Notice of Proposed Revision to Import Requirements for the Importation of Fresh Citrus From South Africa Into the United States, 18185-18186 [2020-06799]

Download as PDF 18185 Notices Federal Register Vol. 85, No. 63 Wednesday, April 1, 2020 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 [Docket No. USDA–2020–0003] Solicitation of Input From Stakeholders on Agricultural Innovations Research, Education, and Economics, USDA. ACTION: Request for written stakeholder input. AGENCY: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is soliciting comments and suggestions on objectives and opportunities leading to research goals and informed product goals to facilitate transformative breakthroughs to enable U.S. agriculture to meet the Department’s goal of increasing agricultural production by 40 percent to meet the needs of the global population in 2050 while cutting the environmental footprint of U.S. agriculture in half. This effort is part of USDA’s Agricultural Innovation Agenda, the Department’s commitment to the continued success of American farmers, ranchers, producers, and foresters in the face of future challenges. SUMMARY: Written comments must be received by August 1, 2020, to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date will be considered to the extent practicable. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments using the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to https://www.regulations.gov/ #!docketDetail;D=USDA-2020-0003 and click the ‘‘Comment Now’’ button. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Dyer, 202–720–1542, john.dyer@ usda.gov. DATES: As part of the Agricultural Innovation Agenda, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) seeks written stakeholder input on objectives and opportunities leading to research goals and informed product goals to facilitate transformative breakthroughs to enable U.S. agriculture jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:31 Mar 31, 2020 Jkt 250001 to meet the Department’s goal to increase agricultural production by 40 percent to meet the needs of the global population in 2050 while cutting the environmental footprint of U.S. agriculture in half. The Department, using the 2019 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine report Science Breakthroughs to Advance Food and Agricultural Research by 2030, identified four innovation clusters that present broad potential for transformative innovation. Innovation clusters represent a grouping of innovations to focus agricultural research and inform product development. These clusters are: • Genome Design—Utilization of genomics and precision breeding to explore, control, and improve traits of agriculturally important organisms. • Digital/Automation—Deployment of precise, accurate and field-based sensors to collect information in real time in order to visualize changing conditions and respond automatically with interventions that reduce risk of losses and maximize productivity. • Prescriptive Intervention— Application and integration of data sciences, software tools, and systems models to enable advanced analytics for managing the food and agricultural system. • Systems Based Farm Management—Leverage a systems approach in order to understand the nature of interactions among different elements of the food and agricultural system to increase overall efficiency, resilience, and sustainability of farm enterprises. Stakeholders are asked to respond to the following questions: 1. What agricultural commodity, group of commodities, or customer base does your response pertain to or would benefit? 2. What are the biggest challenges and opportunities to increase productivity and/or decrease environmental footprint that should be addressed in the next 10to 30-year timeframe? 3. For each opportunity identified, answer the following supplemental questions: a. What might be the outcome for the innovation solution (e.g., the physical or tangible product(s) or novel approach) from each of the four innovation clusters? PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 b. What are the specific research gaps, regulatory barriers, or other hurdles that need to be addressed to enable eventual application, or further application, of the innovation solution proposed from each of the four innovation clusters? Stakeholder input will inform the Department as it works to develop a comprehensive strategy to guide publicsector research objectives and inform private-sector product development in order to maximize the U.S. Agriculture sector’s continued ability to meet future demands. Done in Washington, DC, this 26th day of March. Stephen Censky, Deputy Secretary, United States Department of Agriculture. [FR Doc. 2020–06825 Filed 3–31–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–03–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service [Docket No. APHIS–2018–0091] Notice of Proposed Revision to Import Requirements for the Importation of Fresh Citrus From South Africa Into the United States Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: We are advising the public that we have prepared a commodity import evaluation document (CIED) relative to the importation into the United States of citrus (grapefruit, lemon, mandarin orange, sweet orange, tangelo, and Satsuma mandarin) fruit from South Africa. Based on the findings of the CIED, we are proposing to remove restrictions on the ports of entry into which citrus from South Africa may be imported into the United States. We are making the CIED available to the public for review and comment. SUMMARY: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before June 1, 2020. DATES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov/ #!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2018-0091. ADDRESSES: E:\FR\FM\01APN1.SGM 01APN1 18186 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 63 / Wednesday, April 1, 2020 / Notices • Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to Docket No. APHIS–2018–0091, 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-2018-0091 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. Mr. Tony Roman, Senior Regulatory Policy Specialist, RCC, IRM, PHP, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737–1236; (301) 851–2242. