[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]


 ========================================================================
 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. 63, No. 200 / Friday, October 16, 1998 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 55559]]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P