Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 149 /Tuesday, August 4, 1998 /Rules and Regulations 41389

fly into noninfested areas of the United

States. We have determined that the

Oriental fruit fly has been eradicated

from the portions of Los Angeles

County, CA, and that the quarantine and

restrictions are no longer necessary.

Therefore, as a result of the interim

rules, there are no longer any areas in

the continental United States

quarantined for Oriental fruit fly.

EFFECTIVE DATE: Affirmation effective

August 4, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.

Michael B. Stefan, Operations Officer,

Domestic and Emergency Programs,

PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 134,

Riverdale, MD 20737–1236, (301) 734–

8247; or e-mail:

michael.b.stefan@usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

We recently published two interim

rules amending the Oriental fruit fly

quarantine and regulations. In the first

interim rule, effective February 18,

1998, and published in the Federal

Register on February 23, 1998 (63 FR

8835–8836, Docket No. 97–073–4), we

amended the Oriental fruit fly

regulations by removing the quarantine

on a portion of Los Angeles County, CA,

and by removing the restrictions on the

interstate movement of regulated

articles from that area. In the second

interim rule, effective April 1, 1998, and

published in the Federal Register on

April 7, 1998 (63 FR 16877–16878,

Docket No. 97–073–5), we amended the

Oriental fruit fly regulations by

removing the quarantine on the

remaining portion of Los Angeles

County, CA, and by removing the

restrictions on the interstate movement

of regulated articles from that area. As

a result of the interim rules, there are no

longer any areas in the continental

United States quarantined for Oriental

fruit fly.

These actions were necessary to

relieve restrictions that are no longer

needed to prevent the spread of the

Oriental fruit fly into noninfested areas

of the United States.

Comments on the first interim rule

(Docket No. 97–073–4) were required to

be received on or before April 24, 1998.

Comments on the second interim rule

(Docket No. 97–073–5) were required to

be received on or before June 8, 1998.

We did not receive any comments on

either interim rule. The facts presented

in the interim rules still provide a basis

for the rules.

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,

Incorporation by reference, 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, two interim

rules that amended 7 CFR part 301 and

that were published at 63 FR 8835–8836

on February 23, 1998, and 63 FR 16877–

16878 on April 7, 1998.

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 147a, 150bb, 150dd,

150ee, 150ff, 161, 162, and 164–167; 7 CFR

2.22, 2.80, and 371.2(c).

Done in Washington, DC, this 29th day of

July 1998.

Craig A. Reed,

Administrator, Animal and Plant Health

Inspection Service.

[FR Doc. 98–20792 Filed 8–3–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–34–P

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection

Service

7 CFR Part 301

[Docket No. 97–102–3]

Mediterranean Fruit Fly; Removal of

Quarantined Area

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health

Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Affirmation of interim rule as

final rule.

SUMMARY: We are adopting as a final

rule, without change, an interim rule

that amended the Mediterranean fruit

fly regulations by removing the

quarantined area in Los Angeles County,

CA, from the list of quarantined areas.

We have determined that the

Mediterranean fruit fly has been

eradicated from this area and that

restrictions on the interstate movement

of regulated articles from this area are

no longer necessary. As a result of the

interim rule, there are no longer any

areas in California quarantined because

of the Mediterranean fruit fly.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The interim rule was

effective on April 16, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.

Michael B. Stefan, Operations Officer,

Domestic and Emergency Programs,

PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 134,

Riverdale, MD 20737–1236, (301) 734–

8247; or e-mail:

michael.b.stefan@usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

In an interim rule effective April 16,

1998, and published in the Federal

Register on April 21, 1998 (63 FR

19651–19652, Docket No. 97–102–2), we

amended the Mediterranean fruit fly

regulations (contained in 7 CFR 301.78

through 301.78–10) by removing the

quarantined area in Los Angeles County,

CA, from the list of quarantined areas in

§ 301.78–3(c). That action relieved

unnecessary restrictions on the

interstate movement of regulated

articles from the quarantined area. Also,

as a result of that action, there are no

longer any areas in California

quarantined because of the

Mediterranean fruit fly.

Comments on the interim rule were

required to be received on or before June

22, 1998. We did not receive any

comments. The facts presented in the

interim rule still provide a basis for the

rule.

This action also affirms the

information contained in the interim

rule 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,

Incorporation by reference, 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

rule that amended 7 CFR part 301 and

that was published at 63 FR 19651–

19652 on April 21, 1998.

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 147a, 150bb, 150dd,

150ee, 150ff, 161, 162, and 164–167; 7 CFR

2.22, 2.80, and 371.2(c).

Done in Washington, DC, this 29th day of

July 1998.

Craig A. Reed,

Administrator, Animal and Plant Health

Inspection Service.

[FR Doc. 98–20793 Filed 8–3–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–34–P