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[Federal Register: June 10, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 111)]
[Notices]               
[Page 32900-32901]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10jn10-25]                         

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Notices
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

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.

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[[Page 32900]]

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2010-0058]

 
Notice of Availability of a Pest Risk Analysis for the 
Importation of Sweet Limes From Mexico 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 that we have prepared a pest risk 
analysis that evaluates the risks associated with the importation of 
sweet limes from Mexico into the continental United States. Based on 
that analysis, we have concluded that the application of one or more 
designated phytosanitary measures will be sufficient to mitigate the 
pest risk. We are making the pest risk analysis available to the public 
for review and comment.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
August 9, 2010.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to (http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2010-0058) to submit or view comments 
and to view supporting and related materials available electronically.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send one copy of 
your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2010-0058, Regulatory Analysis and 
Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, 
Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that your comment refers to 
Docket No. APHIS-2010-0058.
    Reading Room: You may read any comments that we receive on this 
docket in our reading room. The reading room is located in room 1141 of 
the USDA South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC. Normal reading room 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. David Lamb, Import Specialist, 
Regulatory Coordination and Compliance, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road 
Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734-0627.

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 Sec.  319.56-3;
     The fruits or vegetables are imported from a pest-free 
area in the country of origin that meets the requirements of Sec.  
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 a commercial consignment.
    APHIS received a request from the Government of Mexico to allow the 
importation of sweet limes (Citrus limetta) into the continental United 
States. Currently, sweet limes are not authorized for entry from 
Mexico, although related varieties of citrus with similar pest 
complexes are enterable under certain conditions. We completed a pest 
risk analysis to identify pests of quarantine significance that could 
follow the pathway of importation and identify phytosanitary measures 
that could be applied to sweet limes to mitigate the pest risk. We have 
concluded that sweet limes can safely be imported into the continental 
United States from Mexico using one or more of the five designated 
phytosanitary measures listed in Sec.  319.56-4(b). Therefore, in 
accordance with Sec.  319.56-4(c), 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 analyses 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 sweet limes from Mexico 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 sweet limes from Mexico 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.

[[Page 32901]]

    Done in Washington, DC, this 3\rd\ day of June 2010.

Kevin Shea
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-13934 Filed 6-9-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-S
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