[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 54 (Tuesday, March 21, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14928-14929]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-6907]



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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. 93-026-2]
RIN 0579-AA61


Introduction of Nonindigenous Organisms

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period and notice of public 
hearing.

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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that an additional public hearing 
will be held to give interested persons in the State of Hawaii an 
opportunity for the oral presentation of data, views, and arguments 
regarding a proposed rule that would establish regulations governing 
the introduction (importation, interstate movement, and release into 
the environment) of certain nonindigenous organisms. We are also 
extending by 60 days the period for the public to comment on the 
proposed regulations.

DATES: Consideration will be given only to comments received on or 
before May 26, 1995. We will also consider comments made at a public 
hearing to be held in Honolulu, HI, on April 6, 1995, from 10 a.m. 
until 5 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Please send an original and three copies of your comments to 
Docket No. 93-026-1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, 
Suite 3C03, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please 
state that your comments refer to Docket No. 93-026-1. Comments 
received may be inspected at USDA, room 1141, South Building, 14th 
Street and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC, between 8 a.m. and 
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Persons wishing to 
inspect comments are requested to call ahead on (202) 690-2817 to 
facilitate entry into the comment reading room. The public hearing will 
be held at the following location: Holiday Inn at the Airport, 3401 N. 
Nimitz Highway, Honolulu, HI.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:Dr. Matthew H. Royer, Chief Operations 
Officer, Biological Assessment and Taxonomic Support, PPQ, APHIS, Suite 
4A01, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1228; (301) 734-
8896.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On January 26, 1995, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
(APHIS) published a proposed rule in the Federal Register (60 FR 5288-
5307, Docket No. 93-026-1) to establish regulations governing the 
introduction (importation, interstate movement, and release into the 
environment) of certain nonindigenous organisms, In that document, 
APHIS stated that the proposed rule appears to be necessary because the 
plant pest regulations under which the movement of certain 
nonindigenous organisms are currently regulated do not adequately 
address the introduction of nonindigenous organisms that may 
potentially be plant pests. The proposed regulations would provide a 
means of screening certain nonindigenous organisms prior to their 
introduction to determine the potential plant pest risk associated with 
a particular introduction.
    In the proposed rule, we announced that three public hearings would 
be held: In Kansas City, MO. on March 6, 1995; in Sacramento, CA, on 
March 7, 1995; and in Washington, DC, on March 10, 1995. Since the 
publication of the proposed rule, we have received requests that a 
public hearing also be held in the State of Hawaii. In response to 
those requests, we have scheduled a fourth public hearing, to be held 
at the Holiday Inn at the Airport, 3401 N. Nimitz Highway, Honolulu, 
HI, on April 6, 1995.
    As is the case with the tree previously scheduled hearings, the 
purpose of the hearing is to give interested persons an opportunity for 
the oral presentation of data, views, and arguments. Questions about 
the content of the proposed rule may be part of the commenters' oral 
presentations. However, neither the presiding officer nor any other 
representative of APHIS will respond to the comments at the hearing, 
except to clarify or explain provisions of the proposed rule.
    A representative of APHIS will preside at the public hearing. Any 
interested person may appear and may be heard in person, by attorney, 
or by other representative. Written statements may be submitted and 
will be made part of the hearing record. Persons who wish to speak at a 
public hearing will be asked to provide their name and organization. We 
ask that anyone who reads a statement provide two copies to the 
presiding officer at the hearing.
    The public hearing will begin at 10 a.m. and is scheduled to end at 
5:00 p.m., local time. However, the hearing may be terminated at any 
time after it begins if all persons desiring to speak have been heard. 
If the number of speakers at the hearing warrants it, the 
[[Page 14929]] presiding officer may limit the time for each 
presentation so that everyone wishing to speak has the opportunity.
    In the January 26, 1995, proposed rule, we stated that comments on 
the proposed rule were required to be received on or before March 27, 
1995. However, to receive and consider the comments to be presented at 
the public hearing in Hawaii on April 6, 1995, and to accommodate 
persons who may wish to comment on issues that may be raised at that 
public hearing, we are extending by 60 days the comment period for the 
proposed rule. Therefore, we will consider all comments that are 
received on or before May 26, 1995.
Lonnie J. King,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 95-6907 Filed 3-20-95; 8:45 am]
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