[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 249 (Tuesday, December 30, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 67761-67763]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-33718]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
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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. 62, No. 249 / Tuesday, December 30, 1997 /
Proposed Rules
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
7 CFR Parts 300 and 301
[Docket No. 96-069-1]
High-Temperature Forced-Air Treatments for Citrus
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: We are proposing to allow the use of a process involving high-
temperature forced air for treating tangerines, oranges (except navel
oranges), and grapefruit from Mexico and areas of the United States
that are infested with plant pests in the genus Anastrepha, which
includes A. ludens, the Mexican fruit fly. This action would provide an
additional option for treating these fruits. The treatments would be
included in the Plant Protection and Quarantine Treatment Manual, which
is incorporated by reference into the Code of Federal Regulations.
DATES: Consideration will be given only to comments received on or
before March 2, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Please send an original and three copies of your comments to
Docket No. 96-069-1, 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. 96-069-1. 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 tocall ahead on (202) 690-2817 to
facilitate entry into the comment reading room.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Ron Campbell, Operations Officer,
Port Operations, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 136, Riverdale, MD
20737-1236; (301) 734-6799; or e-mail rcampbell@aphis.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
To prevent the spread of plant pests into or within the United
States, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) restricts the
importation and interstate movement of many articles, including fruits.
As a condition of movement, some fruits are required to be treated for
plant pests in accordance with the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).
The Plant Protection and Quarantine Treatment Manual (PPQ Treatment
Manual) of the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
(APHIS) contains approved treatment schedules and is incorporated by
reference into the CFR at 7 CFR 300.1.
Pursuant to 7 CFR 319.56-2x, USDA allows tangerines, oranges, and
grapefruit from Mexico to be imported into the United States if treated
in accordance with the PPQ Treatment Manual. We are proposing to amend
this manual to include the high-temperature forced-air treatments
described below under ``Treatments'' for tangerines, oranges (except
navel oranges), and grapefruit from Mexico as additional effective
treatments for pests in the genus Anastrepha, which includes A. ludens,
the Mexican fruit fly. We would amend 7 CFR 300.1 to show that the PPQ
Treatment Manual has been so changed.
In addition, because the Mexican fruit fly infests parts of the
United States (currently, parts of Texas and California), USDA
regulates the interstate movement of certain articles from those areas
under the Mexican Fruit Fly Quarantine and Regulations, found at 7 CFR
301.64 through 301.64-10. Acceptable treatments for the regulated
articles are listed in Sec. 301.64-10. Treatments for the regulated
articles themselves include a cold treatment, fumigation with methyl
bromide, and a high-temperature forced-air treatment for grapefruit of
a certain size; treatments for the fields or groves in which the
regulated articles are grown include a soil drench with diazinon and a
malathion bait spray.
The high-temperature forced-air treatment for grapefruit listed in
Sec. 301.64-10(e) specifies that the grapefruit must be at least 3.5 in
(9 cm) in diameter and 9.25 oz (262 g) in weight. This treatment is
based on a target temperature, which means that any Anastrepha larvae
present in the grapefruit are killed through a process of incrementally
increasing the air temperature in the hot-air chamber until the
temperature at the grapefruit center reaches 118 deg.F (48 deg.C).
The treatment specifies a minimum size for the grapefruit because
grapefruit less than the specified size were found during research to
reach the target temperature too quickly to ensure larvae mortality.
This treatment, which is still a viable option, is also included in the
PPQ Treatment Manual.
We are proposing to amend Sec. 301.64-10 to allow for the use of
the high-temperature forced-air treatments described below for
tangerines, oranges (except navel oranges), and grapefruit. Unlike the
treatment described above, which is based on a target temperature, the
proposed treatments are based on time: They involve maintaining at
least a specified temperature in the hot-air chamber for a specified
period of time. These treatments specify a maximum size for the fruit
because research revealed that, when used on fruit larger than the
stated size, the treatment did not raise the internal temperature of
the fruit sufficiently within the allotted time to ensure mortality of
Anastrepha larvae. We would indicate in Sec. 301.64-10(e) that these
three new treatments are included in the PPQ Treatment Manual.
