Federal Register: February 16, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 32)
DOCID: FR Doc 06-1446
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
CFR Citation: 7 CFR Part 301
Docket ID: [Docket No. 04-106-3]
NOTICE: RULES
ACTION: Plant-related quarantine, domestic:
DOCUMENT ACTION: Affirmation of interim rule as final rule.
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Oriental Fruit Fly; Removal of Quarantined Area
DATES: Effective Date: The interim rule became effective on March 1, 2005.
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
We are adopting as a final rule, without change, an interim rule that amended the Oriental fruit fly regulations by removing a portion of Los Angeles County, CA, from the list of quarantined areas and removing restrictions on the interstate movement of regulated articles from that area. The interim rule was necessary to relieve restrictions that were no longer needed to prevent the spread of the Oriental fruit fly into noninfested areas of the United States.
SUMMARY:
Oriental fruit fly,
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Background
In an interim rule effective on November 9, 2004, and published in the Federal Register on November 16, 2004 (69 FR 6704167042, Docket No. 041061), we amended the Oriental fruit fly regulations contained in 7 CFR 301.93 through 301.9310 (referred to below as the regulations) by adding a portion of Los Angeles County, CA, to the list of quarantined areas in Sec. 301.933(c) and restricting the interstate movement of regulated articles from that area. The November 2004 interim rule was necessary to prevent the spread of Oriental fruit fly into noninfested areas of the United States.
Comments on the interim rule were required to be received on or before January 18, 2005. We received one comment by that date, from a private citizen. The commenter questioned why an infestation of Oriental fruit fly had been allowed to occur, but did not offer any comments on the action taken in the interim rule; therefore, we are making no changes in response to this comment.
In a second interim rule effective March 1, 2005, and published in the Federal Register on March 7, 2005 (70 FR 1086110862, Docket No. 041062), we amended the Oriental fruit fly regulations by removing the portion of Los Angeles County, CA, from the list of quarantined areas and removing restrictions on the interstate movement of regulated articles from that area. We took this action based on trapping surveys conducted by inspectors of California State and County agencies that showed that the Oriental fruit fly had been eradicated from the quarantined portion of Los Angeles County, CA.
Comments on the interim rule were required to be received on or before May 6, 2005. We did not receive any comments. Therefore, for the reasons given in the interim rule, we are adopting the interim rule as a final rule.
This action also affirms the information contained in the interim rules concerning Executive Order 12866 and the Regulatory Flexibility Act, Executive Orders 12372 and 12988, and the Paperwork Reduction Act.
Further, for this action, the Office of Management and Budget has waived its review under Executive Order 12866.
List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 301
Agricultural commodities, Plant diseases and pests, Quarantine, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Transportation.
Accordingly, we are amending 7 CFR part 301 as follows:
PART 301DOMESTIC QUARANTINE NOTICES
Accordingly, we are adopting as a final rule, without change, the
interim rule that amended 7 CFR part 301 and that was published at 70 FR 1086110862 on March 7, 2005.
Done in Washington, DC, this 10th day of February 2006. Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. 061446 Filed 21506; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 341034P
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Mr. Wayne D. Burnett, National Fruit Fly Program Manager, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 134, Riverdale, MD 207371236; (301) 7344387.