[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 161 (Thursday, August 20, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 44538-44539]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-22456]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
7 CFR Part 301
[Docket No. 97-056-15]
Mediterranean Fruit Fly; Removal of Quarantined Area
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Interim rule and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: We are amending the Mediterranean fruit fly regulations by
removing the quarantined area in Lake and Marion Counties, FL, from the
list of quarantined areas. The quarantine was necessary to prevent the
spread of Medfly to noninfested areas of the United States. We have
determined that the Mediterranean fruit fly has been eradicated from
this area and that restrictions on the intrastate and interstate
movement of regulated articles from this area are no longer necessary.
This action relieves unnecessary restrictions on the intrastate and
interstate movement of regulated articles from this area.
DATES: Interim rule effective August 13, 1998. Consideration will be
given only to comments received on or before October 19, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Please send an original and three copies of your comments to
Docket No. 97-056-15, 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. 97-056-15. 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. Michael B. Stefan, Operations
Officer, Domestic and Emergency Programs, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road
Unit 134, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236, (301) 734-8247; or e-mail:
mstefan@aphis.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), is one
of the world's most destructive pests of numerous fruits and
vegetables. The Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) can cause serious
economic losses. Heavy infestations can cause complete loss of crops,
and losses of 25 to 50 percent are not uncommon. The short life cycle
of this pest permits the rapid development of serious outbreaks.
The Mediterranean fruit fly regulations (contained in 7 CFR 301.78
through 301.78-10 and referred to below as the regulations) restrict
the movement of regulated articles from quarantined areas to prevent
the spread of Medfly to noninfested areas of the United States. Since
an initial finding of Medfly infestation in a portion of Dade County,
FL, in April 1998, the quarantined areas in Florida have included
portions of Dade, Highlands, Lake, Manatee, and Marion Counties.
In an interim rule effective on April 17, 1998, and published in
the Federal Register on April 23, 1998 (63 FR 20053-20054, Docket No.
98-046-1), we added a portion of Dade County, FL, to the list of
quarantined areas and restricted the intrastate and interstate movement
of regulated articles from the quarantined area. In a second interim
rule effective on May 5, 1998, and published in the Federal Register on
May 11, 1998 (63 FR 25748-25750, Docket No. 97-056-11), we expanded the
quarantined area in Dade County, FL. In a third interim rule effective
May 13, 1998, and published in the Federal Register on May 19, 1998 (63
FR 27439-27440, Docket No. 97-056-12), we added a portion of Lake and
Marion Counties, FL, to the list of quarantined areas and restricted
the intrastate and interstate movement of regulated articles from the
quarantined area. In a fourth interim rule effective on June 5, 1998,
and published in the Federal Register on June 11, 1998 (63 FR 31887-
31888, Docket No. 98-056-13), we added a portion of Manatee County, FL,
to the list of quarantined areas and restricted the intrastate and
interstate movement of regulated articles from the quarantined area. In
a fifth interim rule effective August 7, 1998, we added a portion of
Highlands County, FL, to the list of quarantined areas and restricted
the intrastate and interstate movement of regulated articles from the
quarantined area.
We have determined, based on trapping surveys conducted by the
[[Page 44539]]
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and Florida State
and county agency inspectors, that the Medfly has been eradicated from
the quarantined area in a portion of Lake and Marion Counties, FL. The
last finding of Medfly thought to be associated with the infestation in
that portion of Lake and Marion Counties, FL, was June 17, 1998. Since
that time, no evidence of infestation has been found in this area. We
are, therefore, removing that portion of Lake and Marion Counties, FL,
from the list of areas in Sec. 301.78-3(c) quarantined because of the
Medfly. Portions of Dade, Highlands, and Manatee Counties remain
quarantined.
Immediate Action
The Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
has determined that there is good cause for publishing this interim
rule without prior opportunity for public comment. The portion of Lake
and Marion Counties, FL, affected by this document was quarantined to
prevent the Medfly from spreading to noninfested areas of the United
States. Because the Medfly has been eradicated from this area, and
because the continued quarantined status of that portion of Lake and
Marion Counties, FL, would impose unnecessary regulatory restrictions
on the public, immediate action is warranted to relieve restrictions.
Because prior notice and other public procedures with respect to
this action are impracticable and contrary to the public interest under
these conditions, we find good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553 to make this
action effective upon signature. We will consider comments that are
received within 60 days of publication of this rule in the Federal
Register. After the comment period closes, we will publish another
document in the Federal Register. The document will include a
discussion of any comments we receive and any amendments we are making
to the rule as a result of the comments.
Executive Order 12866 and Regulatory Flexibility Act
This 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 interim rule amends the Medfly regulations by removing a
portion of Lake and Marion Counties, FL, from quarantine for Medfly.
This action affects the intrastate and interstate movement of regulated
articles from this area. There are approximately 85 entities that could
be affected, including 15 commercial growers, 1 transportation
terminal, 8 fruit stands, 5 flea markets, 5 processing plants, 1
farmer's market, 25 nurseries, 10 apiaries, 12 mobile vendors, and 3
food stores. The number of these entities that meet the U.S. Small
Business Administration's (SBA) definition of a small entity is
unknown, since the information needed to make that determination (i.e.,
each entity's gross receipts or number of employees) is not currently
available. However, it is reasonable to assume that most of the 85
entities are small in size, since the overwhelming majority of
businesses in Florida, as well as the rest of the United States, are
small entities by SBA standards.
The effect of this action on small entities should be minimally
positive, as they will no longer be required to treat articles to be
moved intrastate and interstate for Medfly.
Therefore, termination of the quarantine of that portion of Lake
and Marion Counties, FL, should have a minimal economic effect on the
small entities operating in this area. We anticipate that the economic
impact of lifting the quarantine, though positive, will be no more
significant than was the minimal impact of its imposition.
Under these circumstances, the Administrator of the Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service has determined that this action will
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small
entities.
Executive Order 12372
This program/activity is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance under No. 10.025 and is subject to Executive Order 12372,
which requires intergovernmental consultation with State and local
officials. (See 7 CFR part 3015, subpart V.)
Executive Order 12988
This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, Civil
Justice Reform. This rule: (1) Preempts all State and local laws and
regulations that are inconsistent with this rule; (2) has no
retroactive effect; and (3) does not require administrative proceedings
before parties may file suit in court challenging this rule.
Paperwork Reduction Act
This 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 in 7 CFR Part 301
Agricultural commodities, Incorporation by reference, Plant
diseases and pests, Quarantine, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Transportation.
Accordingly, we are amending 7 CFR part 301 as follows:
PART 301--DOMESTIC QUARANTINE NOTICES
1. The authority citation for part 301 continues 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).
Sec. 301.78-3 [Amended]
2. In Sec. 301.78-3, paragraph (c), the entry for Florida is
amended by removing the entry for Lake and Marion Counties.
Done in Washington, DC, this 13th day of August, 1998.
Joan M. Arnoldi,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 98-22456 Filed 8-19-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
