[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 145 (Friday, July 27, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 39121]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-18859]


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 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. 66, No. 145 / Friday, July 27, 2001 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 39121]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

7 CFR Part 319

[Docket No. 00-003-3]


Mexican Hass Avocado Import Program; Public Hearings

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of public hearings.

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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service is hosting four public hearings on the proposed rule 
on the Mexican hass avocado import program that we published in the 
Federal Register on July 13, 2001 (66 FR 36892).

DATES: The public hearings will be held in Denver, CO, on Tuesday, 
August 14, 2001; in Escondido, CA, on Thursday, August 16, 2001; in 
Homestead, FL, on Tuesday, August 21, 2001; and in Austin, TX, on 
Thursday, August 23, 2001. Advance registration for any hearing by fax 
or e-mail must be received by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service no later than 3 p.m. e.d.t. on Friday, August 10, 2001.

ADDRESSES: The public hearings will be held at the following locations:
    1. Denver, CO: Renaissance Denver Hotel, 3801 Quebec Street, 
Denver, CO.
    2. Escondido, CA: California Center for the Arts, 340 North 
Escondido Boulevard, Escondido, CA.
    3. Homestead, FL: Redland Country Club, 24451 SW. 177th (Krome) 
Avenue, Homestead, FL.
    4. Austin, TX: Stephen F. Austin Building, 1700 N. Congress Avenue, 
Austin, TX.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Michael A. Lidsky, Assistant 
Director, Regulatory Coordination, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 
141, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 734-8790.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Four public hearings will be held on the 
notice of proposed rulemaking on the Mexican hass avocado import 
program, published by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
(APHIS), U.S. Department of Agriculture, in the Federal Register on 
July 13, 2001 (66 FR 36891-36905, Docket No. 00-003-2).
    The first public hearing will be held in Denver, CO, on Tuesday, 
August 14, 2001. The second public hearing will be held in Escondido, 
CA, on Thursday, August 16, 2001. The Center Theater at the California 
Center for the Arts can accommodate a maximum of 400 persons. The third 
public hearing will be held in Homestead, FL, on Tuesday, August 21, 
2001. The fourth public hearing will be held in Austin, TX, on 
Thursday, August 23, 2001.
    A representative of APHIS will preside at the public hearings. 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.
    The purpose of the hearings is to give interested persons an 
opportunity for 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 comments at the 
hearing, except to clarify or explain provisions of the proposed rule 
and the documents on which the proposed rule is based.
    As stated in our July 13, 2001, proposed rule, all of the 
supporting documentation for the proposed rule is available by 
contacting the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, or 
via the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/avocados/. Copies of 
these documents will not be available at the hearings.
    The hearings will begin at 9 a.m. and are scheduled to end at 5 
p.m. each day. However, each hearing may be terminated at any time if 
all persons desiring to speak have been heard.
    The presiding officer may limit the time for each presentation so 
that everyone is accommodated and all interested persons appearing on 
the scheduled dates have an opportunity to participate.
    Registration for each hearing may be accomplished by registering 
with the presiding officer between 8:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. on any hearing 
day. Persons who wish to speak at any of the public hearings will be 
asked to sign in with their name and organization to establish a record 
for the hearing. We ask that anyone who reads a statement provide two 
copies to the presiding officer at the hearing. Those who wish to form 
a panel to present their views will be asked to provide the name of 
each member of the panel and the organizations the panel members 
represent.
    Persons or panels wishing to speak at any of the public hearings 
may register in advance by fax or e-mail. Faxes and e-mails must 
clearly state the registrant's name, telephone number, organization, 
and location of the hearing at which they wish to speak. Persons 
wishing to register by fax must send a fax with the information 
described above to APHIS' Plant Protection and Quarantine Regulatory 
Coordination Staff at (301) 734-8693. Persons wishing to register by e-
mail must send an e-mail with the information described above to 
[email protected]. If registering for a panel, the 
registrant must also provide the name of each member of the panel and 
the organization each panel member represents. Advance registration for 
any hearing by fax or e-mail must be received by APHIS no later than 3 
p.m. e.d.t. on Friday, August 10, 2001.
    A transcript will be made of each public hearing, and the 
transcript will be placed in the rulemaking record and will be 
available for public inspection.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 25th day of July 2001.
Bobby R. Acord,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 01-18859 Filed 7-26-01; 8:45 am]
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