For consistency, we are also proposing to remove from Sec. 301.64-
10 the specific requirements for the cold treatment, the methyl bromide
treatment, and the high-temperature forced-air treatment, which are
described, respectively, in paragraphs (a), (d), and (e). Because all
of these treatments are spelled out in the PPQ Treatment Manual, there
is no reason for them also to be listed in the CFR. Removing the
specific instructions for these treatments from Sec. 301.64-10 and
indicating that the treatments should be conducted in accordance with
the PPQ Treatment Manual is in keeping with regulatory reform efforts
to remove unnecessary or redundant Federal regulations.
The soil drench and malathion bait spray treatments are not listed
in the PPQ Treatment Manual and will remain in Sec. 301.64-10 (b) and
(c). These treatments are cultural practices to be performed by
producers in the groves
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and fields, not quarantine treatments to be performed on the regulated
articles as are the cold, methyl bromide, and high-temperature forced-
air treatments. However, we are proposing some minor grammatical and
punctuation changes to Sec. 301.64-10(b).
Treatments
The following high-temperature forced-air treatments were developed
by the USDA's Agricultural Research Service. The treatments must be
administered in sealed, insulated chambers. The air may be heated in
the chambers, or hot air may be introduced into the chambers.
Tangerines
The proposed treatment is for tangerines that are commercial size
125 or smaller. (Commercial size is an index based on the approximate
number of fruit that fit into a commercial shipping box [40 lb or 18.14
kg].) Each tangerine must weigh no more than 8.6 oz (245 g).
Place the tangerines in the chamber and seal it. Raise the air
temperature in the chamber to 113 deg.F (45 deg.C) or higher for 210
minutes. (Treatment time begins when the coldest air temperature sensor
reaches 113 deg.F.) Record the temperature of each sensor at least
once every 2 minutes throughout the treatment. Any temperature reading
below 113 deg.F will invalidate the entire treatment. If any low
temperature readings occur, repeat (do not simply extend) the
treatment.
Oranges
The proposed treatment is for oranges (except navel oranges) that
are commercial size 100 or smaller. Each orange must weigh no more than
16.5 oz (468 g).
Place the oranges in the chamber and seal it. Raise the air
temperature in the chamber to 114.8 deg.F (46 deg.C) or higher for
250 minutes. (Treatment time begins when the coldest air temperature
sensor reaches 114.8 deg.F.) Record the temperature of each sensor at
least once every 2 minutes throughout the treatment. Any temperature
reading below 114.8 deg.F will invalidate the entire treatment. If any
low temperature readings occur, repeat (do not simply extend) the
treatment.
Grapefruit
The proposed treatment is for grapefruit that are commercial size
70 or smaller. Each grapefruit must weigh no more than 18.8 oz (532 g).
Place the grapefruit in the chamber and seal it. Raise the air
temperature in the chamber to 114.8 deg.F (46 deg.C) or higher for
300 minutes. (Treatment time begins when the coldest air temperature
sensor reaches 114.8 deg.F.) Record the temperature of each sensor at
least once every 2 minutes throughout the treatment. Any temperature
reading below 114.8 deg.F will invalidate the entire treatment. If any
low temperature readings occur, repeat (do not simply extend) the
treatment.
Executive Order 12866 and Regulatory Flexibility Act
This proposed rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12866.
For this action, the Office of Management and Budget has waived its
review process required by Executive Order 12866.
This proposed rule would allow use of a process involving high-
temperature forced air for treating tangerines, oranges (except navel
oranges), and grapefruit from Mexico and areas of the United States
infested with plant pests in the genus Anastrepha, including A. ludens,
the Mexican fruit fly. High-temperature forced-air treatments developed
by the Agricultural Research Service would serve as additional
treatment alternatives against the Mexican fruit fly and other species
of Anastrepha that may attack tangerines, oranges, and grapefruit grown
in Mexico and the United States. Development of these proposed
treatments was triggered, in part, by the expected loss of methyl
bromide as a treatment and phytotoxicity of oranges to methyl bromide.
