Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2015/02/27/2015-04172/notice-of-availability-of-a-treatment-evaluation-document-methyl-bromide-fumigation-of-figs
Timestamp: 2017-08-22 11:49:19
Document Index: 33622174

Matched Legal Cases: ['§\u2009305', '§\u2009305', '§\u2009305', '§\u2009305', '§\u2009305', '§\u2009305']

Federal Register :: Notice of Availability of a Treatment Evaluation Document; Methyl Bromide Fumigation of Figs
A Notice by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service on 02/27/2015
This document was corrected by an document published on 03/13/2015. View Correction
We will consider all comments that we receive on or before May 28, 2015.
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2015-04172 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2015-04172
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/​#!docketDetail;​D=​APHIS-2015-0007.
Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2015-0007, 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-2015-0007 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.
Dr. Inder P.S. Gadh, Senior Risk Manager-Treatments, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851-2018.
In § 305.2, paragraph (b) states that approved treatment schedules are set out in the Plant Protection and Start Printed Page 10662Quarantine (PPQ) Treatment Manual.[1] Section 305.3 sets out a process for adding, revising, or removing treatment schedules in the PPQ Treatment Manual. In that section, paragraph (b) sets out the process for adding, revising, or removing treatment schedules when there is an immediate need to make a change. The circumstances in which an immediate need exists are described in § 305.3(b)(1). They are:
A treatment schedule currently listed in the PPQ Treatment Manual (T101-i-2-1) requires baby kiwi (Actinidia arguta), fig (Ficus carica), grape (Vitis spp.), and pomegranate (Punica granatum) to be treated with methyl bromide (MB) to prevent the introduction into the United States of external pests, including Chilean false red mite (Brevipalpus chilensis). The treatment as originally approved required the use of 1.5 lb ☐ 4.0 lb of MB gas per 1,000 ft3 for 2 hours at temperatures of 40 °F or above. However, in 2006, APHIS determined that this treatment was insufficient to mitigate the risk from the mite on grapes. Therefore, as an emergency measure, the treatment was amended to require a longer exposure time of up to 3 hours under tarpaulin or 2.5 hours in chamber. As an emergency measure, this action was done administratively and was not meant to be permanent.
On April 4, 2011, APHIS published a notice [2] in the Federal Register (76 FR 18511-18512, Docket No. APHIS-2009-0097) that approved the use of this revised treatment to treat figs from Chile in order to meet U.S. entry requirements. Since publication of that notice, we have determined that figs have a higher sorption rate of the MB gas than other commodities. Therefore, in order to achieve 100 percent mortality of Chilean false red mite on figs, the figs must be exposed to a higher dose of MB.
In accordance with § 305.3(b)(2), we are providing notice that we have determined that it is necessary to add new treatment schedule T101-i-2-22, which provides for a MB treatment schedule for figs during an exposure period of 3 hours in a chamber at a dosage rate of 3.5 lbs gas/1,000 ft3 at a temperature between 50 °F and 59 °F, 3 lbs gas/1,000 ft3 at a temperature between 60 °F and 69 °F, and 2.5 lbs gas/1,000 ft3 at a temperature of 70 °F or above. Since the efficacy of new schedule T101-i-2-2 was not verified under tarpaulin, the new treatment schedule is applicable only in chambers. This action also amends treatment schedule T101-i-2-1 by removing figs from the schedule and making the revised treatment schedule permanent. Revised treatment schedule T101-i-2-1 will continue to be applicable both in chambers and under tarpaulin for grapes, baby kiwis, and pomegranates. APHIS' experience with successful importation of these commodities using the existing treatment schedule has provided sufficient evidence to prove the effectiveness of the treatment. In order to have minimum adverse impact on the ongoing trade of figs and using the immediate process as provided in § 305.3(b), these changes are effective immediately upon publication of this notice. The new treatment schedule will be listed in a separate section of the PPQ Treatment Manual, which will indicate that T101-i-2-22 was added through the immediate process described in paragraph (b) of § 305.3 and that it is subject to change or removal based on public comment.
After reviewing the comments we receive, we will announce our decision regarding the new treatment schedule that is described in the treatment evaluation document in a subsequent notice, in accordance with paragraph (b)(3) of § 305.3. If we do not receive any comments, or the comments we receive do not change our determination that the treatment is effective, we will affirm the treatment schedule's addition to the PPQ Treatment Manual and make available a new version of the PPQ Treatment Manual in which T101-i-2-2 is listed in the main body of the PPQ Treatment Manual. If we receive comments that cause us to determine that T101-i-2-2 needs to be changed or removed, we will make available a new version of the PPQ Treatment Manual that reflects changes to or the removal of T101-i-2-2.
2. To view the notice and the comments we received, go to http://www.regulations.gov/​#!docketDetail;​D=​APHIS-2009-0097.
[FR Doc. 2015-04172 Filed 2-26-15; 8:45 am]