[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 179 (Monday, September 16, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 58320]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-23490]



[[Page 58320]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

7 CFR Part 301

[Docket No. 02-031-2]


Pink Bollworm Regulated Areas; Removal of Oklahoma

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 pink bollworm regulations by removing the State 
of Oklahoma from the lists of quarantined States and regulated areas. 
Statewide trapping surveys conducted over the last 2 years have shown 
Oklahoma to be free of pink bollworm. The interim rule relieved 
restrictions on the interstate movement of regulated articles from 
Oklahoma that were no longer necessary.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The interim rule became effective on May 16, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. William J. Grefenstette, Assistant 
Director, Plant Health Programs, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 138, 
Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 734-8676.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders)) is a 
destructive cotton pest found throughout many of the cotton-growing 
regions of the world. The larvae of the pink bollworm feed inside 
growing cotton bolls, destroying the cotton.
    The regulations in Subpart--Pink Bollworm (7 CFR 301.52 through 
301.52-10, referred to below as the regulations) contain quarantine 
restrictions aimed at preventing the spread of the pink bollworm. 
Section 301.52 contains, among other things, lists of quarantined 
States and regulated articles.
    In an interim rule effective and published in the Federal Register 
on May 16, 2002 (67 FR 34817-34818, Docket No. 02-031-1), we amended 
the regulations by removing the State of Oklahoma from the lists of 
quarantined States and regulated areas. This interim rule also made 
nonsubstantive editorial changes to Sec.  301.52-1 of the regulations.
    Comments on the interim rule were required to be received on or 
before July 15, 2002. We did not receive any comments. Therefore, for 
the reasons given in the interim rule, we are adopting the interim rule 
as a final rule.
    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 its review under 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 34817-34818 on May 16, 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 10th day of September 2002.
Bobby R. Acord,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 02-23490 Filed 9-13-02; 8:45 am]
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