(The U.S. Clean Air Act requires that any substance identified as ozone
depleting, including methyl bromide, be withdrawn from production,
importation, and use in the United States by the year 2000.)
At present, tangerines, oranges, and grapefruit imported from
Mexico can be treated for the Mexican fruit fly and other species of
Anastrepha using several different methods. Cold treatment is
acceptable for tangerines, oranges, and grapefruit. Vapor heat and
methyl bromide treatments are acceptable for clementines (a variety of
tangerine), oranges, and grapefruit. Grapefruit of a certain size may
also be treated with a high-temperature forced-air treatment that is a
different temperature and time combination than the procedure described
in this proposed rule.
Acceptable treatments for tangerines, oranges, and grapefruit
produced in the regulated areas of the United States include cold
treatment of the fruit, treatment of the soil in the groves, and bait-
spray treatment of the groves. Additionally, oranges and grapefruit may
be treated with methyl bromide, and grapefruit may be treated with a
different high-temperature forced-air treatment than the procedure
described in this proposed rule.
The provision of high-temperature forced-air treatments as
described in this proposed rule as an alternative treatment for
tangerines and oranges, and as an additional high-temperature forced-
air treatment alternative for grapefruit, would provide one more
treatment method from which to choose.
Mexico is the largest source of citrus imported into the United
States. In 1996, the value of citrus imported from Mexico totaled about
$38 million, representing approximately 40 percent of U.S. citrus
imports. We do not anticipate any increase in the amount of tangerines,
oranges, or grapefruit imported into the United States as a result of
this proposed action.
More than half of the citrus imported from Mexico is not treated at
all because it is imported from Mexican municipalities free of fruit
flies. Such was the case for about 52 percent of the citrus imported
from Mexico in fiscal year (FY) 1995 and about 57 percent in FY 1996.
Citrus may be exported to the United States from these fruit-fly-free
municipalities with certification only. Shipments of tangerines,
oranges, and grapefruit from other areas of Mexico are treated before
they arrive at the U.S. border. In FY 1996, approximately 3,427 metric
tons of tangerines and 88 metric tons of oranges from Mexico were
fumigated with methyl bromide before being precleared for entry into
the United States.
The only areas of the United States currently infested with Mexican
fruit fly are in Texas and California. The infested area in California
is primarily urban and includes no commercial production. The regulated
areas in Texas are found in a major citrus-growing region. In FY 1996,
four of the five regulated production areas in Texas were found to be
infested with the Mexican fruit fly, and 5,426,900 pounds of citrus
(mostly grapefruit) were fumigated for shipment internationally or to
citrus-growing areas of the United States. Most of the citrus was
shipped to California. Again, in FY 1997, four of the five production
areas were found infested, and the exported fruit was fumigated.
There are eight fumigation companies treating citrus shipped from
the regulated areas of Texas, and all are considered small businesses
by U.S. Small Business Administration standards (annual revenue less
than $5 million, averaged over 3 years). The approval of high-
temperature forced air as an alternative treatment could lead to a
reduction in the income of these fumigation companies if the citrus
growers were to find that using high-
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temperature forced air is financially preferable to using fumigation.
No facilities currently exist in Texas that are capable of performing
high-temperature forced-air treatments. However, in recent meetings of
growers in the regulated areas, the possibility of building and
operating one or two high-temperature forced-air treatment facilities
as cooperative ventures (in view of the sizable cost of such
facilities) was discussed. The time required for realization of such a
cooperative effort would provide the fumigation companies a period to
adjust to any anticipated reduction in business. Moreover, unless
special-use exemptions are attached to the Clean Air Act or another
fumigation compound is approved to replace methyl bromide, the
fumigating companies will soon no longer be able to fumigate regulated
citrus anyway. When methyl bromide use is banned, any possible impacts
on the incomes of these companies from the addition of high-temperature
forced-air treatments as alternative treatment methods would become
inconsequential.
