States,
and that such introduction would present a significant risk to States
in which the pests could become established. For this reason, the
commenter stated that irradiation should either have to take place in
Peru or in areas of the United States north of the 39th parallel, in
which the pests could not become established.
We appreciate the commenter's concern regarding irradiation of the
figs in areas of the United States where quarantine plant pests that
could potentially follow the pathway of importation of the figs from
Peru could become established. Indeed, our regulations governing the
approval of irradiation facilities in the United States, which are
found in 7 CFR 305.9, require that, if an irradiation facility is
located in a State where quarantine pests that are targeted by
irradiation could become established, then it must take additional
safeguards, specified within that section, in order to address this
pest risk. However, because Sec. 305.9 also allows irradiation
treatment for imported commodities to take place within the United
States, and does not preclude it from taking place in States where
establishment of quarantine pests is possible, such as areas south of
the 39th parallel, we cannot grant the commenter's request.
Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 319.56-4(c)(2)(ii), we are
announcing our decision to authorize the importation of figs from Peru
into the continental United States subject to all of the following
phytosanitary measures:
[[Page 52813]]
The figs must be imported as commercial consignments only;
Each consignment of figs must be accompanied by a
phytosanitary certificate issued by the NPPO of Peru;
Each consignment of figs must be treated in accordance
with 7 CFR part 305; and
Each consignment of figs is subject to inspection upon
arrival at the port of entry to the United States.
These conditions will be listed in the Fruits and Vegetables Import
Requirements database (available at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/favir/).
In addition to these specific measures, figs from Peru 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 4th day of August, 2016.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-18990 Filed 8-9-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P