[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 163 (Tuesday, August 22, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 50937]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-21321]


 ========================================================================
 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. 65, No. 163 / Tuesday, August 22, 2000 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 50937]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

7 CFR Part 319

[Docket No. 97-065-2]
RIN 0579-AA93


Importation of Fuji Variety Apples From the Republic of Korea

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of reopening and extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: We are reopening and extending the comment period for our 
proposed rule that would amend the fruit and vegetable import 
regulations to allow Fuji variety apples grown in certified orchards 
within approved production areas in the Republic of Korea to be 
imported into the United States without treatment, under certain 
conditions designed to mitigate pest risk. This action will allow 
interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments.

DATES: We invite you to comment on Docket No. 97-065-1. We will 
consider all comments that we receive by October 23, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Please send your comment and three copies to: Docket No. 97-
065-1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Suite 3C03, 
4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that 
your comment refers to Docket No. 97-065-1.
    You may read any comments that we receive on this docket in our 
reading room. The reading room is located in room 1141 of the USDA 
South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, 
DC. Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you, 
please call (202) 690-2817 before coming.
    APHIS documents published in the Federal Register, and related 
information, including the names of organizations and individuals who 
have commented on APHIS dockets, are available on the Internet at 
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dennis J. Hannapel, Co-Director of 
Asia and Pacific, Phytosanitary Issues Management, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 
River Road Unit 140, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 734-4308.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On April 26, 2000, we published in the Federal Register (65 FR 
24423-24429, Docket No. 97-065-1) a proposal to amend the regulations 
governing the importation of fruits and vegetables, contained in 7 CFR 
part 319. We proposed to allow Fuji variety apples grown in certified 
orchards within approved production areas in the Republic of Korea to 
be imported into the United States, without treatment, under conditions 
designed to prevent the introduction into the United States of the 
peach fruit moths (Carposina sasakii and C. niponensis), the yellow 
peach moth (Conogethes punctiferalis), the fruit tree spider mite 
(Tetranychus viennensis), and the kanzawa mite (T. kanzawai). The 
conditions to which the proposed importation of Fuji variety apples 
would be subject, including pest risk-reducing cultural practices, 
packinghouse procedures, and inspection and shipping procedures, would 
reduce the risk of pest introduction to an insignificant level.
    Comments on the proposed rule were required to be received on or 
before June 26, 2000. Several commenters have requested that we extend 
the comment period on Docket No. 97-065-1 to allow additional time for 
members of the public to review the proposed rule and to submit 
comments. In response to these requests, we are reopening and extending 
the comment period on Docket No. 97-065-1 until October 23, 2000. This 
action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and 
submit comments. Comments already received concerning the proposed 
importation of Fuji variety apples from the Republic of Korea will 
remain under consideration and need not be resubmitted.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 16th day of August 2000.
Bobby R. Acord,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 00-21321 Filed 8-21-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-U