[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 66 (Thursday, April 6, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17434-17435]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-5015]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2006-0045]


Availability of an Evaluation of Asymptomatic Citrus Fruit as a 
Pathway for the Introduction of Citrus Canker Disease

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 document titled, ``Evaluation of 
asymptomatic citrus fruit (Citrus spp.) as a pathway for the 
introduction of citrus canker disease (Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. 
citri).'' The evaluation concludes that it is highly unlikely that 
citrus canker could be introduced on asymptomatic, commercially 
produced citrus fruit that has been treated with disinfectant dips and 
subject to other mitigations. We are making the evaluation available to 
the public for review and comment.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before June 
5, 2006.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and, in the lower ``Search Regulations and Federal 
Actions'' 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-2006-0045 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-
2006-0045, 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-2006-0045.
    Reading Room: You may read any comments that we receive on the 
evaluation 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. Robert L. Griffin, Director, Plant 
Epidemiology and Risk Analysis Laboratory, Center for Plant Health 
Science and Technology, PPQ, APHIS, 1730 Varsity Drive, Raleigh, NC 
27606-5202; (919) 855-7512.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    We are advising the public that the Animal Plant Health Inspection 
Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine, Center for Plant Health 
Science and Technology has produced an evaluation titled, ``Evaluation 
of asymptomatic citrus fruit, (Citrus spp.) as a pathway for the 
introduction of citrus canker disease (Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. 
citri),'' which we are making available to the public for review and 
comment.
    This evaluation concludes it is highly unlikely that citrus canker 
could be introduced on asymptomatic, commercially produced citrus fruit 
that has been treated with disinfectant dips and subject to other 
mitigations. Even if infected fruit were to enter a canker-free area 
with susceptible hosts, the establishment of citrus canker via this 
pathway appears to be unlikely. The evaluation further indicates that 
it appears there is no evidence that asymptomatic fruit can be a source 
of infective bacteria. According to the evaluation, in the unlikely 
event that viable propagules were present, the environmental and 
physiological conditions necessary for disease development at the 
precise time that an infected citrus fruit was placed in close 
proximity to a susceptible host is highly unlikely. Empirical data from 
experience and interceptions further reinforce the conclusion that the 
likelihood of introducing citrus canker on asymptomatic fruit is 
extremely low.
    We are making this evaluation available for comment for 60 days. 
During that period, we also plan to have the evaluation peer reviewed, 
consistent with the Office of Management and Budget's guidelines on 
peer review. A copy of the peer review plan is posted on the Internet 
at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/about_aphis/peer_review.shtml.
    The evaluation may be viewed on the Internet on the Regulations.gov 
Web site (see ADDRESSES above for instructions

[[Page 17435]]

for accessing Regulations.gov). You may also request paper copies of 
the evaluation by calling or writing to the person listed under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Please refer to the title of the 
evaluation when requesting copies.
    The evaluation is also 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).

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7701-7772 and 7781-7786; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, 
and 371.3.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 3rd day of April 2006.
W. Ron DeHaven,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E6-5015 Filed 4-5-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P