[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 149 (Tuesday, August 4, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 41388-41389]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-20792]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

7 CFR Part 301

[Docket No. 97-073-6]


Oriental Fruit Fly; Removal of Quarantined Areas

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Affirmation of interim rules as final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting as a final rule, without change, two interim 
rules that amended the Oriental fruit fly regulations by removing the 
quarantine on portions of Los Angeles County, CA, and by removing the 
restrictions on the interstate movement of regulated articles from 
those areas. The interim rules were necessary to relieve restrictions 
that are no longer needed to prevent the spread of the Oriental fruit

[[Page 41389]]

fly into noninfested areas of the United States. We have determined 
that the Oriental fruit fly has been eradicated from the portions of 
Los Angeles County, CA, and that the quarantine and restrictions are no 
longer necessary. Therefore, as a result of the interim rules, there 
are no longer any areas in the continental United States quarantined 
for Oriental fruit fly.

EFFECTIVE DATE: Affirmation effective August 4, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Michael B. Stefan, Operations 
Officer, Domestic and Emergency Programs, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road 
Unit 134, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236, (301) 734-8247; or e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    We recently published two interim rules amending the Oriental fruit 
fly quarantine and regulations. In the first interim rule, effective 
February 18, 1998, and published in the Federal Register on February 
23, 1998 (63 FR 8835-8836, Docket No. 97-073-4), we amended the 
Oriental fruit fly regulations by removing the quarantine on a portion 
of Los Angeles County, CA, and by removing the restrictions on the 
interstate movement of regulated articles from that area. In the second 
interim rule, effective April 1, 1998, and published in the Federal 
Register on April 7, 1998 (63 FR 16877-16878, Docket No. 97-073-5), we 
amended the Oriental fruit fly regulations by removing the quarantine 
on the remaining portion of Los Angeles County, CA, and by removing the 
restrictions on the interstate movement of regulated articles from that 
area. As a result of the interim rules, there are no longer any areas 
in the continental United States quarantined for Oriental fruit fly.
    These actions were necessary to relieve restrictions that are no 
longer needed to prevent the spread of the Oriental fruit fly into 
noninfested areas of the United States.
    Comments on the first interim rule (Docket No. 97-073-4) were 
required to be received on or before April 24, 1998. Comments on the 
second interim rule (Docket No. 97-073-5) were required to be received 
on or before June 8, 1998. We did not receive any comments on either 
interim rule. The facts presented in the interim rules still provide a 
basis for the rules.
    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 the review process required by Executive Order 12866.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 301

    Agricultural commodities, Incorporation by reference, Plant 
diseases and pests, Quarantine, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Transportation.

PART 301--DOMESTIC QUARANTINE NOTICES

    Accordingly, we are adopting as a final rule, without change, two 
interim rules that amended 7 CFR part 301 and that were published at 63 
FR 8835-8836 on February 23, 1998, and 63 FR 16877-16878 on April 7, 
1998.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 147a, 150bb, 150dd, 150ee, 150ff, 161, 162, 
and 164-167; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.2(c).

    Done in Washington, DC, this 29th day of July 1998.
Craig A. Reed,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 98-20792 Filed 8-3-98; 8:45 am]
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