81_FR_3954 81 FR 3939 - Lacey Act Implementation Plan; Definitions for Exempt and Regulated Articles

81 FR 3939 - Lacey Act Implementation Plan; Definitions for Exempt and Regulated Articles

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 15 (January 25, 2016)

Page Range3939-3941
FR Document2016-01399

We are adopting as a final rule, without change, an interim final rule that established definitions for the terms common cultivar and common food crop and several related terms. The 2008 amendments to the Lacey Act expanded its protections to a broader range of plant species; extended its reach to encompass products, including timber, that derive from illegally harvested plants; and required that importers submit a declaration at the time of importation for certain plants and plant products. Common cultivars and common food crops are among the categorical exclusions to the provisions of the Act. The Act does not define the terms common cultivar and common food crop but instead gives authority to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of the Interior to define these terms by regulation. The interim final rule specifically requested comment on definitions of two related terms: Commercial scale and tree. This document responds to comments we received on those definitions.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 15 (Monday, January 25, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 15 (Monday, January 25, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 3939-3941]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-01399]



========================================================================
Rules and Regulations
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

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.

The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by the Superintendent of Documents. 
Prices of new books are listed in the first FEDERAL REGISTER issue of each 
week.

========================================================================


Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 15 / Monday, January 25, 2016 / Rules 
and Regulations

[[Page 3939]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

7 CFR Part 357

[Docket No. APHIS-2009-0018]
RIN 0579-AD11


Lacey Act Implementation Plan; Definitions for Exempt and 
Regulated Articles

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Affirmation of interim final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We are adopting as a final rule, without change, an interim 
final rule that established definitions for the terms common cultivar 
and common food crop and several related terms. The 2008 amendments to 
the Lacey Act expanded its protections to a broader range of plant 
species; extended its reach to encompass products, including timber, 
that derive from illegally harvested plants; and required that 
importers submit a declaration at the time of importation for certain 
plants and plant products. Common cultivars and common food crops are 
among the categorical exclusions to the provisions of the Act. The Act 
does not define the terms common cultivar and common food crop but 
instead gives authority to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the 
U.S. Department of the Interior to define these terms by regulation. 
The interim final rule specifically requested comment on definitions of 
two related terms: Commercial scale and tree. This document responds to 
comments we received on those definitions.

DATES: Effective on January 25, 2016, we are adopting as a final rule 
the interim final rule published at 78 FR 40940-40945 on July 9, 2013.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Parul Patel, Senior 
Agriculturalist, Imports, Regulations, and Manuals, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 
River Road Unit 60, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; 301-851-2351.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Lacey Act (16 U.S.C. 3371 et seq.), first enacted in 1900 and 
significantly amended in 1981, is the United States' oldest wildlife 
protection statute. The Act combats trafficking in ``illegal'' 
wildlife, fish, and plants. The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 
2008, effective May 22, 2008, amended the Lacey Act by expanding its 
protections to a broader range of plants and plant products (Section 
8204, Prevention of Illegal Logging Practices). As amended, the Lacey 
Act now makes it unlawful to, among other things, import, export, 
transport, sell, receive, acquire, or purchase in interstate or foreign 
commerce any plant, with some limited exceptions, taken, possessed, 
transported or sold in violation of any Federal, State, tribal, or 
foreign law that protects plants or that regulates the theft of plants; 
the taking of plants from a park, forest reserve, or other officially 
protected area; the taking of plants from an officially designated 
area; or the taking of plants without, or contrary to, required 
authorization.
    The statute excludes from the definition of the term ``plant'' the 
following categories: (i) Common cultivars, except trees, and common 
food crops; (ii) scientific specimens for laboratory or field research 
(unless they are listed in an appendix to the Convention on 
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora 
(CITES, 27 UST 1087; TIAS 8249); as an endangered or threatened species 
under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); or 
pursuant to any State law that provides for the conservation of species 
that are indigenous to the State and are threatened with extinction); 
and (iii) plants that are to remain planted or to be planted or 
replanted (unless they are listed in an appendix to CITES; as an 
endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 
1973; or pursuant to any State law that provides for the conservation 
of species that are indigenous to the State and are threatened with 
extinction). The Lacey Act also now makes it unlawful to make or submit 
any false record, account, or label for, or any false identification 
of, any plant covered by the Act.
    In addition, Section 3 of the Lacey Act, as amended, makes it 
unlawful, beginning December 15, 2008, to import plants and plant 
products without an import declaration. The declaration must contain, 
among other things, the scientific name of the plant, value of the 
importation, quantity of the plant, and name of the country from which 
the plant was harvested. Currently, enforcement of the declaration 
requirement is being phased in, as described in two notices we 
published in the Federal Register \1\ (74 FR 5911-5913 and 74 FR 45415-
45418, Docket No. APHIS-2008-0119).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ To view these notices and the comments we received, go to 
http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2008-0119.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    On August 4, 2010, we published in the Federal Register (75 FR 
46859-46861, Docket No. APHIS-2009-0018) a proposal \2\ to establish a 
new part in the plant-related provisions of title 7, chapter III of the 
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), containing definitions for the terms 
common cultivar and common food crop. Common cultivars and common food 
crops are among the categorical exclusions to the provisions of the 
Act. The Act does not define the terms common cultivar and common food 
crop but instead gives authority to the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
and the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) to define these terms by 
regulation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ To view the proposed rule and the comments we received, go 
to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2009-0018.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Comments on the proposed rule were required to be received on or 
before November 29, 2010. The comments we received on the proposed rule 
included concerns about two additional terms used in the regulations. 
Specifically, some commenters asked that we define the term commercial 
scale to clarify that the definitions apply to specialty products grown 
commercially on a smaller scale. One commenter also asked that we 
define the word tree as it is used in the regulations. The commenter 
noted that there is no globally accepted botanical definition for tree 
and stated that adding a definition to the regulations would help 
clarify which products require a declaration.

