### 33714 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 113 / Thursday, June 12, 2014 / Notices

collection, contact Mrs. Celeste Sickles, APHIS’ Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 851–2908.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :** 

Title: Black Stem Rust; IdentificationRequirements for Addition of RustResistant Varieties.

OMB Control Number: 0579–0186. Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information collection.

Abstract: Under the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701 et seq. ), the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to prohibit or restrict the importation, entry, or interstate movement of plants, plant products, and other articles to prevent the introduction of plant pests into the United States or their dissemination within the United States.

Black stem rust is one of the most destructive plant diseases of small grains that is known to exist in the United States. The disease is caused by a fungus that reduces the quality and yield of infected wheat, oat, barley, and rye crops by robbing host plants of food and water. In addition to infecting small grains, the fungus lives on a variety of alternate host plants that are species of the genera Berberis, Mahoberberis, and Mahonia . The fungus is spread from host to host by wind-borne spores.

The black stem rust quarantine and regulations, contained in 7 CFR 301.38 through 301.38–8 (referred to below as the regulations), quarantine the conterminous 48 States and the District of Columbia and govern the interstate movement of certain plants of the
genera Berberis, Mahoberberis, and Mahonia, known as barberry plants. The species of these plants are categorized as either rust-resistant or rust-susceptible. Rust-resistant plants do not pose a risk of spreading black stem rust or of contributing to the development of new races of rust; rust-susceptible plants do pose such risks.

Paragraph (b) of § 301.38–2 provides the requirements for the submission of a request to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to add a variety to the list of rust-resistant barberry varieties in the regulations. A request must include a description of the variety, including a written description and color pictures that can be used by an inspector to clearly identify the variety and distinguish it from other varieties. This requirement helps to ensure that State plant inspectors can clearly determine whether plants moving into or through their States are rust-resistant varieties listed in 7 CFR 301.38–2.

We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve our use of this information collection activity for an additional 3
years.

The purpose of this notice is to solicit comments from the public (as well as affected agencies) concerning our information collection. These comments will help us:

(1) Evaluate whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, including whether the information will have practical utility;

(2) Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the burden of the collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;

(3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

(4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, through use, as appropriate, of automated, electronic, mechanical, and other collection technologies; e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses.

Estimate of burden: The public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 4 hours per response.

Respondents: Nurseries. Estimated annual number of respondents: 4.

Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 2.

Estimated annual number of
responses: 8.

Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 32 hours. (Due to averaging, the total annual burden hours may not equal the product of the annual number of responses multiplied by the reporting burden per response.)

All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of public record.

Done in Washington, DC, this 6th day of June 2014. Kevin Shea, Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2014–13738 Filed 6–11–14; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 3410–34–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE**

**Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service** 

**[Docket No. APHIS–2014–0013]**

**Notice of Availability of an Evaluation of the African Horse Sickness Status**  **of Saudi Arabia**

**AGENCY :**  Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

**ACTION :**  Notice of availability. **SUMMARY :**  We are advising the public that we have determined that Saudi Arabia is free of African horse sickness (AHS). After reviewing the documentation submitted by Saudi Arabia in support of its request and considering other factors, the Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has determined that AHS is not present in Saudi Arabia. We are making that determination, as well as an evaluation we have prepared in connection with this action, available for review and
comment.

**DATES :**  We will consider all comments that we receive on or before August 11,
2014.

**ADDRESSES :**  You may submit comments by either of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/ #!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2014-0013.

• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to Docket No. APHIS–2014–0013, 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-2014-0013 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 :**  Dr. Chip Wells, Senior Staff Veterinarian, Regionalization Evaluation Services, Sanitary Trade Issues Team, National Import Export Services, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 38, Riverdale, MD 20737–1231; (301) 851–3317.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  Background

The regulations in 9 CFR part 93 (referred to below as the regulations) prescribe the conditions for the importation into the United States of specified animals to prevent the introduction of various animal diseases, including African horse sickness (AHS). AHS is a fatal viral equine disease that is not known to exist in the United States.

Part 93, § 93.308 contains requirements governing the importation of horses, mules, zebras, and other equids from regions where AHS exists in order to prevent the introduction of


### 33715 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 113 / Thursday, June 12, 2014 / Notices

AHS into the United States. Equids from countries where AHS exists are eligible for importation into the United States only after undergoing a 60-day quarantine.

