[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 200 (Monday, October 19, 2009)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 53424-53430]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-25120]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 200 / Monday, October 19, 2009 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 53424]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

7 CFR Part 305

[Docket No. APHIS-2008-0140]


Amendments to Treatments for Sweet Cherry and Citrus Fruit from 
Australia and Irradiation Dose for Mediterranean Fruit Fly

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We are proposing to amend the regulations pertaining to 
approved phytosanitary treatments of fruits and vegetables by adding 
new treatment schedules for sweet cherries and for certain species of 
citrus fruit imported from Australia into the United States. Based on 
our treatment evaluation, we have determined that the proposed 
treatments would be effective against Mediterranean fruit fly and 
Queensland fruit fly, pests associated with sweet cherries and citrus 
fruit from Australia. We also propose to establish an approved 
irradiation dose for Mediterranean fruit fly of 100 gray, which is 
lower than the generic dose of 150 gray that is approved for all fruit 
flies. New peer-reviewed data indicate that the 100 gray irradiation 
dose will neutralize Mediterranean fruit fly. These changes would offer 
more flexibility in treatments while continuing to prevent the 
introduction or interstate movement of quarantine pests.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
December 18, 2009.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to (http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2008-0140) to submit or view comments and to view supporting 
and related materials available electronically.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send two copies of 
your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2008-0140, 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-2008-0140.
     Reading Room: You may read any comments that we receive on this 
docket 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: Dr. Inder P.S. Gadh, Senior Risk 
Manager -Treatments, Regulations, Permits, and Manuals, PPQ, APHIS, 
4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 734-8578.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The phytosanitary treatments regulations contained in 7 CFR part 
305 (referred to below as the regulations) set out standards and 
schedules for treatments required in 7 CFR parts 301, 318, and 319 for 
fruits, vegetables, and articles to prevent the introduction or 
dissemination of plant pests or noxious weeds into or through the 
United States. Section 305.2 lists approved treatments; paragraph 
(h)(2)(i) lists approved treatments specifically for imported fruits 
and vegetables. The irradiation treatments subpart (Sec. Sec.  305.31 
through 305.34) sets out standards and minimum doses for irradiation 
treatment of imported fruits and vegetables and of regulated articles 
moved interstate from quarantined areas within the United States.
    We are proposing to amend the regulations by adding new treatment 
schedules to the list of approved treatments in Sec.  305.2(h)(2)(i) 
for sweet cherries and for citrus fruit imported from Australia into 
the United States. These new treatment schedules would also be added to 
the list of approved methyl bromide treatments in Sec.  305.6(a) and 
the list of approved cold treatments in Sec.  305.16. We also propose 
to establish an approved irradiation dose of 100 gray (Gy) for 
Ceratitis capitata (Mediterranean fruit fly, or Medfly). This dose is 
lower than the currently approved generic dose of 150 Gy for all fruit 
flies set forth in Sec.  305.31(a).

Phytosanitary Treatments for Sweet Cherries from Australia

    Commercial shipments of fresh sweet cherries from Australia may be 
imported into the continental United States and Hawaii if the fruit 
originates from an area determined by the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service (APHIS) to be free of fruit flies in accordance with 
Sec.  319.56-5 or if the fruit receives an APHIS-approved treatment for 
fruit flies in accordance with treatment schedules listed in part 
305.\1\ For Bactrocera tryoni (Queensland fruit fly) and Medfly in 
commercial shipments of sweet cherries, methyl bromide/cold treatment 
combination treatments T108-a-1, T108-a-2, and T108-a-3, listed in 
Sec.  305.10(a)(3) and performed in accordance with the treatment 
conditions in that section, are the existing approved treatments.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\The list of areas considered by APHIS to be free of fruit 
flies is located online at (http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/downloads/DesignatedPestFreeAreas.pdf). 
Commodity import treatment requirements can be found in the Fruits 
and Vegetables Import Requirements Database at (https://epermits.aphis.usda.gov/manual/index.cfm).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    While the existing approved treatments for sweet cherries are 
effective in treating both Queensland fruit fly and Medfly, there are 
production areas of Australia where only one of those quarantine pests 
is present, so treatment for both pests is not always necessary. Also, 
in some instances, combination treatments for sweet cherries have 
resulted in diminished fruit quality. The Australian national plant 
protection organization (NPPO) has therefore proposed a cold treatment 
that targets Queensland fruit fly and a methyl bromide fumigation 
treatment that targets Medfly.
    APHIS evaluated and approved the proposed new treatments, which are 
based on data assembled by the Australian NPPO. The results of our 
evaluation are documented in a treatment evaluation document titled

