[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 160 (Friday, August 16, 1996)] [Proposed Rules] [Page 42565] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 96-20920] ======================================================================== Proposed Rules Federal Register ________________________________________________________________________ This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules. ======================================================================== Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 160 / Friday, August 16, 1996 / Proposed Rules [[Page 42565]] DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 7 CFR Parts 300 and 319 [Docket No. 95-098-2] Importation of Fruits and Vegetables AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of reopening and extension of comment period. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: We are reopening and extending the comment period for our proposed rule that would amend the regulations regarding the importation of fruits and vegetables by allowing a number of previously prohibited fruits and vegetables to be imported into the United States from certain parts of the world. This extension will provide interested persons with additional time in which to prepare comments on the proposed rule. DATES: Consideration will be given only to written comments on Docket No. 95-098-1 that are received on or before September 3, 1996. ADDRESSES: Please send an original and three copies of your comments to Docket No. 95-098-1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, suite 3C03, 4700 River Road, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that your comments refer to Docket No. 95-098-1. 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. Peter Grosser, Senior Operations Officer, Port Operations, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 139, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 734-8295. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 2, 1996, we published in the Federal Register (61 FR 34379-34385, Docket No. 95-098-1) a proposal to amend the regulations in 7 CFR parts 300 and 319 by allowing a number of previously prohibited fruits and vegetables to be imported into the United States from certain parts of the world. All of the fruits and vegetables, as a condition of entry, would be subject to inspection, disinfection, or both, at the port of first arrival as may be required by a U.S. Department of Agriculture inspector. In addition, some of the fruits and vegetables would be required to undergo prescribed treatments for injurious plant pests as a condition of entry, or to meet other special conditions. Comments on all portions of Docket No. 95-098-1 except the proposed rule's information collection and recordkeeping requirements that are subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act were required to be received on or before August 1, 1996. By that date, we received two comments requesting an extension of the comment period for the rule portion of the proposed rule. These requests were made by a representative of industry and a representative of State government. In response to these requests, we are reopening and extending the comment period on Docket No. 95-098-1 so that comments on any portion of the proposed rule will be considered if we receive them by September 3, 1996. We believe that this action will allow the representatives requesting extension of the comment period and all other interested persons adequate opportunity to prepare and submit comments. Authority: 7 U.S.C. 150dd, 150ee, 150ff, 151-167, 450, 2803, and 2809; 21 U.S.C. 136 and 136a; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.2(c). Done in Washington, DC, this 12th day of August 1996. Terry L. Medley, Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. 96-20920 Filed 8-15-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-34-P