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[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 89 (Friday, May 8, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 26523]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-11124]

[[Page 26523]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2014-0096]

Notice of Decision To Authorize the Interstate Movement of Sea 
Asparagus Tips From Hawaii Into the Continental 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 
interstate movement of fresh sea asparagus tips from Hawaii into the 
continental United States. Based on the findings of a pest list and a 
risk management document, which we made available to the public for 
review and comment through a previous notice, we have concluded 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 movement of fresh sea asparagus 
tips from Hawaii into the continental United States.

DATES: Effective May 8, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. David Lamb, Senior Regulatory 
Policy Specialist, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 
20737-1231; (301) 851-2103.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the regulations in ``Subpart--
Regulated Articles From Hawaii and the Territories'' (7 CFR 318.13-1 
through 318.13-26, referred to below as the regulations), the Animal 
and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture prohibits or restricts the interstate movement of fruits 
and vegetables from Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, 
and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to the continental 
United States to prevent the spread of plant pests and noxious weeds 
that occur in Hawaii and the territories.
    Section 318.13-4 contains a performance-based process for approving 
the interstate movement of certain fruits and vegetables from Hawaii 
and the U.S. territories that, based on the findings of a pest risk 
analysis, can be safely moved subject to one or more of the six 
phytosanitary measures listed in Sec.  318.13-4(b).
    APHIS received a request from the Hawaii Department of Agriculture 
to allow the interstate movement of fresh sea asparagus tips 
(Salicornia bigelovii Torr.) to the continental United States. Hawaii 
has indicated a specific interest in production and shipment of fresh 
sea asparagus tips, which are currently prohibited from interstate 
movement from Hawaii to the continental United States.
    In accordance with the process in Sec.  318.13-4, we published a 
notice \1\ in the Federal Register on January 23, 2015 (80 FR 3548-
3549, Docket No. APHIS-2014-0096), in which we announced, for review 
and comment, the availability of a pest list that identifies pests of 
quarantine significance that could follow the pathway of interstate 
movement of sea asparagus tips into the continental United States. 
Based on that pest list, we prepared a risk management document (RMD) 
to identify phytosanitary measures that could be applied to the 
commodity to mitigate the pest risk.
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    \1\ To view the notice, pest list, RMD, and comments we 
received, go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-
2014-0096.
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    We solicited comments on the pest list and RMD for 60 days ending 
on March 24, 2015. We received two comments by that date, from an 
organization of State plant regulatory agencies and a private citizen. 
Neither commenter opposed the action; however, one commenter asked for 
the scientific name and a general description of sea asparagus.
    As stated in the RMD, sea asparagus (Salicornia bigelovii Torr.) is 
grown in salt water ponds on floating plant cultivation platforms where 
their roots are exposed to brackish waters. The asparagus tips do not 
touch water, soil, or sediments. Sea asparagus is sometimes referred to 
as ``sea beans'' or ``sapphire greens'' on restaurant menus and 
ingredient lists.
    Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  318.13-4, we our announcing our 
decision to authorize the interstate movement of sea asparagus from 
Hawaii to the continental United States subject to the following 
phytosanitary measures:
     Sea asparagus tips must be moved interstate as commercial 
consignments only, and
     Each consignment is subject to pre-departure inspection in 
Hawaii prior to interstate movement to the continental United States.
    These conditions will be listed in the Hawaii Fruits and Vegetables 
Manual (available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/downloads/hawaii.pdf).

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

    Done in Washington, DC, this 4th day of May 2015.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-11124 Filed 5-7-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
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