[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 141 (Friday, July 23, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 43891]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-16816]



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  Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 141 / Friday, July 23, 2004 / Rules 
and Regulations  

[[Page 43891]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

7 CFR Part 301

[Docket No. 03-109-2]


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 20 counties in North Carolina and 
restricting the interstate movement of regulated articles from those 
areas. The 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 April 29, 2004

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Charles L. Brown, Imported Fire 
Ant Quarantine Program Manager, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 134, 
Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 734-8247.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The imported fire ant regulations (contained in 7 CFR 301.81 
through 7 CFR 301.81-10 and referred to below as the regulations) 
quarantine infested States or infested areas within States and restrict 
the interstate movement of regulated articles to prevent the artificial 
spread of the imported fire ant.
    In an interim rule effective and published in the Federal Register 
on April 29, 2004 (69 FR 23415-23417, Docket No. 03-109-1), we amended 
the regulations in Sec.  301.81-3(e) by designating as quarantined 
areas all or portions of 20 counties in North Carolina.
    Comments on the interim rule were required to be received on or 
before June 28, 2004. 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 69 
FR 23415-23417 on April 29, 2004.

    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 19th day of July 2004.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 04-16816 Filed 7-22-04; 8:45 am]
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