[[Page 53425]]

`` `08 Periodic Treatment Amendments to 7 CFR Part 305'' (October 
2008). Copies of the evaluation may be obtained from the person listed 
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT or viewed on the Regulations.gov 
Web site (see ADDRESSES above for instructions for accessing 
Regulations.gov). We determined that the proposed treatments will 
effectively treat Queensland fruit fly and Medfly in sweet cherries 
from Australia. As a result, we are proposing to add a new methyl 
bromide treatment schedule T101-s-1-1 to the list of approved 
treatments in Sec.  305.2(h)(2)(i) for Medfly in sweet cherries from 
Australia. T101-s-1-1 would be added to the methyl bromide treatment 
schedules in Sec.  305.6(a) to read as follows:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        Dosage rate (lb/      Exposure period
   Treatment schedule           Pressure        Temperature ([deg]F)       1,000 ft.)             (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
T101-s-1-1                NAP.................  63 or above.........  2.5................  2 hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To ensure the effectiveness of the proposed methyl bromide 
treatment for sweet cherries, APHIS has determined that a number of 
specific treatment conditions should be followed. The conditions, 
listed below, would be included with treatment schedule T101-s-1-1 in 
the Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) Treatment Manual.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\Available on the Internet at (http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/treatment.shtml).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Fumigation of cherries only
     Chamber fumigation only
     Load factor must not exceed 21 percent (by volume)
     Fruit must be fumigated in non-sorptive ventilated export 
cartons
     Recirculation fan must be operated continuously during the 
fumigation
Additionally, treatment schedule T101-s-1-1 would need to be conducted 
in accordance with the general chemical treatment requirements in Sec.  
305.5.
    We are also proposing to add a new cold treatment schedule T107-d-1 
to the list of approved treatments in Sec.  305.2(h)(2)(i) for 
Queensland fruit fly in sweet cherries from Australia. T107-d-1 would 
also be added to the list of cold treatment schedules in Sec.  305.16 
to read as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Treatment  schedule    Temperature ([deg]F)        Exposure period
------------------------------------------------------------------------
T107-d-1               33.8 or below........  14 days
                       37.4 or below........  15 days
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    If treatment of sweet cherries for either Queensland fruit fly or 
Medfly is based on the product being from an area in Australia 
determined by APHIS to be free of one of these pests, this fact must be 
included on the phytosanitary certificate in accordance with Sec.  
319.56-5, which sets out requirements for pest-free areas.\3\ This is 
consistent with existing certification requirements for areas 
determined by APHIS to be free of both pests. Existing treatments for 
sweet cherries would continue to be approved treatment options.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ See footnote 1 for a list of areas considered by APHIS to be 
free of fruit flies.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Phytosanitary Treatments for Citrus Fruit from Australia

    The Australian NPPO also requested that APHIS evaluate and approve 
additional cold treatment schedules for certain species of citrus 
fruit. APHIS reviewed the data submitted by the Australian NPPO in the 
treatment evaluation document referred to above and determined that the 
proposed treatments for citrus to be exported from Australia to the 
United States would be effective. As a result, we are proposing to add 
several new cold treatment schedules to the list of approved treatments 
in Sec.  305.2(h)(2)(i) for Queensland fruit fly and Medfly in citrus 
from Australia. These new proposed cold treatments, while less 
stringent than existing treatments, have been shown to be effective 
against their respective target pests.
    T107-a-2, the proposed treatment for Medfly in oranges and tangors 
from Australia, would be added to the list of cold treatment schedules 
in Sec.  305.16 to read as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Treatment  schedule    Temperature ([deg]F)        Exposure period
------------------------------------------------------------------------
T107-a-2               37.4 or below........  20 days
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    T107-a-3, the proposed treatment for Medfly in lemons from 
Australia, would be added to the list of cold treatment schedules in 
Sec.  305.16 to read as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Treatment  schedule    Temperature ([deg]F)        Exposure period
------------------------------------------------------------------------
T107-a-3               35.6 or below........  16 days
                       37.4 or below........  18 days
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    T107-d-2, the proposed treatment for Queensland fruit fly in 
oranges, tangerines, and tangors from Australia, would be added to the 
list of cold treatment schedules in Sec.  305.16 to read as follows:

