[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 155 (Monday, August 13, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45216-45217]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-15816]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2007-0112]


Availability of a Draft Pest Risk Assessment for Lemons From 
Argentina

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 a draft pest risk assessment 
has been prepared by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
relative to our consideration of a request to allow the importation 
into the continental United States of fresh lemons from Argentina. We 
are making this draft pest risk assessment available to the public for 
review and comment.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
October 12, 2007.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov, 
select ``Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service'' from the agency 
drop-down menu, then click ``Submit.'' In the Docket ID column, select 
APHIS-2007-0112 to submit or view public comments and to view 
supporting and related materials available electronically. Information 
on using Regulations.gov, including instructions for accessing 
documents, submitting comments, and viewing the docket after the close 
of the comment period, is available through the site's ``User Tips'' 
link.
    Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send four copies of your 
comment (an original and three copies) to Docket No. APHIS-2007-0112, 
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-2007-0112.
    Reading Room: You may read any comments that we receive on the 
draft pest risk assessment 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. Juan Roman, Import Specialist, 
PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1237; (301) 
734-8758.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The regulations in ``Subpart-Fruits and Vegetables'' (7 CFR 319.56 
through 319.56-46, referred to below as the regulations) prohibit or 
restrict the importation of fruits and vegetables into the United 
States from certain parts of the world to prevent the introduction and 
dissemination of plant pests that are new to or not widely distributed 
within the United States.
    The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is 
considering a request to amend the regulations to allow the importation 
of fresh lemons from Argentina into the continental United States. We 
have prepared a draft pest risk assessment entitled ``Risk Assessment 
for the Importation of Fresh Lemon (Citrus limon (L.) Burm. F.) Fruit 
from Northwest Argentina into the Continental United States'' (August 
2007) in order to consider the pest risks associated with the 
importation of fresh lemons from Argentina into the continental United 
States. We are making the draft pest risk assessment available to the 
public for review and comment.
    The draft pest risk assessment may be viewed on the Regulations.gov 
Web site or in our reading room (see ADDRESSES above for instructions 
for accessing Regulations.gov and information on the location and hours 
of the reading room). You may request paper copies of the draft pest 
risk assessment by calling or writing to the person listed under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Please refer to the title of the draft 
pest risk assessment when requesting copies.

[[Page 45217]]

    This notice solicits public comments on the draft pest risk 
assessment. We will also make the draft pest risk assessment available 
for public comment during the comment period for any proposed rule 
related to the importation of lemons from Argentina.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 450, 7701-7772, and 7781-7786; 21 U.S.C. 136 
and 136a; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.3.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 7th day of August 2007.
Cindy Smith,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E7-15816 Filed 8-10-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P