[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 49 (Friday, March 12, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11831-11832]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-5628]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. 04-019-1]


Availability of a Draft Document Pertaining to the Risks 
Associated With the Introduction of Soybean Rust Into the Continental 
United States

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service has prepared a draft document entitled ``Status of 
Scientific Evidence on Risks Associated with the Introduction into the 
Continental United States of Phakopsora pachyrhizi with Imported 
Soybean Grain, Seed and Meal.'' We are making this document available 
to the public for review and comment.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before April 
12, 2004.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send 
four copies of your comment (an original and three copies) to Docket 
No. 04-019-1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 
3C71, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state 
that your comment refers to Docket No. 04-019-1.
     E-mail: Address your comment to 
[email protected]. Your comment must be contained in the body 
of your message; do not send attached files. Please include your name 
and address in your message and ``Docket No. 04-019-1'' on the subject 
line.
     Agency Web Site: Go to http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/cominst.html for a form you can use to 
submit an e-mail comment through the APHIS Web site.
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for locating this 
docket and submitting comments.
    Reading Room: You may read any comments that we receive on this 
docket in our reading room. The reading room is located in room 1141 of 
the USDA South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC. Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to 
help you, please call (202) 690-2817 before coming.
    Other Information: You may view APHIS documents published in the 
Federal Register and related information, including the names of groups 
and individuals who have commented on APHIS dockets, on the Internet at 
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Arnold T. Tschanz, Senior Staff 
Officer, Regulatory Coordination, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 
141, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236, (301) 734-5306.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Soybean rust is caused by two different fungal species--Phakopsora 
pachyrhizi Sydow and Phakopsora meibomiae (Arthur) Arthur. P. 
pachyrhizi is an aggressive pathogen and spreads rapidly under 
conducive environmental conditions. It is referred to as the Asian, 
Australian, or Old World rust strain. P. meibomiae is a less aggressive 
pathogen on soybean. It is referred to as the tropical, Latin American, 
or New World rust strain. Soybean rusts caused by one or both of these 
species have been reported in most soybean producing areas of the 
world, except for North America and Europe.
    In light of recent outbreaks in South America of the Asian strain 
of soybean rust (P. pachyrhizi), U.S. soybean producers have asked 
APHIS to reevaluate the entry status of soybean grain, seed, and meal 
from countries where soybean rust is known to occur. To evaluate the 
risks associated with the introduction of soybean rust into the 
continental United States, a draft document, entitled ``Status of 
Scientific Evidence on Risks Associated with the Introduction into the 
Continental United States of Phakopsora pachyrhizi with Imported 
Soybean Grain, Seed and Meal'' (February 23, 2004), has been prepared. 
We are making the draft document available to the public for review and 
comment.
    You may view the draft document on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/ep/soybean_rust/sbr_riskevidoc2_23_04.pdf. 
You may request copies from the person listed under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT. Please refer to the title of the draft document 
when requesting copies. Finally, the draft document is available for 
review in our reading room (information on the location and hours of 
the reading room is provided under the heading ADDRESSES at the 
beginning of this notice).
    In addition, we are soliciting comments addressing the following 
questions:
    1. What conditions at harvest and during cleaning, drying, storage, 
or transport would change the risk of introducing P. pachyrhizi with 
imported soybean grain, seed, and meal?
    2. Is there additional specific information on industry and 
agricultural practices that would affect the risk of introducing the 
soybean rust pathogen with imported soybean grain, seed, and meal?
    3. Are most soybeans that are grown in areas infested with soybean 
rust sprayed with fungicides? How effective is this control?
    4. What other practical treatments could be used to address the 
risk of introducing the soybean rust pathogen in imported soybean 
grain, seed, and meal?
    5. Is there any other information APHIS should consider in 
determining the risk of introducing P. pachyrhizi with imported soybean 
grain, seed, and meal?
    We welcome all comments on the issues outlined above and encourage 
the submission of scientific information that supports any statements 
and conclusions. We will consider all comments that we receive on or 
before the date listed under the heading DATES at the beginning of this 
notice. These comments will be considered during the development of a 
pest risk assessment for soybean rust.


[[Page 11832]]


    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 450 and 7701-7772; 21 U.S.C. 136 and 136a; 7 
CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.3.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 8th day of March 2004.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 04-5628 Filed 3-11-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P