[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 205 (Wednesday, October 27, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59360-59361]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-23358]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2021-0034]


Notice of Availability of a Pest Risk Analysis for the 
Importation of Fresh Turmeric (Curcuma longa) Rhizome From Samoa Into 
the United States (Including Territories)

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that we have prepared a pest risk 
analysis that evaluates the risks associated with importation of fresh 
turmeric (Curcuma longa) rhizome from Samoa into the United States 
(including territories). Based on the analysis, we have determined that 
the application of one or more designated phytosanitary measures will 
be sufficient to mitigate the risks of introducing or disseminating 
plant pests or noxious weeds via the importation of turmeric (Curcuma 
longa) rhizome from Samoa. We are making the pest risk analysis 
available to the public for review and comment.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
December 27, 2021.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov. 
Enter APHIS-2021-0034 in the Search field. Select the Documents tab, 
then select the Comment button in the list of documents.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2021-0034, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, 
APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-
1238.

[[Page 59361]]

    Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may 
be viewed at www.regulations.gov or in our reading room, which is 
located in Room 1620 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) 799-7039 before coming.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Marc Phillips, Senior Regulatory 
Policy Specialist, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 
20737-1231; (301) 851-2114; [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Under the regulations in ``Subpart L--Fruits and Vegetables'' (7 
CFR 319.56-1 through 319.56-12, referred to below as the regulations), 
the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) prohibits or 
restricts the importation of fruits and vegetables into the United 
States from certain parts of the world to prevent plant pests from 
being introduced into or disseminated within the United States.
    Section 319.56-4 contains a performance-based process for approving 
the importation of fruits and vegetables that, based on the findings of 
a pest risk analysis, can be safely imported subject to one or more of 
the five designated phytosanitary measures listed in paragraph (b) of 
that section.
    APHIS received a request from the national plant protection 
organization (NPPO) of Samoa to allow the importation of fresh turmeric 
(Curcuma longa) rhizome into the United States (including territories). 
As part of our evaluation of Samoa's request, we have prepared a pest 
risk assessment (PRA) to identify the pests of quarantine significance 
that could follow the pathway of the importation of fresh turmeric 
(Curcuma longa) rhizome into the United States (including territories) 
from Samoa. Based on the PRA, a risk management document (RMD) was 
prepared to identify phytosanitary measures that could be applied to 
the fresh turmeric (Curcuma longa) rhizome to mitigate the pest risk.
    Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  319.56-4(c), we are announcing 
the availability of our PRA and RMD for public review and comment. 
Those documents, as well as a description of the economic 
considerations associated with the importation of fresh turmeric 
(Curcuma longa) rhizome from Samoa, may be viewed on the 
Regulations.gov website or in our reading room (see ADDRESSES above for 
a link to Regulations.gov and information on the location and hours of 
the reading room). You may request paper copies of the PRA and RMD by 
calling or writing to the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT. Please refer to the subject of the analysis you wish to review 
when requesting copies.
    After reviewing any comments we receive, we will announce our 
decision regarding the import status of fresh turmeric (Curcuma longa) 
rhizome from Samoa in a subsequent notice. If the overall conclusions 
of our analysis and the Administrator's determination of risk remain 
unchanged following our consideration of the comments, then we will 
authorize the importation of fresh turmeric (Curcuma longa) rhizome 
from Samoa into the United States (including territories) subject to 
the requirements specified in the RMD.
    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1633, 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 21st day of October 2021.
Mark Davidson,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-23358 Filed 10-26-21; 8:45 am]
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