[[Page 53426]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Treatment  schedule    Temperature ([deg]F)        Exposure period
------------------------------------------------------------------------
T107-d-2               37.4 or below........  16 days
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    T107-d-3, the proposed treatment for Queensland fruit fly in lemons 
from Australia, would be added to the list of cold treatment schedules 
in Sec.  305.16 to read as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Treatment  schedule    Temperature ([deg]F)        Exposure period
------------------------------------------------------------------------
T107-d-3               37.4 or below........  14 days
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    These treatments would need to be conducted in accordance with the 
general cold treatment requirements in Sec.  305.15. These include 
standards that must be met by the facility performing cold treatment 
and the enclosure in which cold treatment is performed; monitoring 
requirements; procedural requirements for performing cold treatment; 
and a required compliance agreement or workplan to ensure that these 
requirements are followed, under appropriate oversight from APHIS. 
Existing treatments for citrus fruit would continue to be approved 
treatment options.

Approved Dose for Irradiation Treatment for Medfly

    The regulations in Sec.  305.31(a) for irradiation treatment of 
imported fruits and vegetables specify minimum approved doses ranging 
from 60 Gy to 400 Gy, depending on the pests being targeted for 
treatment. The regulations for irradiation treatment of regulated 
articles moved interstate from areas quarantined for plant pests in 
Sec.  305.32 and for articles moved interstate from Hawaii, Puerto 
Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands in Sec.  305.34 refer to this list of 
approved doses. The fact that the required irradiation doses are 
specific to plant pests rather than the commodities they are associated 
with reflects the fact that the effectiveness of irradiation treatment 
depends entirely on the dose that is absorbed by the commodity. 
Specific characteristics of the fruits or vegetables being treated, 
which may need to be considered in developing other phytosanitary 
treatments, are irrelevant to the effectiveness of irradiation as long 
as the required minimum dose is absorbed.
    As indicated in Sec.  305.31(a), APHIS has approved a 150 Gy 
irradiation dose as a treatment to effectively treat pest risks 
associated with fruit flies of the family Tephritidae, including 
Medfly, in associated articles. However, data from USDA's Agricultural 
Research Service, reviewed by APHIS and subsequently published in peer-
reviewed journals,\4\ demonstrates the effectiveness of a 100 Gy dose 
in neutralizing Medfly. It is important that required irradiation doses 
for plant pests be set at the lowest effective level, as higher doses 
of irradiation treatment cost more to administer and can cause some 
fruits and vegetables to undergo undesirable changes in color and 
texture. In addition, requiring the lowest effective absorbed dose for 
irradiation treatment is consistent with our commitments under the 
International Plant Protection Convention to require the least 
restrictive phytosanitary measures consistent with achieving adequate 
phytosanitary security.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\Follet, P. A. and J. W. Armstrong. 2004. Revised irradiation 
doses to control melon fly, Mediterranean fruit fly, and Oriental 
fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) and a generic dose for tephritid 
fruit flies. Journal of Economic Entomology 97: 1254-1262; Torres-
Rivera, Z. and G. J. Hallman. 2007. Low-dose irradiation 
phytosanitary treatment against Mediterranean fruit fly (Diptera: 
Tephritidae). Florida Entomologist 90: 343-346.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We are therefore proposing to amend the regulations in Sec.  
305.31(a) to specify a 100 Gy approved irradiation dose for Medfly. The 
treatment would be conducted in accordance with the other provisions of 
Sec.  305.31.

