Notice of Availability of Pest Risk Analyses for the Importation of Fresh Thyme, Marjoram, and Oregano From Kenya Into the United States, 2918 [2024-00744]

Download as PDF 2918 Notices Federal Register Vol. 89, No. 11 Wednesday, January 17, 2024 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 Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service [Docket No. APHIS–2023–0010] Notice of Availability of Pest Risk Analyses for the Importation of Fresh Thyme, Marjoram, and Oregano From Kenya Into the United States Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: We are advising the public that we have prepared pest risk analyses that evaluate the risks associated with the importation of fresh thyme, marjoram, and oregano from Kenya into the United States. Based on the analyses, we have determined 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 thyme, marjoram, and oregano from Kenya into the United States. We are making the pest risk analyses available to the public for review and comment. SUMMARY: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before March 18, 2024. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov. Enter APHIS– 2023–0010 in the Search field. Select the Documents tab, then select the Comment button in the list of documents. • Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to Docket No. APHIS–2023–0010, 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 lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 DATES: VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:14 Jan 16, 2024 Jkt 262001 may be viewed at www.regulations.gov or in our reading room, which is located in Room 1620 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: Ms. Gina Stiltner, Senior Regulatory Policy Specialist, Regulatory Coordination and Compliance, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737– 1231; (518) 760–2468; Gina.L.Stiltner@ USDA.gov. 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 contains a performance-based process for approving the importation of fruits and vegetables that, based on the findings of a pest risk analysis, can be safely imported subject to one or more of the five designated phytosanitary measures listed in paragraph (b) of that section. APHIS received a request from the national plant protection organization of Kenya to allow the importation of fresh thyme (Thymus vulgaris), marjoram (Origanum majorana), and oregano (Origanum vulgare) for consumption from Kenya into the United States. As part of our evaluation of Kenya’s request, we have prepared pest risk assessments to identify the pests of quarantine significance that could follow the pathway of the importation of fresh thyme, marjoram, and oregano from Kenya into the United States. Based on the pest risk assessments, risk management documents (RMDs) were prepared to identify phytosanitary measures that could be applied to fresh thyme, marjoram, and oregano to mitigate the pest risk. Therefore, in accordance with § 319.56–4(c), we are announcing the availability of our pest risk assessments PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 and RMDs for public review and comment. Those documents, as well as a description of the economic considerations associated with the importation of fresh thyme, marjoram, and oregano from Kenya into the United States, 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 the pest risk assessments and RMDs 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 the import status of fresh thyme, marjoram, and oregano from Kenya into the United States in a subsequent notice. If the overall conclusions of our analyses and the Administrator’s determination of risk remain unchanged following our consideration of the comments, then we will authorize the importation of fresh thyme, marjoram, and oregano from Kenya into the United States subject to the requirements specified in the RMDs. Depending on the comments received, we may authorize the importation of all, some, or none of the commodities from Kenya specified 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 9th day of January 2024. Michael Watson, Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. 2024–00744 Filed 1–16–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–34–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail Advisory Council Forest Service, Agriculture (USDA). ACTION: Notice of meeting. AGENCY: The Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail (PNT) Advisory Council will hold public meetings according to the details shown below. SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\17JAN1.SGM 17JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 11 (Wednesday, January 17, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 2918]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-00744]


========================================================================
Notices
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

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.

========================================================================


Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 11 / Wednesday, January 17, 2024 / 
Notices

[[Page 2918]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2023-0010]


Notice of Availability of Pest Risk Analyses for the Importation 
of Fresh Thyme, Marjoram, and Oregano From Kenya Into the United States

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: We are advising the public that we have prepared pest risk 
analyses that evaluate the risks associated with the importation of 
fresh thyme, marjoram, and oregano from Kenya into the United States. 
Based on the analyses, we have determined 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 thyme, marjoram, and oregano 
from Kenya into the United States. We are making the pest risk analyses 
available to the public for review and comment.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before March 
18, 2024.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov. 
Enter APHIS-2023-0010 in the Search field. Select the Documents tab, 
then select the Comment button in the list of documents.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2023-0010, 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 www.regulations.gov or in our reading room, which is 
located in Room 1620 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: Ms. Gina Stiltner, Senior Regulatory 
Policy Specialist, Regulatory Coordination and Compliance, PPQ, APHIS, 
4700 River Road, Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (518) 760-2468; 
[email protected].

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 contains a performance-based process for approving 
the importation of fruits and vegetables that, based on the findings of 
a pest risk analysis, can be safely imported subject to one or more of 
the five designated phytosanitary measures listed in paragraph (b) of 
that section.
    APHIS received a request from the national plant protection 
organization of Kenya to allow the importation of fresh thyme (Thymus 
vulgaris), marjoram (Origanum majorana), and oregano (Origanum vulgare) 
for consumption from Kenya into the United States. As part of our 
evaluation of Kenya's request, we have prepared pest risk assessments 
to identify the pests of quarantine significance that could follow the 
pathway of the importation of fresh thyme, marjoram, and oregano from 
Kenya into the United States. Based on the pest risk assessments, risk 
management documents (RMDs) were prepared to identify phytosanitary 
measures that could be applied to fresh thyme, marjoram, and oregano to 
mitigate the pest risk.
    Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  319.56-4(c), we are announcing 
the availability of our pest risk assessments and RMDs for public 
review and comment. Those documents, as well as a description of the 
economic considerations associated with the importation of fresh thyme, 
marjoram, and oregano from Kenya into the United States, 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 the pest 
risk assessments and RMDs 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 the import status of fresh thyme, marjoram, and 
oregano from Kenya into the United States in a subsequent notice. If 
the overall conclusions of our analyses and the Administrator's 
determination of risk remain unchanged following our consideration of 
the comments, then we will authorize the importation of fresh thyme, 
marjoram, and oregano from Kenya into the United States subject to the 
requirements specified in the RMDs. Depending on the comments received, 
we may authorize the importation of all, some, or none of the 
commodities from Kenya specified 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 9th day of January 2024.
Michael Watson,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-00744 Filed 1-16-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P

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