2010-21129. Notice of Availability of a Pest Risk Analysis for Interstate Movement of Guavas From Hawaii Into the Continental United States

AGENCY:

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

We are advising the public that we have prepared a pest risk analysis that evaluates the risks associated with the interstate movement into the continental United States of fresh guava fruit from Hawaii. Based on that analysis, we believe that the application of one or more designated phytosanitary measures will be sufficient to mitigate the risks of introducing or disseminating plant pests or noxious weeds via the interstate movement of guavas from Hawaii. We are making the pest risk analysis available to the public for review and comment.

DATES:

We will consider all comments that we receive on or before October 25, 2010.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments by either of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to (http://www.regulations.gov/​fdmspublic/​component/​main?​main=​DocketDetail&​d=​APHIS-2010-0061) to submit or view comments and to view supporting and related materials available electronically.
• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send one copy of your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2010-0061, 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 Docket No. APHIS-2010-0061.

Reading Room: You may read any comments that we receive on this docket 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. David B. Lamb, Import Specialist, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

Under the regulations in “Subpart—Regulated Articles From Hawaii and the Territories” (7 CFR 318.13-1 through 318.13-26, referred to below as the regulations), the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture prohibits or restricts the interstate movement of fruits and vegetables into the United States from Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to prevent plant pests and noxious weeds from being introduced into and spread within the continental United States. (The continental United States is defined in § 318.13-2 of the regulations as the 48 contiguous States, Alaska, and the District of Columbia.)

Section 318.13-4 contains a performance-based process for approving the interstate movement of commodities that, based on the findings of a pest risk analysis, can be safely imported subject to one or more of the designated phytosanitary measures listed in paragraph (b) of that section. These measures are:

• The fruits and vegetables are inspected in the State of origin or in the first State of arrival;
• The fruits and vegetables originated from a pest-free area in the State of origin and the grower from which the fruit or vegetable originated has entered into a compliance agreement with the Administrator;
• The fruits and vegetables are treated in accordance with 7 CFR part 305 and the treatment is certified by an inspector;
• The fruits and vegetables articles are inspected and certified in the State of origin by an inspector and have been found free of one or more specific quarantine pests identified by risk analysis as likely to follow the pathway;
• The fruits and vegetables are moved as commercial consignments only; and/or
• The fruits and vegetables may be distributed only within a defined area and the boxes or containers in which the fruits or vegetables are distributed must be marked to indicate the applicable distribution restrictions.

APHIS received a request from the Hawaii Department of Agriculture to allow the interstate movement of fresh guava fruit from Hawaii to the continental United States. We have completed a pest list to identify pests of quarantine significance that could follow the pathway of interstate movement into the continental United States and, based on that pest list, have prepared a risk management analysis to identify phytosanitary measures that could be applied to the commodity to mitigate the pest risk. We have concluded that guavas can be safely moved from Hawaii to the continental United States using one or more of the six designated phytosanitary measures listed in § 318.13-4(b). Therefore, in accordance with § 318.13-4(c), we are announcing the availability of our pest risk analysis for public review and comment. The pest risk analysis may be viewed on the Regulations.gov Web site or in our reading room (see ADDRESSES above for instructions for accessing Regulations.gov and information on the location and hours of the reading room). You may request paper copies of the pest risk analysis by calling or writing to the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Please refer to the subject of the pest risk analysis when requesting copies.

After reviewing the comments we receive, we will announce our decision regarding the interstate movement of guavas from Hawaii to the continental United States in a subsequent notice. If the overall conclusions of the analysis and the Administrator’s determination of risk remain unchanged following our consideration of the comments, then we will begin allowing the interstate movement of guavas from Hawaii to the continental United States subject to the requirements specified in the risk management document.

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7701-7772 and 7781-7786; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.3. Done in Washington, DC, this 18^th day of August 2010.

Kevin Shea

Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.