related quarantine, foreign: Grapefruit, lemons, and oranges from Argentina,

[Federal Register: October 16, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 200)]

[Proposed Rules]

[Page 55559]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr16oc98-26]

Proposed Rules Federal Register

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

[[Page 55559]]

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

7 CFR Parts 300 and 319

[Docket No. 97-110-2]

RIN 0579-AA92

Importation of Grapefruit, Lemons, and Oranges From Argentina

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period and notice of public hearing.

SUMMARY: We are advising the public that we are extending by 120 days the comment period for our proposed rule regarding the importation of grapefruit, lemons, and oranges from Argentina and that we have scheduled a public hearing to give interested persons an opportunity for the oral presentation of data, views, and arguments regarding that proposed rule.

DATES: Consideration will be given only to comments on Docket No. 97- 110-1 that are received on or before February 11, 1999. We will also consider comments made at a public hearing that will be held in Thousand Oaks, CA, on December 17, 1998, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Please send an original and three copies of your comments to Docket No. 97-110-1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, suite 3C03, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that your comments refer to Docket No. 97-110-1. Comments received may be inspected at USDA, room 1141, South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Persons wishing to inspect comments are requested to call ahead on (202) 690-2817 to facilitate entry into the comment reading room. The public hearing will be held at the Civic Arts Plaza, Scherr Forum, 2100 East Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Thousand Oaks, CA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Ron Campbell, Import Specialist, Phytosanitary Issues Management Team, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 140, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 734-6799; e-mail: Ronald.C.Campbell@usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On August 12, 1998, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) published a proposed rule in the Federal Register (63 FR 43117- 43125, Docket No. 97-110-1) to amend the citrus fruit regulations by recognizing a citrus-growing area within Argentina as being free from citrus canker. In that document, we also proposed to amend the fruits and vegetables regulations to allow the importation of grapefruit, lemons, and oranges from the citrus canker-free area of Argentina under conditions designed to prevent the introduction into the United States of two other diseases of citrus, sweet orange scab and citrus black spot, and other plant pests. These proposed changes would allow grapefruit, lemons, and oranges to be imported into the United States from Argentina subject to certain conditions.

In response to requests received following the publication of the proposed rule, we have scheduled a public hearing to be held in Thousand Oaks, CA, on December 17, 1998.

The purpose of this hearing is to give interested persons an opportunity for the oral presentation of data, views, and arguments. Questions about the content of the proposed rule may be part of the commenters' oral presentations. However, neither the presiding officer nor any other representative of APHIS will respond to the comments at the hearing, except to clarify or explain provisions of the proposed rule.

A representative of APHIS will preside at the public hearing. Any interested person may appear and be heard in person, by attorney, or by other representative. Written statements may be submitted and will be made part of the hearing record. Persons who wish to speak at a public hearing will be asked to provide their name and organization. We ask that anyone who reads a statement or submits a written statement provide two copies to the presiding officer at the hearing.

The public hearing will begin at 9 a.m. and is scheduled to end at 5 p.m., local time. However, the hearing may be terminated at any time after it begins if all persons desiring to speak have been heard. If the number of speakers at the hearing warrants it, the presiding officer may limit the time for each presentation so that everyone wishing to speak has the opportunity.

In the August 12, 1998, proposed rule, we stated that comments on the proposed rule were required to be received on or before October 13, 1998. However, in order to receive and consider the comments to be presented at the public hearing, and to accommodate persons who may wish to comment on issues that may be raised at the public hearing, we are extending by 120 days the comment period for the proposed rule. Therefore, we will consider all comments that are received on or before February 11, 1999.

Done in Washington, DC, this 9th day of October 1998. Craig A. Reed, Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

[FR Doc. 98-27791Filed10-13-98; 12:17 pm]

BILLING CODE 3410-34-P