[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 193 (Thursday, October 5, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 58735]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-16462]



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  Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 193 / Thursday, October 5, 2006 / 
Rules and Regulations  

[[Page 58735]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

7 CFR Parts 360 and 361

[Docket No. APHIS-2006-0019]


Noxious Weeds; South African Ragwort and Madagascar Ragwort

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 noxious weed and imported seed regulations by 
adding South African ragwort (Senecio inaequidens DC.) and Madagascar 
ragwort (Senecio madagascariensis Poir.) to the list of terrestrial 
noxious weeds and to the list of seeds with no tolerances applicable to 
their introduction. That action was necessary to prevent the artificial 
spread of these noxious weeds into the United States.

DATES: Effective on October 5, 2006, we are adopting as a final rule 
the interim rule published at 71 FR 35378-35381, June 20, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Alan V. Tasker, Noxious Weeds 
Program Coordinator, Invasive Species and Pest Management, PPQ, APHIS, 
4700 River Road Unit 134, Riverdale, MD 20737-1237; (301) 734-5225.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.) authorizes the 
Secretary of Agriculture to prohibit or restrict the importation, 
entry, exportation, or movement in interstate commerce of any plant, 
plant product, biological control organism, noxious weed, article, or 
means of conveyance if the Secretary determines that the prohibition or 
restriction is necessary to prevent the introduction of a plant pest or 
noxious weed into the United States or the dissemination of a plant 
pest or noxious weed within the United States.
    In an interim rule \1\ effective June 14, 2006, and published in 
the Federal Register on June 20, 2006 (71 FR 35378-35381, Docket No. 
APHIS-2006-0019), we amended the noxious weed and imported seed 
regulations by adding South African ragwort (Senecio inaequidens DC.) 
and Madagascar ragwort (Senecio madagascariensis Poir.) to the list in 
Sec.  360.200(c) of terrestrial noxious weeds and to the list in Sec.  
361.6(a)(1) of seeds with no tolerances applicable to their 
introduction. That action was necessary to prevent the artificial 
spread of South African ragwort and Madagascar ragwort into the United 
States.
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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-2006-0019, then click on 
``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 Order 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

7 CFR Part 360

    Imports, Plants (Agriculture), Quarantine, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Transportation, Weeds.

7 CFR Part 361

    Agricultural commodities, Imports, Labeling, Quarantine, Reporting 
and recordkeeping requirements, Seeds, Vegetables, Weeds.

PART 360--NOXIOUS WEED REGULATIONS

PART 361--IMPORTATION OF SEED AND SCREENINGS UNDER THE FEDERAL SEED 
ACT

0
Accordingly, we are adopting as a final rule, without change, the 
interim rule that amended 7 CFR parts 360 and 361 and that was 
published at 71 FR 35378-35381 on June 20, 2006.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 29th day of September 2006.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E6-16462 Filed 10-4-06; 8:45 am]
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