[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 92 (Monday, May 13, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 31935]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-11898]



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  Federal Register / Vol. 67, No. 92 / Monday, May 13, 2002 / Rules and 
Regulations  

[[Page 31935]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

7 CFR Part 301

[Docket No. 01-081-2]


Imported Fire Ant; Addition to Quarantined Areas

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Affirmation of interim rule as final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting as a final rule, without change, an interim 
rule that amended the imported fire ant regulations by designating as 
quarantined areas all or portions of five counties in Arkansas, three 
counties in Georgia, eight counties in North Carolina, and four 
counties in Tennessee. As a result of that action, the interstate 
movement of regulated articles from those areas was restricted. The 
interim rule was necessary in order to prevent the artificial spread of 
the imported fire ant to noninfested areas of the United States.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The interim rule became effective on January 2, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Charles L. Brown, Program Manager, 
Invasive Species and Pest Management, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 
134, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 734-4838.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    In an interim rule effective January 2, 2002, and published in the 
Federal Register on January 9, 2002 (67 FR 1067-1070, Docket No. 01-
081-1), we amended the imported fire ant regulations contained in 
Secs. 301.81 through 301.81-10 by adding all or portions of five 
counties in Arkansas, three counties in Georgia, eight counties in 
North Carolina, and four counties in Tennessee to the list of 
quarantined areas in Sec. 301.81-3. As a result of that action, the 
interstate movement of regulated articles from those areas was 
restricted.
    Comments on the interim rule were required to be received on or 
before March 11, 2002. We received one comment by that date, from an 
association of State plant health officials. The comment supported the 
changes to the quarantine made by the interim rule. It also requested 
that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service consider making 
various other changes to the imported fire ant regulations in a 
separate rulemaking. We are considering those recommendations.
    Therefore, for the reasons given in the interim rule and in this 
document, we are adopting the interim rule as a final rule without 
change.
    This action also affirms the information contained in the interim 
rule 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, 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, the 
interim rule that amended 7 CFR part 301 and that was published at 67 
FR 1067-1070 on January 9, 2002.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 166, 7711, 7712, 7714, 7731, 7735, 7751, 
7752, 7753, and 7754; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.3.

    Section 301.75-15 also issued under Sec. 204, Title II, Pub. L. 
106-113, 113 Stat. 1501A-293; sections 301.75-15 and 301.75-16 also 
issued under Sec. 203, Title II, Pub. L. 106-224, 114 Stat. 400 (7 
U.S.C. 1421 note).

    Done in Washington, DC, this 7th day of May, 2002.
Peter Fernandez,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 02-11898 Filed 5-10-02; 8:45 am]
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