99-759. Importation of Grapefruit, Lemons, and Oranges From Argentina  

  • [Federal Register Volume 64, Number 8 (Wednesday, January 13, 1999)]
    [Proposed Rules]
    [Page 2151]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 99-759]
    
    
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    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.
    
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    Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 8 / Wednesday, January 13, 1999 / 
    Proposed Rules
    
    [[Page 2151]]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
    
    Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
    
    7 CFR Parts 300 and 319
    
    [Docket No. 97-110-4]
    RIN 0579-AA92
    
    
    Importation of Grapefruit, Lemons, and Oranges From Argentina
    
    AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
    
    ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of additional public hearing.
    
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    SUMMARY: We are advising the public that we have scheduled a public 
    hearing in Orlando, FL, for our proposed rule regarding the importation 
    of grapefruit, lemons, and oranges from Argentina. This hearing will be 
    held in addition to a previously scheduled hearing in Thousand Oaks, 
    CA. The purpose of these hearings is to provide interested persons an 
    opportunity for the oral presentation of data, views, and arguments 
    regarding the 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 public hearings that will be held in Orlando, 
    FL, on February 5, 1999, and in Thousand Oaks, CA, on February 8, 1999. 
    The hearings in both locations will be held 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 February 5, 1999, public hearing will be held at the Radisson 
    Barcelo Hotel, 8444 International Drive, Orlando, FL. The February 8, 
    1999, public hearing will be held at Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 
    Fred Kavli Theatre, 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.
        On October 16, 1998, we published in the Federal Register (63 FR 
    55559, Docket No. 97-110-2) a notice advising the public that we were 
    extending the comment period for the proposed rule by 120 days and that 
    we had scheduled a public hearing to give interested persons the 
    opportunity for the oral presentation of data, views, and arguments 
    regarding the proposed rule. In our October 16, 1998, notice, we 
    announced that the public hearing would be held on December 17, 1998, 
    in Thousand Oaks, CA. On December 4, 1998, we published in the Federal 
    Register (63 FR 67011, Docket No. 97-110-3) a notice advising the 
    public that we had changed the date and location of the public hearing 
    in Thousand Oaks, CA. As indicated in the December 4, 1998, notice, 
    that hearing is now scheduled for February 8, 1999, and will be held at 
    the Fred Kavli Theatre in the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, Thousand 
    Oaks, CA.
        In response to requests that we provide Florida citrus growers and 
    other interested persons an opportunity for the oral presentation of 
    data, views, and arguments regarding the proposed rule, we have 
    scheduled an additional public hearing to be held in Orlando, FL, on 
    February 5, 1999.
        The purpose of the hearings is to give interested persons the 
    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 hearings, except to clarify or explain provisions of the proposed 
    rule.
        A representative of APHIS will preside at each 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.
        Each public hearing will begin at 9 a.m. and is scheduled to end at 
    5 p.m., local time. However, either 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 a hearing warrants it, the presiding 
    officer may limit the time for presentations so that everyone wishing 
    to speak has the opportunity.
    
        Done in Washington, DC, this 7th day of January 1999.
    Craig A. Reed,
    Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
    [FR Doc. 99-759 Filed 1-12-99; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
01/13/1999
Department:
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Entry Type:
Proposed Rule
Action:
Proposed rule; notice of additional public hearing.
Document Number:
99-759
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 public hearings that will be held in Orlando, FL, on February 5, 1999, and in Thousand Oaks, CA, on February 8, 1999. The hearings in both locations will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Pages:
2151-2151 (1 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. 97-110-4
RINs:
0579-AA92: Importation of Grapefruit, Lemons, and Oranges From Argentina
RIN Links:
https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/0579-AA92/importation-of-grapefruit-lemons-and-oranges-from-argentina
PDF File:
99-759.pdf
CFR: (2)
7 CFR 300
7 CFR 319