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.

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Rules and Regulations Federal Register

16979

Vol. 60, No. 64

Tuesday, April 4, 1995

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection

Service

7 CFR Part 201

[Docket No. 95–004–1]

Federal Seed Act Regulations

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health

Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: We are amending the Federal

Seed Act regulations to remove the

staining requirements for seed of alfalfa

and red clover imported into the United

States. The removal of the requirements

is necessary to make the regulations

conform to the amendment of the

Federal Seed Act by the Uruguay Round

Agreements Act. This action relieves a

restriction on the importation of alfalfa

and red clover seed into the United

States.

EFFECTIVE DATE: April 4, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.

Polly Lehtonen, Botanist, Biological

Assessment and Taxonomic Support,

Operational Support, Plant Protection

and Quarantine, APHIS, USDA, 4700

River Rd., Unit 133, Riverdale, MD

20737–1228, (301) 734–8896.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

We are amending the Federal Seed

Act Regulations in 7 CFR part 201

(referred to below as the regulations) by

removing the provisions concerning

staining of seed of alfalfa and red clover

imported into the United States.

Legislation implementing the

Uruguay Round of the General

Agreements on Tariffs and Trade

(referred to below as the Uruguay Round

Agreements Act), Pub. L. 103–465,

amended the Federal Seed Act by

removing staining requirements in 7

U.S.C. 1581, 1582, 1585, and 1586 for

seed imported into the United States. As

a result, the Animal and Plant Health

Inspection Service no longer has

authority to require such staining under

the regulations.

We are, therefore, amending the

regulations by removing §§ 201.104

through 201.106, which contain

provisions for staining. As a result of

this action, no seeds of red clover and

alfalfa imported into the United States

for propagation will need to be stained

prior to entry.

Immediate Action

The Administrator of the Animal and

Plant Health Inspection Service has

determined that good cause exists to

publish this final rule without prior

notice and opportunity for public

comment.

The staining requirements for seed of

alfalfa and red clover imported into the

United States must be removed as a

result of the statutory amendments

discussed above.

This action relieves a restriction on

the importation of alfalfa and red clover

seed into the United States. Since prior

notice and other public procedures with

respect to this final rule are

impracticable, unnecessary, and

contrary to the public interest, and since

this regulatory change is mandated by

Congress, there is good cause under 5

U.S.C. 553 for making this final rule

effective upon publication.

Executive Order 12866 and Regulatory

Flexibility Act

This rule has been reviewed under

Executive Order 12866. The rule has

been determined to be not significant for

purposes of Executive Order 12866 and,

therefore, has not been reviewed by the

Office of Management and Budget.

This final rule removes the staining

requirement for alfalfa and red clover

seed that is imported into the United

States. This action will save importers

of alfalfa seed and red clover seed from

certain countries the relatively small

cost of staining the seed.

Under these circumstances, the

Administrator of the Animal and Plant

Health Inspection Service has

determined that this action will not

have a significant economic impact on

a substantial number of small entities.

Executive Order 12278

This rule has been reviewed under

executive Order 12778, Civil Justice

Reform. This rule: (1) Preempts all State

and local laws and regulations that are

inconsistent with this rule; (2) has no

retroactive effect; and (3) does not

require administrative proceedings

before parties may file suit in court

challenging this rule.

Paperwork Reduction Act

This rule contains no information

collection or recordkeeping

requirements under the Paperwork

Reduction Act of 1980 (44 U.S.C. 3501

et seq.).

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 201

Advertising, Agricultural

commodities, Imports, Labeling,

Reporting and recordkeeping

requirements, Seeds, Vegetables.

Accordingly, 7 CFR part 201 is

amended as follows:

PART 201—FEDERAL SEED ACT

REGULATIONS

1. The authority citation for part 201

continues to read as follows:

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1582.

PART 201—[AMENDED]

2. Part 201 is amended by removing

§§ 201.104, 201.105, and 201.106, and

redesignating §§ 201.107, 201.108, and

201.109 as §§ 201.104, 201.105, and

201.106, respectively.

Done in Washington, DC, this 28th day of

March 1995.

Terry L. Medley,

Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant

Health Inspection Service.

[FR Doc. 95–8096 Filed 4–3–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–34–P

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory

Commission

18 CFR Part 284

[Docket No. RM95–5–000; Order No. 577]

Release of Firm Capacity on Interstate

Natural Gas Pipelines

Issued March 29, 1995.

AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory

Commission.