[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 89 (Thursday, May 8, 2003)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 24613]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-11437]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

7 CFR Part 301

[Docket No. 02-114-2]


Imported Fire Ant; Additions 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 six counties in South Carolina and 
nine counties in Tennessee and restricting the interstate movement of 
regulated articles from those areas. This interim rule was necessary 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 30, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Charles L. Brown, Imported Fire 
Ant Program Manager, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 134, Riverdale, 
MD 20737-1236; (301) 734-8247.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    In an interim rule effective January 30, 2003, and published in the 
Federal Register on February 5, 2003 (68 FR 5794-5796, Docket No. 02-
114-1), we amended the imported fire ant regulations contained in 7 CFR 
301.81 through 301.81-10 by adding all or portions of six counties in 
South Carolina and nine counties in Tennessee to the list of 
quarantined areas in Sec.  301.81-3(e). As a result of that interim 
rule, the interstate movement of regulated articles from these areas is 
restricted.
    Comments on the interim rule were required to be received on or 
before April 7, 2003. We received two comments by that date. The 
comments were from private citizens. Both commenters generally 
supported the interim rule. 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

0
Accordingly, we are adopting as a final rule, without change, the 
interim rule that amended 7 CFR part 301 and that was published at 68 
FR 5794-5796 on February 5, 2003.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7711, 7712, 7714, 7731, 7735, 7751, 7752, 
7753, 7754, and 7760; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.3.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 2nd day of May 2003.
Peter Fernandez,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 03-11437 Filed 5-7-03; 8:45 am]
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