[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 48 (Thursday, March 12, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 12954]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-05659]


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Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 48 / Thursday, March 12, 2015 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 12954]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

7 CFR Part 319

[Docket No. APHIS-2014-0041]
RIN 0579-AE01


Importation of Orchids in Growing Media From Taiwan

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: We are reopening the comment period for our proposed rule that 
would amend the regulations governing the importation of plants and 
plant products to add orchid plants of the genus Oncidium from Taiwan 
to the list of plants that may be imported into the United States in an 
approved growing medium, subject to specified growing, inspection, and 
certification requirements. This action will allow interested persons 
additional time to prepare and submit comments.

DATES: The comment period for the proposed rule published on December 
3, 2014 (79 FR 71703-71705) is reopened. We will consider all comments 
that we receive on or before March 18, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2014-0041.
    <bullet> Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2014-0041, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, 
APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-
1238.
    Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may 
be viewed at http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2014-
0041 or in our reading room, which 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) 799-7039 before coming.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Heather Coady, Regulatory Policy 
Specialist, Plants for Planting Policy, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road 
Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851-2076.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 3, 2014, we published in the 
Federal Register (79 FR 71703-71705, Docket No. APHIS-2014-0041) a 
proposal to amend the regulations in 7 CFR 319.37-8(e) by adding 
Oncidium spp. from Taiwan to the list of plants established in an 
approved growing medium that may be imported into the United States.
    Comments on the proposed rule were required to be received on or 
before February 2, 2015. We are reopening the comment period on Docket 
No. APHIS-2014-0041 for an additional 45 days. We will also accept all 
comments received between February 3, 2015 (the day after the close of 
the original comment period) and the date of this notice. This action 
will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and submit 
comments.

    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 6th day of March 2015.
Kevin Shea
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-05659 Filed 3-11-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-34-P