The regulations in 9 CFR part 92, § 92.2, contain requirements for requesting the recognition of the animal health status of a region or for the approval of the export of a particular type of animal or animal product to the United States from a foreign region. If, after review and evaluation of the information submitted in support of the request the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) believes the request can be safely granted, APHIS will make its evaluation available for public comment through a notice published in the Federal Register

. Following the close of the comment period, APHIS will review all comments received and will make a final determination regarding the request that will be detailed in another notice published in the Federal Register

.

In March 2009, the Government of Saudi Arabia submitted documentation to APHIS seeking recognition of the entire country of Saudi Arabia as a region free of AHS. In response to Saudi Arabia’s request, APHIS evaluated the risk of introducing AHS into the United States via the importation of equids from Saudi Arabia in accordance with 9 CFR part 92. Based on this evaluation, APHIS concluded that AHS is not known to be present in Saudi Arabia and that the surveillance, prevention, and control measures implemented by Saudi Arabia are sufficient to minimize the likelihood of introducing AHS into the United States via imports of equids.

Therefore, in accordance with § 92.2(e), we are announcing the availability of our evaluation of the AHS status of Saudi Arabia for public review and comment. The evaluation may be viewed on the Regulations.gov Web site or in our reading room. (Instructions for accessing Regulations.gov and information on the location and hours of the reading room are provided under the heading **ADDRESSES** at the beginning of this notice.) The evaluation, as well as the information evaluated, may also be viewed at https://web01.aphis.usda.gov/ db/mtaddr.nsf/WebView?OpenView.

After reviewing any comments we receive, we will announce our decision regarding the disease status of Saudi Arabia with respect to AHS and the import status of susceptible animals in a subsequent notice.

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1622 and 8301–8317; 21 U.S.C. 136 and 136a; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.4. Done in Washington, DC, this 6th day of June 2014. Kevin Shea, Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2014–13786 Filed 6–11–14; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 3410–34–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE**

**Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service** 

**[Docket No. APHIS–2014–0029]**

**Notice of Availability of a Pest Risk Analysis for Interstate Movement of**  **Fresh Achachairu  ́**  **Fruit From Puerto Rico** 

**AGENCY :**  Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

**ACTION :**  Notice of availability.

**SUMMARY :**  We are advising the public that we have prepared a pest risk analysis (PRA) that evaluates the risks associated with the interstate movement into the continental United States of fresh achachairu  ́ fruit from Puerto Rico. Based on that analysis, we believe that the application of one or more designated phytosanitary measures will be sufficient to mitigate the risks of introducing or disseminating plant pests or noxious weeds via the interstate movement of achachairu  ́ from Puerto Rico. We are making the PRA available to the public for review and comment.

**DATES :**  We will consider all comments that we receive on or before August 11,
2014.

**ADDRESSES :**  You may submit comments by either of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/ #!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2014-0029.

• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to Docket No. APHIS–2014–0029, 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-2014-0029 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 :**  Mr. David Lamb, Senior Regulatory Policy Specialist, Regulatory Coordination and Compliance, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737– 1231; (301) 851–2103.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  Background

Under the regulations in ‘‘Subpart— Regulated Articles From Hawaii and the Territories’’ (7 CFR 318.13–1 through 318.13–26, referred to below as the regulations), the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits or restricts the interstate movement of fruits and vegetables into the United States from Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to prevent plant pests and noxious weeds from being introduced into and spread within the continental United States. (The continental United States is defined in § 318.13–2 of the regulations as the 48 contiguous States, Alaska, and the District of Columbia.)

Section 318.13–4 contains a performance-based process for approving the interstate movement 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 and vegetables are inspected in the State of origin or in the first State of arrival;

• The fruits and vegetables originated from a pest-free area in the State of origin and the grower from which the fruit or vegetable originated has entered into a compliance agreement with the Administrator;

• The fruits and vegetables are treated in accordance with 7 CFR part 305 and the treatment is certified by an inspector;

• The fruits and vegetables are inspected and certified in the State of origin by an inspector and have been found free of one or more specific quarantine pests identified by risk analysis as likely to follow the pathway;

• The fruits and vegetables are moved as commercial consignments only; and/

or

• The fruits and vegetables may be distributed only within a defined area and the boxes or containers in which the fruits or vegetables are distributed must be marked to indicate the applicable distribution restrictions.

APHIS received a request from a grower and research scientist with the Puerto Rico Department of Agriculture, with support from the USDA Agricultural Research Service and the