[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 200 (Friday, October 16, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 55559]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-27791]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
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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.
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Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 200 / Friday, October 16, 1998 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 55559]]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
7 CFR Parts 300 and 319
[Docket No. 97-110-2]
RIN 0579-AA92
Importation of Grapefruit, Lemons, and Oranges From Argentina
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period and notice of public
hearing.
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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that we are extending by 120 days
the comment period for our proposed rule regarding the importation of
grapefruit, lemons, and oranges from Argentina and that we have
scheduled a public hearing to give interested persons an opportunity
for the oral presentation of data, views, and arguments regarding that
proposed rule.
DATES: Consideration will be given only to comments on Docket No. 97-
110-1 that are received on or before February 11, 1999. We will also
consider comments made at a public hearing that will be held in
Thousand Oaks, CA, on December 17, 1998, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
ADDRESSES: Please send an original and three copies of your comments to
Docket No. 97-110-1, 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. 97-110-1. 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. The public hearing will
be held at the Civic Arts Plaza, Scherr Forum, 2100 East Thousand Oaks
Boulevard, Thousand Oaks, CA.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Ron Campbell, Import Specialist,
Phytosanitary Issues Management Team, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit
140, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 734-6799; e-mail:
Ronald.C.C[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On August 12, 1998, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
(APHIS) published a proposed rule in the Federal Register (63 FR 43117-
43125, Docket No. 97-110-1) to amend the citrus fruit regulations by
recognizing a citrus-growing area within Argentina as being free from
citrus canker. In that document, we also proposed to amend the fruits
and vegetables regulations to allow the importation of grapefruit,
lemons, and oranges from the citrus canker-free area of Argentina under
conditions designed to prevent the introduction into the United States
of two other diseases of citrus, sweet orange scab and citrus black
spot, and other plant pests. These proposed changes would allow
grapefruit, lemons, and oranges to be imported into the United States
from Argentina subject to certain conditions.
In response to requests received following the publication of the
proposed rule, we have scheduled a public hearing to be held in
Thousand Oaks, CA, on December 17, 1998.
The purpose of this hearing is to give interested persons an
opportunity for the oral presentation of data, views, and arguments.
Questions about the content of the proposed rule may be part of the
commenters' oral presentations. However, neither the presiding officer
nor any other representative of APHIS will respond to the comments at
the hearing, except to clarify or explain provisions of the proposed
rule.
A representative of APHIS will preside at the public hearing. Any
interested person may appear and be heard in person, by attorney, or by
other representative. Written statements may be submitted and will be
made part of the hearing record. Persons who wish to speak at a public
hearing will be asked to provide their name and organization. We ask
that anyone who reads a statement or submits a written statement
provide two copies to the presiding officer at the hearing.
The public hearing will begin at 9 a.m. and is scheduled to end at
5 p.m., local time. However, the hearing may be terminated at any time
after it begins if all persons desiring to speak have been heard. If
the number of speakers at the hearing warrants it, the presiding
officer may limit the time for each presentation so that everyone
wishing to speak has the opportunity.
In the August 12, 1998, proposed rule, we stated that comments on
the proposed rule were required to be received on or before October 13,
1998. However, in order to receive and consider the comments to be
presented at the public hearing, and to accommodate persons who may
wish to comment on issues that may be raised at the public hearing, we
are extending by 120 days the comment period for the proposed rule.
Therefore, we will consider all comments that are received on or before
February 11, 1999.
Done in Washington, DC, this 9th day of October 1998.
Craig A. Reed,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 98-27791 Filed 10-13-98; 12:17 pm]
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