[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 33 (Friday, February 17, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 8563]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-2307]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 33 / Friday, February 17, 2006 / 
Notices  

[[Page 8563]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2006-0007]


Draft Exotic Fruit Fly Strategic Plan, Fiscal Years 2006-2010

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 Exotic Fruit Fly Strategic Plan 
for fiscal years 2006 through 2010. We are making this draft strategic 
plan available to the public for review and comment.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before March 
20, 2006.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and, in the ``Search for Open Regulations'' box, 
select ``Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service'' from the agency 
drop-down menu, then click on ``Submit.'' In the Docket ID column, 
select APHIS-2006-0007 to submit or view public comments and to view 
supporting and related materials available electronically. After the 
close of the comment period, the docket can be viewed using the 
``Advanced Search'' function in Regulations.gov.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send four copies 
of your comment (an original and three copies) to Docket No. APHIS-
2006-0007, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-
03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state 
that your comment refers to Docket No. APHIS-2006-0007.
    Reading Room: You may read any comments that we receive on the 
draft strategic plan 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: Additional information about APHIS and its 
programs is available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Mike Stefan, Director, Fruit Fly 
Exclusion and Detection Programs, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 137, 
Riverdale, MD 20737-1229; (301) 734-4387.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Exotic fruit flies of the family Tephritidae are among the most 
destructive pests of fruits and vegetables around the world and pose a 
significant risk to agriculture in the United States. Introduction of 
these pests species into the United States causes economic losses from 
destruction and spoiling of host commodities by larvae, costs 
associated with implementing control measures, and loss of markets due 
to restrictions on the movement of host commodities.
    The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) responds to 
exotic fruit fly risks with an integrated system that incorporates 
surveillance activities, fruit fly control programs, and regulatory 
actions. To outline how APHIS, along with its domestic and global 
partners, will harmonize these exotic fruit fly safeguarding programs 
and activities over the next 5 years, we have prepared a draft document 
entitled ``Exotic Fruit Fly Strategic Plan FY 2006-2010.'' This draft 
strategic plan focuses on the activities funded through APHIS' Fruit 
Fly Exclusion and Detection programs, whose primary mission is to 
protect the health and value of American agriculture resources 
threatened by the establishment of exotic fruit fly pests.
    We are making the draft document available to the public for review 
and comment. We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
the date listed under the heading DATES at the beginning of this 
notice.
    You may view the draft document on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/ep/ff/. The document may also be viewed on the 
Regulations.gov Web site (see ADDRESSES above for instructions for 
accessing Regulations.gov), or 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).

    Done in Washington, DC, this 14th day of February 2006.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E6-2307 Filed 2-16-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P