Executive Order 12866 and Regulatory Flexibility Act

    This proposed rule is subject to Executive Order 12866. However, 
for this action, the Office of Management and Budget has waived its 
review under Executive Order 12866.
    In accordance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act, we have analyzed 
the potential economic effects of this action on small entities. When 
an agency issues a rulemaking proposal, the Regulatory Flexibility Act 
(RFA) requires the agency to ``prepare and make available for public 
comment an initial regulatory flexibility analysis,'' which will 
``describe the impact of the proposed rule on small entities'' (5 
U.S.C. Sec.  603(a)). Section 605 of the RFA allows an agency to 
certify a rule, in lieu of preparing an analysis, if the proposed 
rulemaking is not expected to have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities.
    The following economic analysis provides a factual basis to support 
the certification of the proposed rule to allow more flexibility in 
treatments of sweet cherries and citrus fruit from Australia for Medfly 
and Queensland fruit fly, and to establish a 100 Gy approved 
irradiation dose for Medfly.
    The United States is the second-largest producer of sweet cherries 
in the world, accounting for more than 10 percent of world production. 
Total U.S. sweet cherry production in 2008 was 247,060 tons (224,074 
metric tons), valued at $570 million. Washington, California, Oregon, 
and Michigan are the primary sweet cherry-producing States, accounting 
for more than 97 percent of the quantity produced nationwide. The 
marketing season for U.S. sweet cherries lasts from early May to mid-
August.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), 2008 
Preliminary Summary.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Globally, the United States is the largest fresh cherry trader, 
with $273 million in exports and $84 million in imports (mostly from 
Chile) in 2008. Cherries have been a popular fruit crop for consumption 
in the United States for many years. In 2008, per-person consumption of 
cherries was 2.2 pounds.
    Tables 1 and 2 show the quantity and value of U.S. exports and 
imports of fresh sweet cherries, worldwide and in trade with Australia, 
over the past 5 years. As shown, fresh sweet cherry imports from 
Australia have been minimal, although they increased substantially in 
2007, to nearly 1 percent of U.S. fresh cherry imports, and again, in 
2008, to about 1.4 percent of imports.

[[Page 53427]]



                      Table 1.--Volume of U.S. trade of fresh sweet cherries, in kilograms
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         U. S. exports to:                               U. S. imports from:
              --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Year                                                                                    Import share from
                     World            Australia            World            Australia       Australia  (percent)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2004           42,860,778         1,806,426          6,408,946          1,277              0.02
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2005           47,924,605         2,320,227          9,450,547          39,865             0.42
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2006           42,237,537         961,860            12,926,878         2,376              0.02
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2007           51,190,265         1,108,798          15,275,917         144,369            0.95
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2008           45,782,592         1,554,916          24,667,589         342,948            1.39
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: Global Trade Atlas, 2009; (http://www.gtis.com/gta/)


                 Table 2.--Value of U.S. trade of fresh sweet cherries, in million U.S. dollars
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         U. S. exports to:                               U. S. imports from:
              --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Year                                                                                    Import share from
                     World            Australia            World            Australia       Australia  (percent)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2004           $186.865           $10.402            $16.085            $0.013             0.08
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2005           $209.859           $10.000            $29.086            $0.079             0.27
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2006           $204.912           $6.863             $43.454            $0.005             0.01
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2007           $255.669           $7,643             $49.781            $0.274             0.55
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2008           $272.614           $12.025            $84.074            $0.544             0.65
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: Global Trade Atlas, 2009; (http://www.gtis.com/gta/)

    After Brazil and China, the United States is the world's third 
largest producer of citrus fruits. Total U.S. citrus fruit production 
in 2008 was around 11 million tons. The United States is the number one 
producer of grapefruits and the number two producer of oranges in the 
world. The two major U.S. citrus-producing States are Florida and 
California, followed by Arizona and Texas.
    The United States, Spain, and South Africa are the top three 
exporters of citrus, with roughly an equal share of exports. Tables 3 
and 4 show the quantity and value of U.S. exports and imports of fresh 
and dried citrus fruits, worldwide and in trade with Australia, over 
the past 5 years. Citrus fruit imports from Australia have been 
minimal, between 4.2 and 6.2 percent of U.S. citrus imports, and have 
remained relatively steady in terms of volume. In terms of value (table 
4), the share has slightly decreased over the 5-year period indicated, 
from 10.31 percent of the total citrus import share in 2004 to 7.66 
percent in 2008.

