[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 110 (Thursday, June 8, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37506-37507]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-12295]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2019-0015]


Notice of Decision To Authorize the Importation of Phalaenopsis 
spp. Orchid Plants for Planting in Approved Growing Media From the 
Republic of Costa Rica Into the United States

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: We are advising the public of our decision to authorize the 
importation into the United States,

[[Page 37507]]

including territories, of Phalaenopsis spp. orchid plants for planting 
in approved growing media from the Republic of Costa Rica. As a 
condition of entry, Phalaenopsis spp. orchid plants in approved growing 
media from the Republic of Costa Rica will have to meet all relevant 
requirements included in the U.S. Department of Agriculture Plants for 
Planting Manual and detailed in a bilateral workplan. This action will 
allow for the importation of Phalaenopsis spp. orchid plants for 
planting from the Republic of Costa Rica in approved growing media 
while providing protection against the introduction of plant pests.

DATES: The plants for planting covered by this notice may be authorized 
for importation after June 8, 2023.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Indira Singh, Agriculturist, Pest 
Exclusion and Import Programs, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, 
Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 851-2020; [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Under the regulations in ``Subpart H--Plants for Planting'' (7 CFR 
319.37-1 through 319.37-23, referred to below as the regulations), the 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits or restricts the importation 
of plants for planting (including living plants, plant parts, seeds, 
and plant cuttings) to prevent the introduction of quarantine pests 
into the United States. Quarantine pest is defined in Sec.  319.37-2 as 
a plant pest or noxious weed that is of potential economic importance 
to the United States and not yet present in the United States, or 
present but not widely distributed and being officially controlled. In 
accordance with Sec.  319.37-20, APHIS may impose quarantines and other 
restrictions on the importation of specific types of plants for 
planting. These restrictions are listed in the USDA Plants for Planting 
Manual.\1\
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    \1\ https://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/downloads/plants_for_planting.pdf.
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    Section 319.37-10 restricts the importation of plants for planting 
in approved growing media, with exceptions. Paragraph (d) of Sec.  
319.37-10 states that certain types of plants for planting, as listed 
in the USDA Plants for Planting Manual, may be imported when they are 
established in a growing medium approved by the Administrator and 
produced in accordance with additional requirements specified in the 
manual.
    On March 3, 2020, we published in the Federal Register (85 FR 
12441-12442, Docket No. APHIS-2019-0015) a notice \2\ proposing to 
authorize the importation of Phalaenopsis spp. orchid plants from the 
Republic of Costa Rica in approved growing media into the United 
States, including territories, subject to all relevant requirements 
included in the USDA Plants for Planting Manual and in a bilateral 
workplan agreed to between APHIS and the national plant protection 
organization (NPPO) of the Republic of Costa Rica.
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    \2\ To view the notice and supporting documents, go to https://www.regulations.gov/docket/APHIS-2019-0015.
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    We solicited comments concerning our proposal for 60 days ending 
May 4, 2020. We did not receive any comments.
    Therefore, in accordance with the regulations in Sec.  319.37-
10(d), we are announcing our decision to authorize the importation into 
the United States, including territories, of Phalaenopsis spp. orchid 
plants for planting in approved growing media from the Republic of 
Costa Rica subject to the phytosanitary measures listed in the risk 
management document that accompanied the initial notice. We are adding 
these phytosanitary measures to the USDA Plants for Planting Manual.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3501 et seq.), the burden requirements included in this notice are 
covered under the Office of Management and Budget control number 0579-
0049.

E-Government Act Compliance

    The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is committed to 
compliance with the E-Government Act to promote the use of the internet 
and other information technologies, to provide increased opportunities 
for citizen access to Government information and services, and for 
other purposes. For information pertinent to E-Government Act 
compliance related to this notice, please contact Mr. Joseph Moxey, 
APHIS' Paperwork Reduction Act Specialist, at (301) 851-2483.

Congressional Review Act

    Pursuant to the Congressional Review Act (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), 
the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs designated this rule 
as not a major rule, as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).
    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 5th day of June 2023.
Michael Watson,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-12295 Filed 6-7-23; 8:45 am]
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