[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 104 (Monday, June 1, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 29675-29676]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-14421]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
7 CFR Part 319
[Docket No. 89-154-4]
Importation of Rhododendron Established in Growing Media
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of extension of comment period.
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SUMMARY: We are extending the comment period on a proposal to allow the
importation of Rhododendron established in growing media. Final action
on that proposal had been deferred to allow consultation regarding the
action with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, in accordance
with the Endangered Species Act. That consultation has been completed,
and, as a result, the proposed action has been limited to Rhododendron
imported from Europe only. This extension of the comment period will
allow interested groups and individuals with additional time to prepare
comments on the proposal.
DATES: Consideration will be given only to comments received on or
before July 30, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Please send an original and three copies of your comments to
Docket No. 89-154-3, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS,
suite 3C03, 4700 River Road, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state
that your comments refer to Docket No. 89-154-3. 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Pete M. Grosser, Senior Import
Specialist, PIMT, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 140, Riverdale, MD
20737-1236; (301) 734-6799.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On September 7, 1993, we published in the Federal Register a
proposed rule (58 FR 47074-47084, Docket No. 89-154-1) to allow the
importation of five genera of plants established in growing media. That
proposal is referred to below as ``the proposed rule.'' We accepted
comments on the proposed rule for a period of 90 days, ending December
6, 1993.
In a final rule published in the Federal Register on January 13,
1995, and effective on February 13, 1995 (60 FR 3067-3078, Docket No.
89-154-2), the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
finalized provisions for the importation of Alstroemeria, Ananas,
Anthurium, and Nidularium. The final rule postponed action on
Rhododendron established in growing media.
On April 30, 1998, we published in the Federal Register (63 FR
23683-23685, Docket No. 89-154-3) a notice reopening and extending the
comment period on the proposal to allow the importation of Rhododendron
established in growing media. Final action on the initial proposal had
been deferred to allow consultation regarding the action with the
United States Fish and Wildlife Service, in accordance with the
Endangered Species Act. That consultation has been completed, and, as a
result, the notice also announced APHIS's intention to limit the
proposed action to Rhododendron imported from Europe only.
[[Page 29676]]
Comments were required to be received on or before June 1, 1998. We
received two requests to extend the period during which comments will
be accepted. The requests were from trade organizations. In response,
we are extending the comment period on Docket No. 89-154-3 until July
30, 1998. This action will allow interested groups and individuals
additional time to prepare and submit comments.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 150dd, 150ee, 150ff, 151-167, 450, 2803, and
2809; 21 U.S.C. 136 and 136a; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.2(c).
Done in Washington, DC, this 27th day of May 1998.
Charles P. Schwalbe,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 98-14421 Filed 5-29-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