                  Table 3.--Volume of U.S. trade of citrus fruit, fresh and dried, in kilograms
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         U. S. exports to:                                U. S. imports from:
             ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Year                                                                                    Import share from
                     World             Australia            World          Australia       Australia  (percent)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2004          1,064,206,680        14,046,557         478,905,296       26,997,917       5.64
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2005          917,993,249          15,965,437         521,739,701       32,324,028       6.19
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2006          964,067,652          19,074,874         550,692,978       26,771,769       4.86
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2007          835,814,014          24,418,696         678,800,752       34,144,895       5.03
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2008          1,021,730,291        29,577,809         600,297,180       25,347,539       4.22
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: Global Trade Atlas, 2009; (http://www.gtis.com/gta/)


[[Page 53428]]


                     Table 4.--Value of U.S. trade of citrus fruit, in million U.S. dollars
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         U. S. exports to:                                U. S. imports from:
              --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Year                                                                                   Import share from
                     World             Australia            World          Australia       Australia  (percent)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2004           $667.948           $12.440             $307.146          $31.680          10.31
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2005           $631.538           $16.942             $356.441          $36.381          10.19
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2006           $703.975           $21.597             $407.356          $29.346          7.20
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2007           $699.567           $20.267             $501.064          $41.661          8.31
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2008           $814.667           $28.661             $422.880          $32.404          7.66
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: Global Trade Atlas, 2009; (http://www.gtis.com/gta/)

    As shown in tables 1 through 4, the United States imports 
relatively small quantities of fresh sweet cherries and citrus from 
Australia. For this reason, the proposed rule is expected to have 
minimal economic effects on U.S. entities, large or small, including 
cherry and citrus producers, importers, wholesalers, and distributors.
    The proposed rule would bring more flexibility to the treatment 
requirements for cherries and citrus from Australia, but given the 
minimal quantities imported to the United States, this change is not 
expected to significantly affect their supply or cost. Likewise, any 
improvements in fruit quality resulting from these treatment changes is 
not expected to have a significant impact on supply or cost to U.S. 
consumers or producers.
    Any businesses that may be affected are likely to be small 
according to Small Business Administration (SBA) guidelines. The SBA 
small-entity standard for cherry and citrus farms is $750,000 or less 
in annual receipts. APHIS does not have information on the size 
distribution of the relevant producers, but according to 2007 U.S. 
Census of Agriculture data, there were a total of 2,204,792 farms in 
the United States, of which approximately 97 percent had annual sales 
of less than $500,000, which is well below the SBA's small entity 
threshold. In the case of fresh fruit and vegetable wholesalers, 
establishments in the category ``Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Merchant 
Wholesalers'' (NAICS 424480) with no more than 100 employees are 
considered small by SBA standards. In 2002, there were a total of 5,397 
fresh fruit and vegetable wholesale trade firms in the United States. 
Of these firms, 4,644 firms operated for the entire year; of those 
firms, 4,436 or 95.5 percent employed fewer than 100 employees.\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\NASS, 2002 Economic Census.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The proposed changes would reduce costs for Australian exporters of 
fresh sweet cherries and citrus to the United States by reducing the 
treatment requirements when either Medfly or the Queensland fruit fly 
is present, but not both pests. We do not know how frequently these 
circumstances occur. Nonetheless, the savings are expected to be 
minimal, and are unlikely to significantly affect the quantities of 
fresh sweet cherries or citrus exported to the United States. The 
establishment of 100 Gy as the new minimum absorbed dose for Medfly may 
have minimal effects for exporters to the United States of a range of 
commodities from countries besides Australia. However, this change is 
not expected to have a significant effect on the cost or supply of U.S. 
imports irradiated for Medfly, because the quantity of fruits, 
vegetables, and other articles irradiated for plant pests for import to 
the United States is minimal relative to the overall quantity of 
imported articles treated by methods other than irradiation. In 
addition, the revised irradiation dosage requirements are not expected 
to significantly affect irradiation treatment costs.
    Under these circumstances, the Administrator of the Animal and 
Plant Health Inspection Service has determined that this action would 
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities.

