[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 242 (Monday, December 19, 1994)] [Unknown Section] [Page 0] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 94-31151] [[Page Unknown]] [Federal Register: December 19, 1994] VOL. 59, NO. 242 Monday, December 19, 1994 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 7 CFR Part 319 [Docket No. 94-116-2] Importation of Fresh Hass Avocado Fruit Grown in Michoacan, Mexico AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking and public meetings; reopening and extension of comment period. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is reopening and extending the time period for the public to comment on an advance notice of proposed rulemaking regarding the possible importation of fresh Hass avocado fruit grown in approved orchards in approved municipalities in Michoacan, Mexico, into certain areas in the United States. Reopening and extending the comment period will give interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments on the Mexican proposal. DATES: Consideration will be given only to comments received on or before January 3, 1995. ADDRESSES: Please send an original and three copies of your comments to Chief, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, USDA, P.O. Drawer 810, Riverdale, MD 20738. Please state that your comments refer to Docket No. 94-116-2. 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. Victor Harabin, Head, Permit Unit, Port Operations, Plant Protection and Quarantine, APHIS, USDA, P.O. Drawer 810, Riverdale, MD, 20738. The telephone number for the agency contact will change when agency offices in Hyattsville, MD, move to Riverdale, MD, during January. Telephone: (301) 436-8645 (Hyattsville); (301) 734-8645 (Riverdale). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background On November 15, 1994, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) published in the Federal Register (59 FR 59070-59071, Docket No. 94-116-1) an advance notice of proposed rulemaking and a notice of public meetings concerning the possible importation of fresh Hass avocado fruit grown in approved orchards in approved municipalities in Michoacan, Mexico, into certain areas in the United States. The two public meetings were held on November 28 and 29. Interested persons were invited to present either written or oral comments at the public meetings on the Mexican proposal. The notice stated that copies of the Mexican proposal were available by calling or writing Mr. Victor Harabin. All written comments on the advance notice and Mexican proposal were required to be received on or before December 13, 1994. At the public meetings, copies of the Mexican proposal were also made available. A number of persons in attendance at both public meetings stated that this was their first opportunity to review the Mexican proposal and that the copies of the proposal provided were incomplete because Appendices I, II, and III were not included. They requested that the Appendices be provided and that the comment period closing date be extended to allow time for review of the complete proposal and comment. APHIS has forwarded copies of these Appendices to those interested persons who requested copies of the Mexican proposal pursuant to the November 15, 1994, Federal Register notice or who received copies of the proposal at the two public meetings. So that interested persons may have additional time to prepare and submit comments on the Mexican proposal, APHIS is reopening and extending the public comment period on Docket No. 94-116-1 until January 3, 1995. APHIS will consider all comments received between November 15, 1994, and January 3, 1995. Authority: 7 U.S.C. 150dd, 150ee, 150ff, 151-167, 450; 21 U.S.C. 136 and 136a; 7 CFR 2.17, 2.51, and 371.2(c). Done in Washington, DC, this 14th day of December 1994. Alex B. Thiermann, Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. 94-31151 Filed 12-16-94; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-34-P