### 5780 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 22 / Wednesday, February 2, 2011 / Notices

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 :**  Mr. Marc Phillips, Import Specialist, Regulatory Coordination and Compliance, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734–4394.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  Background

Under the regulations in ‘‘ Subpart— Fruits and Vegetables’’ (7 CFR 319.56–1 through 319.56–50, 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 importation of fruits and vegetables into the United States from certain parts of the world to prevent plant pests from being introduced into and spread within the United States.

Section 319.56–4 contains a performance-based process for approving the importation of commodities that, based on the findings of a pest risk analysis, can be safely imported subject to one or more of the designated phytosanitary measures listed in paragraph (b) of that section. These measures are:

• The fruits or vegetables are subject to inspection upon arrival in the United States and comply with all applicable provisions of § 319.56–3;

• The fruits or vegetables are imported from a pest-free area in the country of origin that meets the requirements of § 319.56–5 for freedom from that pest and are accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate stating that the fruits or vegetables originated in a pest-free area in the country of origin;

• The fruits or vegetables are treated in accordance with 7 CFR part 305;

• The fruits or vegetables are inspected in the country of origin by an inspector or an official of the national plant protection organization of the exporting country, and have been found free of one or more specific quarantine pests identified by the risk analysis as likely to follow the import pathway; and/or

• The fruits or vegetables are imported as a commercial consignment.

APHIS received a request from the Government of the Republic of South Africa to allow the importation of fresh litchi fruits, Litchi chinensis, into the continental United States. Currently, fresh litchi fruits are not authorized for entry from the Republic of South Africa. We completed a pest risk assessment to identify pests of quarantine significance that could follow the pathway of importation if such imports were to be allowed and, based on the pest risk assessment, have prepared a risk management document to identify phytosanitary measures that could be applied to the commodity to mitigate the pest risks. We have concluded that fresh litchi fruits can safely be imported into the continental United States from the Republic of South Africa using one or more of the five designated phytosanitary measures listed in § 319.56–4(b). Therefore, in accordance with § 319.56–4(c)(2), we are announcing the availability of our pest risk analysis for public review and comment. The analysis may be viewed on the Regulations.gov Web site or in our reading room ( see **ADDRESSES** above for instructions for accessing Regulations.gov and information on the location and hours of the reading room). You may request paper copies of the analysis by calling or writing to the person listed under **FOR FURTHER**

**INFORMATION CONTACT** . Please refer to the subject of the analysis that you wish to review when requesting copies.

After reviewing any comments we receive, we will announce our decision regarding the import status of fresh litchi fruits from the Republic of South Africa in a subsequent notice. If the overall conclusions of the analysis and the Administrator’s determination of risk remain unchanged following our consideration of the comments, then we will begin issuing permits for the importation of fresh litchi fruits from the Republic of South Africa into the continental United States subject to the requirements specified in the risk management document.

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 450, 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 27th day of January 2011. Kevin Shea, Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

[FR Doc. 2011–2235 Filed 2–1–11; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 3410–34–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE** 

**Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service** 

**[Docket No. APHIS–2007–0044]**

**Determination of Regulated Status of Alfalfa Genetically Engineered for**  **Tolerance to the Herbicide Glyphosate; Record of Decision** 

**AGENCY :**  Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

**ACTION :**  Notice.

**SUMMARY :**  This notice advises the public of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s (APHIS) record of decision and determination on the petition regarding the regulated status of alfalfa genetically engineered for tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate based on APHIS’ final environmental impact statement.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Dr. Rebecca L. Stankiewicz Gabel, Senior Environmental Protection Specialist, Environmental Risk Analysis Programs, BRS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 147, Riverdale, MD 20737–1238; (301) 734– 5603. To obtain copies of the record of decision or the final environmental impact statement on which the record of decision is based, contact Ms. Cindy Eck at (301) 734–0667, e-mail: cynthia.a.eck@aphis.usda.gov.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  This notice advises the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has prepared a record of decision and determination on the petition regarding the regulated status of alfalfa genetically engineered for tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate based on an environmental impact statement (EIS) prepared in connection with its determination.

The regulations in 7 CFR part 340,

‘‘Introduction of Organisms and Products Altered or Produced Through Genetic Engineering Which Are Plant Pests or Which There Is Reason to Believe Are Plant Pests, ’’ regulate, among other things, the introduction (importation, interstate movement, or release into the environment) of organisms and products altered or produced through genetic engineering that are plant pests or that there is reason to believe are plant pests. Such genetically engineered (GE) organisms and products are considered ‘‘regulated articles. ’’

The regulations in § 340.6(a) provide that any person may submit a petition to APHIS seeking a determination that an article should not be regulated under 7 CFR part 340. Paragraphs (b) and (c)


### 5781 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 22 / Wednesday, February 2, 2011 / Notices

1 This and the subsequent notices mentioned in this notice, as well as comments received, supporting and related materials, and other documents can be viewed at http:// www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/ main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS–2007–0044. of § 340.6 describe the form that a petition for a determination of nonregulated status must take and the information that must be included in the petition.

