This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains regulatory documents having general

applicability and legal effect, most of which

are keyed to and codified in the Code of

Federal Regulations, which is published under

50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.

The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by

the Superintendent of Documents. Prices of

new books are listed in the first FEDERAL

REGISTER issue of each week.

Rules and Regulations Federal Register

57537

Vol. 65, No. 186

Monday, September 25, 2000

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection

Service

7 CFR Part 301

[Docket No. 99–097–3]

Melon Fruit Fly Regulations; Regulated

Areas, Regulated Articles, and

Removal of Quarantined Area

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health

Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Affirmation of interim rules as

final rule.

SUMMARY: We are adopting as a final

rule, without change, two interim rules

that amended the melon fruit fly

regulations. In one interim rule

published in the Federal Register on

February 22, 2000, we established the

melon fruit fly regulations and

quarantined a portion of Los Angeles

County, CA. The establishment of the

melon fruit fly regulations and

quarantine of a portion of Los Angeles

County, CA, were necessary on an

emergency basis to prevent the spread of

the melon fruit fly into noninfested

areas of the United States. In another

interim rule published in the Federal

Register on June 28, 2000, we removed

the quarantined portion of Los Angeles

County, CA. The removal of the

quarantined portion of Los Angeles

County, CA, was necessary to relieve

restrictions that were no longer needed

to prevent the spread of the melon fruit

fly because we determined that the

melon fruit fly was eradicated from this

portion of Los Angeles County, CA. This

portion of Los Angeles County, CA, was

the only area in California quarantined

for the melon fruit fly. Therefore, as a

result of the interim rule that removed

the quarantine on a portion of Los

Angeles County, CA, there are no longer

any areas in the continental United

States quarantined because of the melon

fruit fly.

EFFECTIVE DATE: September 25, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.

Stephen A. Knight, Operations Officer,

Invasive Species and Pest Management

Staff, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road

Unit 134, Riverdale, MD 20737–1236;

(301) 734–8039.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The melon fruit fly, Bactrocera

cucurbitae (Coquillett), is a very

destructive pest of fruits and vegetables,

including melons, mangoes, peppers,

squash, cucumbers, beans, oranges, and

peaches. This pest can cause serious

economic losses by lowering the yield

and quality of these fruits and

vegetables and by damaging the

seedlings and young plants of squash,

melons, and cucumbers. Heavy

infestations can result in complete loss

of these crops.

In an interim rule effective February

22, 2000, and published in the Federal

Register on February 22, 2000 (65 FR

8633–8640, Docket No. 99–097–1), we

established Federal regulations for the

melon fruit fly in 7 CFR 301.97 through

301.97–10 and quarantined a portion of

Los Angeles County, CA. In an interim

rule effective June 23, 2000, and

published in the Federal Register on

June 28, 2000 (65 FR 39779–39780,

Docket No. 99–097–2), we amended the

melon fruit fly regulations by removing

Los Angeles County, CA, from the list of

quarantined areas in § 301.97–3(c). That

action relieved unnecessary restrictions

on the interstate movement of regulated

articles from this area.

Comments on the interim rules were

required to be received on or before 60

days after the date of publication in the

Federal Register. We did not receive

any comments. Therefore, for the

reasons given in the interim rules, we

are adopting the interim rules as a final

rule.

This action also affirms the

information contained in the interim

rules concerning Executive Order 12866

and the Regulatory Flexibility Act,

Executive Orders 12372 and 12988, and

the Paperwork Reduction Act.

Further, for this action, the Office of

Management and Budget has waived the

review process required by Executive

Order 12866.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 301

Agricultural commodities, Plant

diseases and pests, Quarantine,

Reporting and recordkeeping

requirements, Transportation.

PART 301—DOMESTIC QUARANTINE

NOTICES

Accordingly, we are adopting as a

final rule, without change, the interim

rules that amended 7 CFR part 301 and

that were published at 65 FR 8633–8640

on February 22, 2000, and 65 FR 39779–

39780 on June 28, 2000.

Authority: Title IV, Pub. L. 106–224, 114

Stat. 438, 7 U.S.C. 7701–7772; 7 U.S.C. 166;

7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.3.

Done in Washington, DC, this 19th day of

September 2000.

Bobby R. Acord,

Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant

Health Inspection Service.

[FR Doc. 00–24545 Filed 9–22–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–34–P

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Natural Resources Conservation

Service

7 CFR Part 657

Prime and Unique Farmlands—

Important Farmlands Inventory

AGENCY: Natural Resources

Conservation Service, Agriculture.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: The Natural Resources

Conservation Service is amending its

regulations regarding responsibilities for

conducting important farmland

inventories under the Federal Crop

Insurance Reform and Department of

Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994

(the 1994 Act). The amendments reflect

changes to individual and

organizational titles made since the

regulations were originally drafted.

EFFECTIVE DATE: September 25, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Horace Smith, Division Director, Soil

Survey Division, Natural Resources

Conservation Service, P.O. Box 2890,

Washington, D.C. 20013; 202–720–1820.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This final

rule makes corrections to nomenclature

in the regulations for conducting

important farmland inventories (7 CFR

57538 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 186 / Monday, September 25, 2000 / Rules and Regulations

Part 657, Subpart A.) Since the

implementing legislation was passed,

the names of the offices and titles of

officials charged with conducting

important farmland inventories have

changed. This amendment reflects those

changes. In addition, this rule amends

the authority citation to clarify the list

of statutory authorities for the

inventories.

These rules are not expected to have

significant economic impact under the

criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

They will not impose information

collection requirements under the

provisions of the Paperwork Reduction

Act of 1980, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 657

Farmlands.

