Citrus Canker; Quarantined Areas

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 citrus canker regulations by updating the list of areas in the State of Florida quarantined because of citrus canker. The interim rule was necessary to prevent the spread of citrus canker into noninfested areas of the United States and to relieve restrictions that were no longer warranted.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

The interim rule became effective on September 14, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ms. Lynn Evans-Goldner, Assistant Staff Officer, Pest Detection and Management Programs, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 137, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236, (301) 734-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

In an interim rule effective and published in the Federal Register on September 14, 2004 (69 FR 55315-55320, Docket No. 04-045-1), we amended the regulations in “subpart—Citrus Canker” (7 CFR 301.75 through 301.75-16) by updating the list in § 301.75-4 of areas in the State of Florida quarantined because of citrus canker. Specifically, to reflect the detection of citrus canker in an area adjacent to but outside of one current quarantined area in Florida, as well as in eight additional counties, we expanded the boundaries of one existing quarantined area and added several new areas to the list of quarantined areas. We also removed portions of three counties from the list of quarantined areas because regular surveys showed them to have been free of citrus canker for at least 2 years. These actions were necessary to prevent the spread of citrus canker into noninfested areas of the United States and to relieve restrictions that were no longer warranted.

Comments on the interim rule were required to be received on or before November 15, 2004. We did not receive any comments. Therefore, for the reasons given in the interim rule, we are adopting the interim rule as a final 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 its review under Executive Order 12866.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 301

• Agricultural commodities
• 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 69 FR 55315-55320 on September 14, 2004.