[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 138 (Tuesday, July 20, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 38885]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-18436]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 138 / Tuesday, July 20, 1999 / 
Notices  

[[Page 38885]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Office of the Secretary
[Docket No. 98-093-1]


Declaration of Emergency Because of the Mediterranean Fruit Fly 
and the Mexican Fruit Fly

    Serious outbreaks of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis 
capitata (Wiedemann), and the Mexican fruit fly, Anastrepha ludens 
(Loew), are occurring in California.
    The Mediterranean fruit fly is one of the most destructive pests of 
over 200 species of fruits, nuts, and vegetables, especially citrus and 
stone fruits. The pest can develop rapidly and spread easily, causing 
severe damage to entire areas where citrus and other fruits and 
vegetables are grown.
    The Mexican fruit fly is a destructive pest of citrus and many 
other types of fruits. The short life cycle of the Mexican fruit fly 
allows rapid development of serious outbreaks that can cause severe 
economic losses in commercial citrus-producing areas.
    As of July 1999, there is an infestation of the Mediterranean fruit 
fly in portions of Orange and Riverside Counties, CA. Also, an 
infestation of the Mexican fruit fly has been found in a portion of San 
Diego County, CA. The presence of these fruit flies in the continental 
United States could severely disrupt the fruit and vegetable industry 
due to crop damages, additional pesticide use, and quarantine 
requirements. The permanent presence of these pests in California would 
result in yearly losses of over $205 million. If allowed to spread 
throughout the United States, the estimated annual losses are over $1.5 
billion for the Mediterranean fruit fly alone.
    In cooperation with the State of California, the Animal and Plant 
Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has initiated a program to eradicate 
these fruit fly infestations in California. The State of California is 
assisting APHIS in the funding of the program costs. However, APHIS 
resources are insufficient to meet the estimated $8.7 million needed 
for the Federal share. In addition, some of these resources may be 
needed to fund other Mediterranean and Mexican fruit fly emergencies 
before the end of the year.
    Therefore, in accordance with the provisions of the Act of 
September 25, 1981, 95 Stat. (7 U.S.C. 147b), I declare that there is 
an emergency which threatens the citrus-and other fruit-and-vegetable-
growing industries in this country and hereby authorize the transfer 
and use of such funds as may be necessary from appropriations or other 
funds available to the agencies or corporations of the United States 
Department of Agriculture for conducting a program to detect and 
identify Mediterranean fruit fly and Mexican fruit fly infested areas, 
to control and prevent the spread of the Mediterranean fruit fly and 
the Mexican fruit fly to noninfested areas in the United States, and to 
eradicate the Mediterranean fruit fly and the Mexican fruit fly 
wherever they may be found in the continental United States.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This declaration of emergency shall become effective 
July 9, 1999.
Dan Glickman,
Secretary of Agriculture.
[FR Doc. 99-18436 Filed 7-19-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P