Executive Order 12372

    This program/activity is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic 
Assistance under No. 10.025 and is subject to Executive Order 12372, 
which requires intergovernmental consultation with State and local 
officials. (See 7 CFR part 3015, subpart V.)

Executive Order 12988

    This proposed rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, 
Civil Justice Reform. If this proposed rule is adopted: (1) No 
retroactive effect will be given to this rule; and (2) administrative 
proceedings will not be required before parties may file suit in court 
challenging this rule.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This proposed rule contains no new information collection or 
recordkeeping requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 305

    Irradiation, Phytosanitary treatment, Plant diseases and pests, 
Quarantine, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

0
Accordingly, we propose to amend 7 CFR part 305 as follows:

PART 305--PHYTOSANITARY TREATMENTS

    1. The authority citation for part 305 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7701-7772 and 7781-7786; 21 U.S.C. 136 and 
136a; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371. 3.
    2. In Sec.  305.2, the table in paragraph (h)(2)(i) is amended by 
adding, in alphabetical order under Australia, new entries for 
``Cherry'', ``Lemons'', ``Oranges, tangerines, and tangors'', and 
``Oranges, tangors'', to read as follows:


Sec. 305.2  Approved treatments.

* * * * *
    (h) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (i) * * *

[[Page 53429]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Treatment
     Location          Commodity            Pest            schedule
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              * * * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Australia
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              * * * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Cherry             Bactrocera        T107-d-1.
                                       tryoni.
                                     -----------------------------------
                   .................  Ceratitis         T107-s-1-1.
                                       capitata.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              * * * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Lemons             Bactrocera        T107-d-3.
                                       tryoni.
                                     -----------------------------------
                   .................  Ceratitis         T107-a-3.
                                       capitata.
                  ------------------------------------------------------
                   Oranges,           Bactrocera        T107-d-2.
                    tangerines, and    tryoni.
                    tangors
                  ------------------------------------------------------
                   Oranges, tangors   Ceratitis         T107-a-2.
                                       capitata.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              * * * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
    3. In Sec.  305.6, the table in paragraph (a) is amended by adding, 
in alphabetical order, a new entry for treatment schedule T101-s-1-1 to 
read as follows:


Sec. 305.6  Methyl bromide fumigation treatment schedules.

    (a) * * *

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                       Dosage rate  (lb/      Exposure period
  Treatment schedule           Pressure        Temperature ([deg]F)        1000 ft.)              (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  * * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
T101-s-1-1.             NAP..................  63 or above.........  2.5.................  2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  * * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
    4. In Sec.  305.16, the table is amended by adding, in alphabetical 
order, new entries for treatment schedules T107-a-2, T107-a-3, T107-d-
1, T107-d-2, and T107-d-3, to read as follows:


Sec.  305.16  Cold treatment schedules.



------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Treatment schedule     Temperature ([deg]F)       Exposure period
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              * * * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
T107-a-2.                37.4 or below.........  20 days.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
T107-a-3.                35.6 or below.........  16 days.
                        ------------------------------------------------
                         37.4 or below.........  18 days.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              * * * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
T107-d-1.                33.8 or below.........  14 days.
                        ------------------------------------------------
                         37.4 or below.........  15 days.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
T107-d-2.                37.4 or below.........  16 days.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
T107-d-3.                37.4 or below.........  14 days.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              * * * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    5. In Sec.  305.31, the table in paragraph (a) is amended by 
adding, in alphabetical order, a new entry for Ceratitis capitata to 
read as follows:


Sec. 305.31  Irradiation treatment of imported regulated articles for 
certain plant pests.

    (a) * * *

[[Page 53430]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Scientific name              Common name         Dose (gray)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              * * * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ceratitis capitata.............  Mediterranean       100
                                  fruit fly.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              * * * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
    Done in Washington, DC, this 6th day of October, 2009.

Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E9-25120 Filed 10-16-09: 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE: 3410-34-S