[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 150 (Friday, August 2, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 40361-40362]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-19756]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
7 CFR Part 301

[Docket 96-016-11]


Karnal Bunt; Public Forums

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of public forums.

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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service is hosting three additional public forums on the 
Agency's program to control and eradicate Karnal bunt. One forum has 
already been held in Washington, DC. The forums will provide an 
additional opportunity for the public to comment on the regulations 
established and amended by a series of interim rules published in the 
Federal Register since March, 1996. Additionally, the forums will 
provide the public an opportunity to comment on proposed changes to the 
regulations contained in a proposed rule published elsewhere in this 
issue of the Federal Register. The regulations quarantine portions of 
Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas because of infestations of 
Karnal bunt, restrict the movement of regulated articles from the 
quarantined areas, and provide compensation for certain individuals in 
order to mitigate losses and expenses incurred because of Karnal bunt. 
Comments will also be accepted addressing any aspect of the Karnal bunt 
program not included in the regulations, including control and survey 
activities conducted in the quarantined areas, the national Karnal bunt 
survey program, and the certification of wheat for export. Information 
gathered at the public forums will be considered by the Department in 
developing guidelines and procedures for conducting the Karnal bunt 
program for the 1996-97 wheat growing season.

DATES: The public forums will be held in Kansas City, MO, on August 13; 
in Phoenix, AZ, on August 14; and in Imperial, CA, on August 15. Each 
public forum will begin at 9 a.m and is scheduled to end at 5 p.m. each 
day.

ADDRESSES: The public forums will be held at the following locations:
    1. Kansas City, MO: Holiday Inn International Airport, Heartland 
Rooms 1 and 2, 11832 Plaza Circle, Kansas City, MO.
    2. Phoenix, AZ: Embassy Suites Hotel, Manzana Room, 3210 Grand 
Avenue, Phoenix, AZ.
    3. Imperial, CA: Veterans Memorial Home, 247 South Imperial Avenue, 
Imperial, CA.
    Any persons who are unable to attend the forum, but who wish to 
comment on any aspect of the Karnal bunt program, may send written 
comments. Consideration will be given only to comments received on or 
before September 3, 1996. Please send an original and three copies of 
written comments to Docket No. 96-016-11, 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. 96-016-11. Comments received, including transcripts from the 
public forums, 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. Stephen Poe, Operations Officer, 
Domestic and Emergency Operations, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 
134, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236, (301) 734-8247.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The public forums are being held concerning 
the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's (APHIS) program to 
control and eradicate Karnal bunt. Comments will be accepted on the 
regulations established and amended by a series of interim rules 
published by APHIS in the Federal Register since March, 1996. Comments 
will also be accepted on a proposed rule (Docket No. 96-016-10, 
``Karnal Bunt'') published in the ``Proposed Rules'' section of this 
issue of the Federal Register, which would amend the Karnal bunt 
regulations.
    The interim rules were published on March 28, 1996 (61 FR 13649-
13655, Docket No. 96-016-3), April 25, 1996 (61 FR 18233-18235, Docket 
No. 96-016-5), and July 5, 1996 (61 FR 35107-35109, Docket No. 96-016-6 
and 61 FR 35102-35107, Docket No. 96-016-7). Comments are required to 
be received on the interim rules by September 3, 1996. Comments on the 
proposed rule (Docket No. 96-016-10) must be received by September 3, 
1996.
    A representative of the United States Department of Agriculture 
(USDA) will preside at the public forums. Any interested person may 
appear and be heard in person, or through an attorney or other 
representative. Persons who wish to speak at the public forums will be 
asked to provide their names and affiliations. Parties wishing to make 
oral presentations may register in advance by calling the Legislative 
and Public Affairs staff of APHIS, USDA, at (202) 720-2511. 
Registration will also be held for each forum at that forum site from 8 
a.m. until 8:45 a.m. on the day of the forum. Speakers will be 
scheduled in the order their registration is received. Advance 
registrations for the forums must be made no later than the following:
    1. Kansas City, MO: 4 p.m. e.d.s.t., August 9, 1996;
    2. Phoenix, AZ: 4 p.m. e.d.s.t., August 12, 1996; and
    3. El Centro, CA: 4 p.m. e.d.s.t., August 13, 1996.
    The public forums will begin at 9 a.m. and are scheduled to end at 
5 p.m. local time. However, the forums may be terminated at any time 
after they begin if all persons desiring to speak have been heard. The 
presiding officer may limit the time for each presentation so

[[Page 40362]]

that all interested persons have an opportunity to participate. 
Attendees who wish to speak but who did not register will be provided 
time to speak only after all registered speakers have been heard.
    The purpose of the forums is to give interested persons an 
opportunity for oral presentation of data, views, and information to 
the Department concerning APHIS' program to control and eradicate 
Karnal bunt. Questions about the content of the interim rules and the 
proposed rule concerning Karnal bunt may be part of the commenters' 
oral presentations. However, neither the presiding officer nor any 
other representative of the Department will respond to the comments on 
the interim rules and proposed rule at the forums, except to clarify or 
explain provisions of the interim rules and the proposed rule.
    We ask that anyone who reads a statement provide two copies to the 
presiding officer at the forum. A transcript will be made of the public 
forums and the transcript will be placed in the rulemaking record and 
will be available for public inspection.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 30th day of July 1996.
Terry L. Medley,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 96-19756 Filed 8-1-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P