[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 187 (Wednesday, September 27, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 56337-56338]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-15899]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

7 CFR Part 301

[Docket No. APHIS-2006-0081]


Japanese Beetle; Addition of Iowa to the List of Quarantined 
States

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 Japanese beetle quarantine and regulations by 
adding the State of Iowa to the list of quarantined States. That action 
was necessary to prevent the artificial spread of Japanese beetle into 
noninfested areas of the United States.

DATES: Effective on September 27, 2006, we are adopting as a final rule 
the interim rule that became effective on June 21, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. S. Anwar Rizvi, Program Manager, 
Invasive Species and Pest Management, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 
134, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 734-4313.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica) feeds on fruits, 
vegetables, and ornamental plants and is capable of causing damage to 
over 300 potential hosts. The Japanese beetle quarantine and 
regulations, contained in 7 CFR 301.48 through 301.48-8 (referred to 
below as the regulations), quarantine the States of Alabama, Arkansas, 
Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, 
Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, 
New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, 
South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, 
and the District of Columbia and restrict the interstate movement of 
aircraft from regulated airports in these States in order to prevent 
the artificial spread of the Japanese beetle to noninfested States 
where the Japanese beetle could become established (referred to as 
protected States). The list of quarantined States, as well as the list 
of protected States, can be found in Sec.  301.48.
    In an interim rule\1\ effective and published in the Federal 
Register on June 21, 2006 (71 FR 35491-35493, Docket No. APHIS-2006-
0081), we amended the regulations by adding Iowa to the list of 
quarantined States in Sec.  301.48.
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    \1\ To view the interim rule, go to http://www.regulations.gov, 
click on the ``Advanced Search'' tab, and select ``Docket Search.'' 
In the Docket ID field, enter APHIS-2006-0081, then click 
``Submit.'' Clicking on the Docket ID link in the search results 
page will produce a list of all documents in the docket.
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    Comments on the interim rule were required to be received on or 
before August 21, 2006. 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.

[[Page 56338]]

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 71 
FR 35491-35493 on June 21, 2006.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 21st day of September 2006.
Elizabeth E. Gaston,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E6-15899 Filed 9-26-06; 8:45 am]
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