This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains documents other than rules or

proposed rules that are applicable to the

public. Notices of hearings and investigations,

committee meetings, agency decisions and

rulings, delegations of authority, filing of

petitions and applications and agency

statements of organization and functions are

examples of documents appearing in this

section.

Notices Federal Register

51079

Vol. 62, No. 189

Tuesday, September 30, 1997

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Office of the Secretary

[Docket No. 97–056–6]

Declaration of Extraordinary

Emergency Because of the

Mediterranean Fruit Fly

A serious outbreak of the

Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis

capitata (Wiedemann), has occurred in

Florida.

The Mediterranean fruit fly is one of

the most destructive pests of over 200

species of fruits, nuts, and vegetables,

especially citrus and stone fruits. The

pest can develop rapidly and spread

easily, causing severe damage to entire

citrus and other fruit and vegetable

growing areas. At least 43 countries are

known to regulate in some manner for

the Mediterranean fruit fly.

As of August 1997, infestations of the

Mediterranean fruit fly had been found

in portions of Hillsborough, Manatee,

Orange, Polk, and Sarasota Counties, FL.

The presence of this fruit fly in the

continental United States could severely

disrupt the fruit and vegetable industry

due to the loss of export markets. The

Florida agricultural industry, worth an

estimated $6 billion annually, is based

on continued trade in international

markets. According to industry sources,

in 1996 the value of Florida citrus

exports, in fresh and juice form, was

estimated at approximately $940

million.

Control and eradication of

Mediterranean fruit fly is difficult.

Management of the pest is through

quarantine and containment of

regulated articles. Initial emergency

action was taken by the State of Florida

and the Animal and Plant Health

Inspection Service (APHIS). Since

shortly after the first Mediterranean fruit

fly was detected in Hillsborough

County, FL, on May 28, 1997, APHIS

and the State of Florida have been

conducting a coordinated program to

eradicate this fruit fly infestation in

Florida. The program, which involves

trapping, malathion bait spray

treatments, sterile fly releases, and

restrictions on the movement of

Mediterranean fruit fly host material,

has proven successful. The last

detection of the pest came on August 26,

1997, in Polk County, FL. Additional

treatments, followed by a period of

intensive trapping, are still necessary to

complete the program. However, on

September 19, 1997, a State

administrative law judge in Florida

ruled that several of the emergency

regulations under which the State’s

eradication program has operated were

invalid. Without such regulations, the

State of Florida is unable to continue to

take action necessary to control and

eradicate the Mediterranean fruit fly in

Florida.

This infestation of Mediterranean fruit

fly represents a threat to United States

fruit and vegetable crops. It constitutes

a real danger to the national economy

and seriously burdens interstate and

foreign commerce. Therefore, the U.S.

Department of Agriculture has

determined that an extraordinary

emergency exists because of the

existence of Mediterranean fruit fly in

Florida and the inability of the State of

Florida to continue to take action

necessary to control and eradicate it.

Therefore, in accordance with 7

U.S.C. 150dd, this declaration of

extraordinary emergency authorizes the

Secretary to: (1) Seize, quarantine, treat,

apply other remedial measures to,

destroy, or otherwise dispose of, in such

manner as the Secretary deems

appropriate, any product or article of

any character whatsoever, or means of

conveyance that the Secretary has

reason to believe is infested with or

contains Mediterranean fruit fly; and (2)

quarantine, treat, or apply other

remedial measures to, in such manner

as the Secretary deems appropriate, any

premises, including articles on such

premises, that the Secretary has reason

to believe are infested with

Mediterranean fruit fly. The Governor of

Florida has been informed of these facts.

Effective Date: This declaration of

extraordinary emergency shall become

effective September 24, 1997.

Dan Glickman,

Secretary of Agriculture.

[FR Doc. 97–25857 Filed 9–29–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–34–P

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[PY–97–007]

United States Grade Standards for

Poultry and Rabbits

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service,

USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing

Service (AMS) is soliciting comments

on its proposal to change the United

States Grade Standards for Poultry.

Specifically, AMS proposes to change

existing grade standards for boneless

parts, skinless carcasses and parts, and

boneless, skinless parts. New grade

standards would be added for ready-tocook (raw), boneless, skinless

drumsticks and legs; and raw sizereduced boneless, skinless products.

AMS proposes also to clarify existing

standards for defeathering by detailing

specific feather tolerances for grades AB-, and C-quality carcasses and parts.

Additionally, AMS proposes to

terminate the authority to grade-identify

boneless, skinless products under three

tentative standards that were used to

develop the proposed new grade

standards. From time to time, sections

in the standards are affected by changes

in poultry processing technology and

marketing. This notice updates the

standards to reflect these changes.

DATES: Comments must be received on

or before December 1, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be

submitted to Douglas C. Bailey at the

Standardization Branch, Poultry

Division, AMS, USDA, Room 3944-

South Bldg., STOP 0259, 1400

Independence Avenue, SW,

Washington, D.C. 20250–0259; or faxed

to (202) 690–0941.

All comments received will be

available for public inspection during

regular business hours (8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

eastern time).

The current United States Grade

Standards for Poultry and Rabbits, along

with the proposed changes, are available

either through the above address or by

accessing AMS’s Internet site at:

www.ams.usda.gov/standards/

standpy.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Contact Rex A. Barnes at (202) 720–

3271.