E6-6907. Availability of an Evaluation of Asymptomatic Citrus Fruit as a Pathway for the Introduction of Citrus Canker Disease

AGENCY:

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION:

Notice of availability; extension of comment period.

SUMMARY:

We are extending the comment period for our scientific evaluation titled, “Evaluation of asymptomatic citrus fruit (Citrus spp.) as a pathway for the introduction of citrus canker disease (Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri).” This action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments.

DATES:

We will consider all comments that we receive on or before July 5, 2006.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments by either of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and, in the lower “Search Regulations and Federal Actions” box, select “Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service” from the agency drop-down menu, then click on “Submit.” In the Docket ID column, select APHIS-2006-0045 to submit or view public comments and to view supporting and related materials available electronically. Information on using Regulations.gov, including instructions for accessing documents, submitting comments, and viewing the docket after the close of the comment period, is available through the site's “User Tips” link.
• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send four copies of your comment (an original and three copies) to APHIS-2006-0045, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that your comment refers to APHIS-2006-0045.

Reading Room: You may read any comments that we receive on the evaluation in our reading room. The reading room 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 [phone] before coming.

Other Information: Additional information about APHIS and its programs is available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. Robert L. Griffin, Director, Plant Epidemiology and Risk Analysis Laboratory, Center for Plant Health Science and Technology, PPQ, APHIS, 1730 Varsity Drive, Raleigh, NC 27606-5202; [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

On April 6, 2006, we published in the Federal Register (66 FR 17434-17435, Docket No. APHIS-2006-0045) a notice of availability for a scientific evaluation titled, “Evaluation of asymptomatic citrus fruit (Citrus spp.) as a pathway for the introduction of citrus canker disease (Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri).”

Comments on the scientific evaluation were required to be received on or before June 5, 2006. We are extending the comment period on Docket No. APHIS-2006-0045 for an additional 30 days. This action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments.

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7701-7772 and 7781-7786; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.3.

Done in Washington, DC, this 2nd day of May 2006.

Kevin Shea,

Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.