[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 178 (Monday, September 15, 2003)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 53873]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-23354]



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  Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 178 / Monday, September 15, 2003 / 
Rules and Regulations  

[[Page 53873]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

7 CFR Part 301

[Docket No. 03-018-2]


Asian Longhorned Beetle; Quarantined Areas and Regulated Articles

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 Asian longhorned beetle regulations by adding 
portions of New York City, NY, and Hudson County, NJ, to the list of 
quarantined areas and restricting the interstate movement of regulated 
articles from those areas. The interim rule also updated the list of 
regulated articles in order to reflect new information concerning host 
plants. These actions were necessary to prevent the artificial spread 
of the Asian longhorned beetle to noninfested areas of the United 
States.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The interim rule became effective on May 13, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Michael B. Stefan, Director of 
Emergency Programs, Pest Detection and Management Programs, PPQ, APHIS, 
4700 River Road Unit 134, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 734-4387.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    In an interim rule effective May 13, 2003, and published in the 
Federal Register on May 19, 2003 (68 FR 26983-26985, Docket No. 03-018-
1), we amended the Asian longhorned beetle regulations contained in 7 
CFR 301.51-1 though 301.51-9 by adding portions of New York City, NY, 
and Hudson County, NJ, to the list of quarantined areas in Sec.  
301.51-3(c) and restricting the interstate movement of regulated 
articles from those areas. We also updated the list of regulated 
articles in Sec.  301.51-2(a) in order to reflect new information 
concerning host plants gathered through survey experience and research.
    Comments on the interim rule were required to be received on or 
before July 18, 2003. 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

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 26983-26985 on May 19, 2003.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7701-7772; 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 5th day of September, 2003.
Peter Fernandez,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 03-23354 Filed 9-12-03; 8:45 am]
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