[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 138 (Tuesday, July 20, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 38885]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-18436]
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Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
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Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 138 / Tuesday, July 20, 1999 /
Notices
[[Page 38885]]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Office of the Secretary
[Docket No. 98-093-1]
Declaration of Emergency Because of the Mediterranean Fruit Fly
and the Mexican Fruit Fly
Serious outbreaks of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis
capitata (Wiedemann), and the Mexican fruit fly, Anastrepha ludens
(Loew), are occurring in California.
The Mediterranean fruit fly is one of the most destructive pests of
over 200 species of fruits, nuts, and vegetables, especially citrus and
stone fruits. The pest can develop rapidly and spread easily, causing
severe damage to entire areas where citrus and other fruits and
vegetables are grown.
The Mexican fruit fly is a destructive pest of citrus and many
other types of fruits. The short life cycle of the Mexican fruit fly
allows rapid development of serious outbreaks that can cause severe
economic losses in commercial citrus-producing areas.
As of July 1999, there is an infestation of the Mediterranean fruit
fly in portions of Orange and Riverside Counties, CA. Also, an
infestation of the Mexican fruit fly has been found in a portion of San
Diego County, CA. The presence of these fruit flies in the continental
United States could severely disrupt the fruit and vegetable industry
due to crop damages, additional pesticide use, and quarantine
requirements. The permanent presence of these pests in California would
result in yearly losses of over $205 million. If allowed to spread
throughout the United States, the estimated annual losses are over $1.5
billion for the Mediterranean fruit fly alone.
In cooperation with the State of California, the Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has initiated a program to eradicate
these fruit fly infestations in California. The State of California is
assisting APHIS in the funding of the program costs. However, APHIS
resources are insufficient to meet the estimated $8.7 million needed
for the Federal share. In addition, some of these resources may be
needed to fund other Mediterranean and Mexican fruit fly emergencies
before the end of the year.
Therefore, in accordance with the provisions of the Act of
September 25, 1981, 95 Stat. (7 U.S.C. 147b), I declare that there is
an emergency which threatens the citrus-and other fruit-and-vegetable-
growing industries in this country and hereby authorize the transfer
and use of such funds as may be necessary from appropriations or other
funds available to the agencies or corporations of the United States
Department of Agriculture for conducting a program to detect and
identify Mediterranean fruit fly and Mexican fruit fly infested areas,
to control and prevent the spread of the Mediterranean fruit fly and
the Mexican fruit fly to noninfested areas in the United States, and to
eradicate the Mediterranean fruit fly and the Mexican fruit fly
wherever they may be found in the continental United States.
EFFECTIVE DATE: This declaration of emergency shall become effective
July 9, 1999.
Dan Glickman,
Secretary of Agriculture.
[FR Doc. 99-18436 Filed 7-19-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
