[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 219 (Wednesday, November 13, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68021-68022]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-27134]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2013-0007]


Notice of Affirmation of Addition of a Treatment Schedule for 
Methyl Bromide Fumigation of Blueberries

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: We are affirming our earlier determination that it was 
necessary to immediately add to the Plant Protection and Quarantine 
Treatment Manual a treatment schedule for methyl bromide fumigation of 
blueberries for Mediterranean fruit fly and South American fruit fly. 
In a previous notice, we made available to the public for review and 
comment a treatment evaluation document that described the new 
treatment schedule and explained why we have determined that it is 
effective at neutralizing these fruit flies.

DATES: Effective Date: Effective on November 13, 2013, we are affirming 
the addition to the Plant Protection and Quarantine Treatment Manual of 
the treatment described in the notice published at 78 FR 36507-36508 on 
June 18, 2013.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Inder P.S. Gadh, Senior Risk 
Manager-Treatments, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 
20737; (301) 851-2018.

[[Page 68022]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The regulations in 7 CFR chapter III are 
intended, among other things, to prevent the introduction or 
dissemination of plant pests and noxious weeds into or within the 
United States. Under those regulations, certain plants, fruits, 
vegetables, and other articles must be treated before they may be moved 
into the United States or interstate. The phytosanitary treatments 
regulations in part 305 of 7 CFR chapter III set out standards for 
treatments required in parts 301, 318, and 319 of 7 CFR chapter III for 
fruits, vegetables, and other articles.
    In Sec.  305.2, paragraph (b) states that approved treatment 
schedules are set out in the Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) 
Treatment Manual.\1\ Section 305.3 sets out a process for adding, 
revising, or removing treatment schedules in the PPQ Treatment Manual. 
In that section, paragraph (b) sets out the process for adding, 
revising, or removing treatment schedules when there is an immediate 
need to make a change. The circumstances in which an immediate need 
exists are described in Sec.  305.3(b)(1). They are:
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    \1\ The Treatment Manual is available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/index.shtml or by 
contacting the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant 
Protection and Quarantine, Manuals Unit, 92 Thomas Johnson Drive, 
Suite 200, Frederick, MD 21702.
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     PPQ has determined that an approved treatment schedule is 
ineffective at neutralizing the targeted plant pest(s).
     PPQ has determined that, in order to neutralize the 
targeted plant pest(s), the treatment schedule must be administered 
using a different process than was previously used.
     PPQ has determined that a new treatment schedule is 
effective, based on efficacy data, and that ongoing trade in a 
commodity or commodities may be adversely impacted unless the new 
treatment schedule is approved for use.
     The use of a treatment schedule is no longer authorized by 
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or by any other Federal 
entity.
    In accordance with Sec.  305.3(b), we published a notice \2\ in the 
Federal Register on June 18, 2013 (78 FR 36507-36508, Docket No. APHIS-
2013-0007), announcing our determination that a new methyl bromide 
treatment schedule to mitigate risk from two fruit fly species, 
Ceratitis capitata (Mediterranean fruit fly) and Anastrepha fraterculus 
(South American fruit fly) is effective, based on evidence presented in 
a treatment evaluation document (TED) we made available with the 
notice. We also determined that the ongoing trade of blueberries would 
be adversely impacted unless the new treatment schedule is approved for 
use. The treatment was added to the PPQ Treatment Manual, but was 
subject to change or removal based on public comment.
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    \2\ To view the notice and the treatment evaluation document, go 
to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2013-0007.
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    We solicited comments on the notice for 60 days ending August 19, 
2013. We received no comments by that date. Therefore, in accordance 
with the regulations in Sec.  305.3(b)(3), we are affirming our 
addition of a methyl bromide treatment schedule to mitigate risk from 
C. capitata and A. fraterculus, as described in the TED made available 
with the previous notice. The treatment schedule is numbered T101-i-1-
2. The treatment schedule will be listed in the PPQ Treatment Manual, 
which is available as described in footnote 1 of this document.

    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.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 6th day of November 2013.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-27134 Filed 11-12-13; 8:45 am]
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