For the reasons set forth above,

Subpart A, Part 657 of Chapter VI of

Title 7 of the Code of Federal

Regulations is amended as follows:

PART 657—PRIME AND UNIQUE

FARMLAND

Subpart A—Important Farmlands

Inventory

1. The authority citation for Subpart

A, Part 657 is revised to read as follows:

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1010a; 16 U.S.C. 590a–

590f; 42 U.S.C. 3271–3274.

§ 657.4 [Amended]

2. Section 657.4(a)(3)(iii) is amended

by revising ‘‘NRCS Technical Service

Centers (TSC’s). (See 7 600.3, 600.6)’’ to

read ‘‘National Soil Survey Center. (see

7 CFR 600.2(c), 600.6)’’.

3. Section 657.4(a)(4) is amended by

revising the first sentence to read as

follows: ‘‘Coordinate soil mapping units

that qualify as prime farmlands with

adjacent States, including Major Land

Resource Area Offices (see 7 CFR 600.4,

600.7) responsible for the soil series.’’

4. Section 657.4(a)(6) is amended by

revising ‘‘Administrator’’ to read

‘‘Chief’’.

5. Section 657.4(b) is amended by

revising the heading and the first

sentence to read as follows: ‘‘National

Soil Survey Center. The National Soil

Survey Center is to provide requested

technical assistance to State

Conservationists and Major Land

Resource Area Offices in inventorying

prime and unique farmlands (see 7 CFR

600.2(c)(1), 600.4, 600.7).’’

6. Section 657.4(c) is amended by

revising ‘‘Assistant Administrator for

Field Services (See 7 CFR 600.2)’’ to

read ‘‘Deputy Chief for Soil Survey and

Resource Assessment (see 7 CFR

600.2(b)(3))’’.

Signed in Washington, D.C. on September

14, 2000.

Pearlie S. Reed,

Chief.

[FR Doc. 00–24525 Filed 9–22–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–16–P

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 905

[Docket No. FV00–905–3 FR]

Oranges, Grapefruit, Tangerines, and

Tangelos Grown in Florida; Increase in

the Minimum Size Requirements for

Dancy, Robinson, and Sunburst

Tangerines

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service,

USDA.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: This rule increases the

minimum size requirements for Dancy,

Robinson, and Sunburst tangerines

grown in Florida. The minimum size

requirements increase to 26⁄16 inches

diameter for both domestic and export

shipments. The marketing order

regulates the handling of oranges,

grapefruit, tangerines, and tangelos

grown in Florida and is administered

locally by the Citrus Administrative

Committee (Committee). This rule will

help the Florida tangerine industry meet

market demands for larger fruit and

should help increase returns to

producers.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This final rule becomes

effective September 26, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

William G. Pimental, Marketing

Specialist, Southeast Marketing Field

Office, Marketing Order Administration

Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs,

AMS, USDA, P.O. Box 2276, Winter

Haven, Florida 33883–2276; telephone:

(863) 299–4770, Fax: (863) 299–5169; or

George Kelhart, Technical Advisor,

Marketing Order Administration

Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs,

AMS, USDA, room 2525–S, P.O. Box

96456, Washington, DC 20090–6456;

telephone: (202) 720–2491, Fax: (202)

720–5698.

Small businesses may request

information on complying with this

regulation by contacting Jay Guerber,

Marketing Order Administration

Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs,

AMS, USDA, P.O. Box 96456, room

2525–S, Washington, DC 20090–6456;

telephone: (202) 720–2491, Fax: (202)

720–5698, or E-mail:

Jay.Guerber@usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This final

rule is issued under Marketing

Agreement No. 84 and Marketing Order

No. 905, both as amended (7 CFR part

905), regulating the handling of oranges,

grapefruit, tangerines, and tangelos

grown in Florida, hereinafter referred to

as the ‘‘order.’’ The marketing

agreement and order are effective under

the Agricultural Marketing Agreement

Act of 1937, as amended (7 U.S.C. 601–

674), hereinafter referred to as the

‘‘Act.’’

The Department of Agriculture

(Department) is issuing this rule in

conformance with Executive Order

12866.

This final rule has been reviewed

under Executive Order 12988, Civil

Justice Reform. This rule is not intended

to have retroactive effect. This rule will

not preempt any State or local laws,

regulations, or policies, unless they

present an irreconcilable conflict with

this rule.

The Act provides that administrative

proceedings must be exhausted before

parties may file suit in court. Under

section 608c(15)(A) of the Act, any

handler subject to an order may file

with the Secretary a petition stating that

the order, any provision of the order, or

any obligation imposed in connection

with the order is not in accordance with

law and request a modification of the

order or to be exempted therefrom. A

handler is afforded the opportunity for

a hearing on the petition. After the

hearing the Secretary would rule on the

petition. The Act provides that the

district court of the United States in any

district in which the handler is an

inhabitant, or has his or her principal

place of business, has jurisdiction to

review the Secretary’s ruling on the

petition, provided an action is filed not

later than 20 days after the date of the

entry of the ruling.

The order for Florida citrus provides

for the establishment of minimum grade

and size requirements with the

concurrence of the Secretary. The

minimum grade and size requirements

are designed to provide fresh markets

with fruit of acceptable quality and size,

thereby maintaining consumer

confidence for fresh Florida citrus. This

contributes to stable marketing

conditions in the interest of growers,

handlers, and consumers, and helps

increase returns to Florida citrus

growers. The current minimum grade

standard for domestic and export

shipments of Dancy, Robinson, and

Sunburst tangerines is U.S. No. 1. The

current minimum size requirement for

domestic shipments is 24⁄16 inches in

diameter (size 210), and the minimum

size for export shipments is 22⁄16 inches