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Background Under the regulations in ‘‘Subpart L– Fruits and Vegetables’’ (7 CFR 319.56– 1 through 319.56–12, 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 of the regulations provides the requirements for authorizing the importation of fruits and vegetables into the United States, as well as revising existing requirements for the importation of fruits and vegetables. Paragraph (c) of that section provides that the name and origin of all fruits and vegetables authorized importation into the United States, as well as the requirements for their importation, are listed on the internet in APHIS’ Fruits and Vegetables Import Requirements database, or FAVIR (https://epermits.aphis.usda.gov/ manual). It also provides that, if the Administrator of APHIS determines that any of the phytosanitary measures required for the importation of a particular fruit or vegetable are no longer necessary to reasonably mitigate the plant pest risk posed by the fruit or vegetable, APHIS will publish a notice in the Federal Register making its pest risk documentation and determination available for public comment. Currently, several citrus species (grapefruit, lemon, mandarin orange, sweet orange, tangelo, and Satsuma VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:31 Mar 31, 2020 Jkt 250001 mandarin) from South Africa are listed in FAVIR as fruits authorized importation into the United States, subject to the same phytosanitary measures. One of these phytosanitary measures requires the citrus to be cold treated according to treatment schedule T107– e. This treatment schedule is listed in the Plant Protection and Quarantine Treatment Manual as an effective mitigation for Thaumatotibia leucotreta (false codling moth).1 False codling moth is known to exist in South Africa and could follow the pathway on fresh citrus fruit imported into the United States. We implemented the current treatment schedule for false codling moth on South African citrus in 2013 on a provisional basis, provided that the citrus was only imported into the ports of Newark, NJ, Philadelphia, PA, and Wilmington, DE. We included these port restrictions because T107–e was requested by the national plant protection organization (NPPO) of South Africa as a less stringent alternative to the treatment schedule at the time, T107–k, and because the ports in question had cold treatment facilities if the revised treatment schedule proved to be ineffective. In 2014, we also added Houston, TX, as an authorized port. These port restrictions are also currently found in FAVIR. Over the following 2 years, we conducted enhanced inspections for false codling moth on citrus from South Africa at the four authorized ports. During that time, more than 2,000 shipments of citrus from South Africa were imported from South Africa into the United States, with no detections of live false codling moth. Based on these results, the NPPO of South Africa asked that we remove the port restrictions and authorize the importation of citrus from South Africa into all ports of entry within the United States. In response to this request, we have prepared a commodity import evaluation document (CIED) that recommends removing the port restrictions. Therefore, in accordance with § 319.56–4(c)(3), we are announcing the availability of our CIED for public review and comment. This document, as well as a description of the economic considerations associated with the removal of the port restrictions, may be viewed on the Regulations.gov website or in our reading room (see ADDRESSES above for a link to Regulations.gov and 1 To view the manual, go to https:// www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/ manuals/ports/downloads/treatment.pdf. PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 information on the location and hours of the Reading Room). You may request paper copies of these documents by calling or writing to the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Please refer to the subject of the analysis you wish to review when requesting copies. After reviewing any comments we receive, we will announce our decision regarding whether to revise the requirements for the importation of citrus from South Africa in a subsequent notice. If the overall conclusions of our analysis and the Administrator’s determination of risk remain unchanged following our consideration of the comments, then we will revise the requirements for the importation of citrus from South Africa as described in this notice. Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1633, 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 27th day of March 2020. Mark Davidson, Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. 2020–06799 Filed 3–31–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–34–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Locatable Minerals Forest Service, USDA. Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement. AGENCY: ACTION: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is initiating an environmental impact statement to inform a decision to revise agency regulations that minimize adverse environmental impacts on National Forest System surface resources in connection with operations authorized by the Mining Law of 1872, as amended (United States mining laws). These rules and procedures govern prospecting, exploration, development, mining, and processing operations conducted on National Forest System lands authorized by the United States mining laws, subsequent reclamation of the land, and any necessary long-term post-closure resource management. DATES: An advanced notice of proposed rulemaking was published in the Federal Register, Vol. 83, No. 178, Thursday, September 13, 2018. The Forest Service invited comments regarding challenges the public has experienced with respect to aspects of the agency’s current regulations at 36 SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\01APN1.SGM 01APN1

