[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 189 (Tuesday, September 30, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 51079]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-25857]


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Notices
                                                Federal Register
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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 
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Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 189 / Tuesday, September 30, 1997 / 
Notices

[[Page 51079]]


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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