In a notice published in the Federal Register on June 27, 2005 (70 FR 36917– 36919, Docket No. 04–085–3), APHIS advised the public of its determination, effective June 14, 2005, that the Monsanto and Forage Genetics International GE glyphosate-tolerant alfalfa lines designated as events J101 and J163 were no longer considered regulated articles under the regulations governing the introduction of certain GE organisms. That determination was subsequently challenged in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California by the Center for Food Safety, other associations, and several organic alfalfa growers. The lawsuit alleged that APHIS’ decision to deregulate the GE alfalfa events J101 and J163 violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Endangered Species Act, and the Plant Protection Act.

On February 13, 2007, the court in that case issued its memorandum and order in which it determined that APHIS had violated NEPA by not preparing an EIS in connection with its deregulation determination. The court ruled that the environmental assessment prepared by APHIS for its deregulation determination failed to adequately consider certain environmental impacts in violation of NEPA. The deregulation determination was vacated and APHIS was directed by the court to prepare an EIS in connection with making a new determination on the regulated status of the GE alfalfa.

On December 18, 2009, the Environmental Protection Agency published a notice in the Federal Register (74 FR 67206–67207, Docket No. ER–FRL–8986–6) announcing the availability of a draft EIS in connection with making a determination on the regulated status of the GE alfalfa. Comments on the draft EIS were to have been received on or before February 16, 2010. APHIS subsequently published a notice 1 in the Federal Register on February 24, 2010 (75 FR 8299–8300, Docket No. APHIS–2007–0044), extending the comment period through March 3, 2010.

In December 2010, APHIS published and distributed the final EIS, which included discussion of the public comments received on the draft EIS. On December 23, 2010, the Environmental Protection Agency published a notice in the Federal Register (75 FR 80807– 80808, Docket No. ER–FRL–8994–3) announcing the availability of the final EIS. The NEPA implementing regulations in 40 CFR 1506.10 require a 30-day review period between the time a final EIS is published and the time an agency makes a decision on an action covered by the EIS. APHIS received more than 16,000 comments on the final EIS by the time this review period ended on January 24, 2011.

APHIS has reviewed the final EIS and has concluded that it has fully analyzed the issues covered by the draft EIS and those comments and suggestions submitted by commenters. APHIS has now prepared a record of decision based on the final EIS and is making that record available to the public. The record of decision and the final EIS on which the record of decision is based may be viewed on the Internet at http:// www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/ component/main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS2007-0044. Copies of those documents may also be obtained from the person listed under **FOR FURTHER INFORMATION**
**CONTACT**

.

The record of decision has been prepared in accordance with: (1) NEPA, (2) regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality for implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500–1508), (3) USDA regulations implementing NEPA (7 CFR part 1b), and (4) APHIS’ NEPA Implementing Procedures (7 CFR part 372).

Done in Washington, DC, this January 27,

2011. Kevin Shea, Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

[FR Doc. 2011–2268 Filed 2–1–11; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 3410–34–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE**

**Forest Service**

**Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest Resource Advisory Committee** 

**AGENCY :**  Forest Service, USDA.

**ACTION :**  Notice of meeting.

**SUMMARY :**  The Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest Resource Advisory Committee will conduct a meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah. The committee is meeting as authorized under the SecureRural Schools and Community SelfDetermination Act (Pub. L. 110–343) and in compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The purpose is to continue the review of project submittals.

**DATES :**  The meeting will be held on February 17, 2011, from 3 p.m. to 5:30

p.m.
**ADDRESSES :**  The meeting will be held at the Salt Lake County Government Center, Room S1002, 2001 South State Street, Salt Lake City, Utah. Written comments should be sent to Loyal Clark, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, 88 West 100 North, Provo, Utah 84601. Comments may also be sent via e-mail

to lfclark@fs.fed.us, via facsimile to

801–342–5144.

All comments, including names and addresses when provided, are placed in the record and are available for inspection and copying. The public mayinspect comments received at the UintaWasatch-Cache National Forest, 88 West 100 North, Provo, Utah 84601.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Loyal Clark, RAC Coordinator, USDA, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, 88 West 100 North, Provo, Utah 84601; 801–342–5117; lfclark@fs.fed.us.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  The meeting is open to the public. The following business will be conducted: (1) review Forest Service project approval letter, and (2) review new proposals. Persons who wish to bring related matters to the attention of the Committee may file written statements with the Committee staff before or after the meeting.

Dated: January 21, 2011. Cheryl Probert, Deputy Forest Supervisor.

[FR Doc. 2011–2163 Filed 2–1–11; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE P**

**COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS**

**Agenda and Notice of Public Meeting of the Texas Advisory Committee** 

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to the provisions of the rules and regulations of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (Commission), and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), that a planning meeting of the Texas Advisory Committee to the Commission will convene by conference call at 10 a.m. and adjourn at approximately 12 noon on Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at 2300 E. University Drive, Denton, TX, 76206. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the Committee’s civil rights project on human trafficking.

Members of the public are entitled to submit written comments; the