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[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 63 (Wednesday, April 1, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18185-18186]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-06799]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2018-0091]


Notice of Proposed Revision to Import Requirements for the 
Importation of Fresh Citrus From South Africa Into the United States

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: We are advising the public that we have prepared a commodity 
import evaluation document (CIED) relative to the importation into the 
United States of citrus (grapefruit, lemon, mandarin orange, sweet 
orange, tangelo, and Satsuma mandarin) fruit from South Africa. Based 
on the findings of the CIED, we are proposing to remove restrictions on 
the ports of entry into which citrus from South Africa may be imported 
into the United States. We are making the CIED available to the public 
for review and comment.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before June 
1, 2020.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2018-0091.

[[Page 18186]]

     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2018-0091, 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-2018-
0091 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Tony Roman, Senior Regulatory 
Policy Specialist, RCC, IRM, PHP, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, 
Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 851-2242.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Under the regulations in ``Subpart L-Fruits and Vegetables'' (7 CFR 
319.56-1 through 319.56-12, 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 of the regulations provides the requirements for 
authorizing the importation of fruits and vegetables into the United 
States, as well as revising existing requirements for the importation 
of fruits and vegetables. Paragraph (c) of that section provides that 
the name and origin of all fruits and vegetables authorized importation 
into the United States, as well as the requirements for their 
importation, are listed on the internet in APHIS' Fruits and Vegetables 
Import Requirements database, or FAVIR (https://epermits.aphis.usda.gov/manual). It also provides that, if the 
Administrator of APHIS determines that any of the phytosanitary 
measures required for the importation of a particular fruit or 
vegetable are no longer necessary to reasonably mitigate the plant pest 
risk posed by the fruit or vegetable, APHIS will publish a notice in 
the Federal Register making its pest risk documentation and 
determination available for public comment.
    Currently, several citrus species (grapefruit, lemon, mandarin 
orange, sweet orange, tangelo, and Satsuma mandarin) from South Africa 
are listed in FAVIR as fruits authorized importation into the United 
States, subject to the same phytosanitary measures.
    One of these phytosanitary measures requires the citrus to be cold 
treated according to treatment schedule T107-e. This treatment schedule 
is listed in the Plant Protection and Quarantine Treatment Manual as an 
effective mitigation for Thaumatotibia leucotreta (false codling 
moth).\1\ False codling moth is known to exist in South Africa and 
could follow the pathway on fresh citrus fruit imported into the United 
States.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ To view the manual, go to https://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/downloads/treatment.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We implemented the current treatment schedule for false codling 
moth on South African citrus in 2013 on a provisional basis, provided 
that the citrus was only imported into the ports of Newark, NJ, 
Philadelphia, PA, and Wilmington, DE. We included these port 
restrictions because T107-e was requested by the national plant 
protection organization (NPPO) of South Africa as a less stringent 
alternative to the treatment schedule at the time, T107-k, and because 
the ports in question had cold treatment facilities if the revised 
treatment schedule proved to be ineffective. In 2014, we also added 
Houston, TX, as an authorized port. These port restrictions are also 
currently found in FAVIR.
    Over the following 2 years, we conducted enhanced inspections for 
false codling moth on citrus from South Africa at the four authorized 
ports. During that time, more than 2,000 shipments of citrus from South 
Africa were imported from South Africa into the United States, with no 
detections of live false codling moth.
    Based on these results, the NPPO of South Africa asked that we 
remove the port restrictions and authorize the importation of citrus 
from South Africa into all ports of entry within the United States. In 
response to this request, we have prepared a commodity import 
evaluation document (CIED) that recommends removing the port 
restrictions.
    Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  319.56-4(c)(3), we are 
announcing the availability of our CIED for public review and comment. 
This document, as well as a description of the economic considerations 
associated with the removal of the port restrictions, may be viewed on 
the Regulations.gov website 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 these documents 
by calling or writing to the person listed under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT. Please refer to the subject of the analysis you 
wish to review when requesting copies.
    After reviewing any comments we receive, we will announce our 
decision regarding whether to revise the requirements for the 
importation of citrus from South Africa in a subsequent notice. If the 
overall conclusions of our analysis and the Administrator's 
determination of risk remain unchanged following our consideration of 
the comments, then we will revise the requirements for the importation 
of citrus from South Africa as described in this notice.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1633, 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 27th day of March 2020.
Mark Davidson,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-06799 Filed 3-31-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
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