No significant economic impacts on any small entities, including
citrus importers or producers or providers of alternative pest
treatments for citrus, are expected due to the proposed addition of the
high-temperature forced-air treatment methods described in this
proposed rule. The number of importers of tangerines, oranges, and
grapefruit from Mexico and the percentage that are small entities are
not known, but most are probably not small (defined for fruit and
vegetable wholesalers as having fewer than 100 employees). As described
above, the eight potentially affected U.S. fumigation firms are small
entities, but these firms would likely be affected by the proposed rule
only if one or more high-temperature forced-air treatment facilities
were to be constructed and become operational prior to the time the ban
on methyl bromide becomes effective--at which time the economic effect
of the proposed rule on the fumigation firms becomes irrelevant. Both
large and small citrus producers in the regulated areas of the United
States could benefit from the proposed rule if the proposed treatment
were to prove less expensive than fumigation. Moreover, the proposed
rule could be beneficial to these producers when methyl bromide use is
banned because it provides another acceptable method for treating their
citrus for export or shipment to restricted areas of the United States.
Under these circumstances, the Administrator of the Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service has determined that this proposed
action would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial
number of small entities.
Executive Order 12988
This proposed rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988,
Civil Justice Reform. If this proposed rule is adopted: (1) All State
and local laws and regulations that are inconsistent with this rule
will be preempted; (2) no retroactive effect will be given to this
rule; and (3) administrative proceedings will not be required before
parties may file suit in court challenging this rule.
Paperwork Reduction Act
This proposed rule contains no information collection or
recordkeeping requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
List of Subjects
7 CFR Part 300
Incorporation by reference, Plant diseases and pests, Quarantine.
7 CFR Part 301
Agricultural commodities, Incorporation by reference, Plant
diseases and pests, Quarantine, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Transportation.
Accordingly, 7 CFR parts 300 and 301 would be amended as follows:
PART 300--INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
1. The authority citation for part 300 would continue to read as
follows:
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 150ee, 154, 161, 162, and 167; 7 CFR 2.22,
2.80, and 371.2(c).
2. In Sec. 300.1, paragraph (a), the introductory text would be
revised to read as follows:
Sec. 300.1 Materials incorporated by reference; availability.
(a) Plant Protection and Quarantine Treatment Manual. The Plant
Protection and Quarantine Treatment Manual, which was reprinted
November 30, 1992, and includes all revisions through ______ has been
approved for incorporation by reference in 7 CFR chapter III by the
Director of the Office of the Federal Register in accordance with 5
U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
* * * * *
PART 301--DOMESTIC QUARANTINE NOTICES
3. The authority citation for part 301 would continue to read as
follows:
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 147a, 150bb, 150dd, 150ee, 150ff, 161, 162,
and 164-167; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.2(c).
4. In Sec. 301.64-1, a new definition would be added in
alphabetical order to read as follows:
Sec. 301.64-1 Definitions.
* * * * *
PPQ Treatment Manual. The Plant Protection and Quarantine Treatment
Manual, which is incorporated by reference at Sec. 300.1 of this
chapter.
* * * * *
5. Section 301.64-10 would be revised to read as follows:
Sec. 301.64-10 Treatments.
* * * * *
(a) Apple, grapefruit, orange, pear, plum, pomegranate, quince, and
tangerine. Cold treatment in accordance with the PPQ Treatment Manual.
(b) Soil within the dripline of plants that are producing or have
produced fruits listed in Sec. 301.64-2(a).
Host fruits must be removed from host plants prior to treatment.
Material: diazinon
Dosage: Apply 5 lb a.i. per acre (0.12 lb or 2 oz avdp. per 1,000
ft \2\).
Method: Soil drench using ground equipment. Apply with 130 gal of
water per acre (3 gal per 1,000 ft \2\) under hosts.
Frequency/timing: Three applications at 14- to 16-day intervals as
needed. Applications may be repeated if infestations become
established.
In addition to the above, diazinon must be applied in accordance
with all label directions.
(c) * * *
(d) Grapefruit and oranges. Methyl bromide in accordance with the
PPQ Treatment Manual.
(e) Grapefruit, oranges (except navel oranges), and tangerines.
High-temperature forced air in accordance with the PPQ Treatment
Manual.
Done in Washington, DC, this 18th day of December.
Terry L. Medley,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 97-33718 Filed 12-29-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