[[Page 3940]]

    We agreed with the commenters that adding definitions of these 
terms would improve clarity. Therefore, in an interim final rule \3\ 
published in the Federal Register on July 9, 2013 (78 FR 40940-40945, 
Docket No. APHIS-2009-0018), we proposed to define commercial scale as 
``production, in individual products or markets, that is typical of 
commercial activity, regardless of the production methods or amount of 
production of a particular facility, or the purpose of an individual 
shipment'' and tree as ``a woody perennial plant that has a well-
defined stem or stems and a continuous cambium, and that exhibits true 
secondary growth.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ To view the interim final rule and the comments we received, 
go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2009-0018.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We invited public comment on these two definitions. Comments on the 
interim final rule were required to be received on or before August 8, 
2013. We received two comments by that date. The comments were from an 
organization of State plant pest regulatory agencies and a retailer 
selling home furnishings.
    One commenter supported the additional definitions as proposed. The 
other commenter stated that the definitions of common cultivar, common 
food crop, and tree do not provide enough clarity for importers to 
determine whether certain products are subject to provisions of the 
Act, but did not address the specific wording of the definitions. The 
commenter also asked whether certain products, including rattan, palm 
leaves, and willow and osier branches, were considered common cultivars 
and if they would be included on the list of common cultivars.
    Willows and osiers are trees and therefore cannot be excepted from 
the declaration requirement. We note that several species of palms, 
including African oil palm (Elaeis guineensis), carnauba palm 
(Copernicia spp.), and palms in the genera Astrocaryum, Bactris, and 
Euterpe are included on the list of common cultivars and common food 
crops that are excepted from the declaration requirement. Rattan and 
other palms are not currently excepted from the declaration requirement 
but may be evaluated as common food crops or common cultivars if a 
member of the public submits a request as described below.
    As we explained in the interim final rule, the list of common 
cultivars and common food crops is intended to be illustrative, not 
exhaustive. The list is available on the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service (APHIS) Web site at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/lacey_act/index.shtml. The public may also send inquiries 
about specific taxa or commodities and requests to add taxa or 
commodities to the list, or remove them from the list, by writing to 
The Lacey Act, ATT: Common Cultivar/Common Food Crop, c/o U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Box 10, 4700 River Road, Riverdale, MD 20737 
or by email to [email protected] and including the 
following information:
     Scientific name of the plant (genus, species);
     Common or trade names;
     Annual trade volume (e.g., cubic meters) or weight (e.g., 
metric tons/kilograms) of the commodity; and
     Any other information that will help us make a 
determination, such as countries or regions where grown, estimated 
number of acres or hectares in commercial production, and so on.
    Decisions about which products will be included on the list will be 
made jointly by APHIS and the DOI's Fish and Wildlife Service. We will 
inform our stakeholders when the list is updated via email and other 
electronic media. We will also note updates of the list on APHIS' Lacey 
Act Web site mentioned above.
    Therefore, for the reasons given in the interim final rule and in 
this document, we are adopting the interim final rule as a final rule 
without change.
    This action also affirms the information contained in the interim 
final rule concerning Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 and the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act, Executive Orders 12988 and 13175.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    Section 3 of the Lacey Act makes it unlawful to import certain 
plants and plant products without an import declaration, which must 
contain, among other things, the scientific name of the plant, value of 
the importation, quantity of the plant, and name of the country in 
which the plant was harvested. In addition, there is a supplemental 
form that must be completed if additional space is needed to declare 
additional plants and plant products. Also, records of the import 
declaration and supplemental form must be retained for at least 5 
years. These collection activities have been approved by the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) under OMB control number 0579-0349. We 
published a notice in the Federal Register on August 21, 2014 (79 FR 
49491-49492, Docket No. APHIS-2014-0073) seeking an extension of the 
approval for this information collection.
    Common cultivars and common food crops are among the categorical 
exclusions to the provisions of the Act. In the July 2013 interim final 
rule, we advised the public that inquiries about specific taxa or 
commodities and requests to add taxa or commodities to the list, or 
remove them from the list, be sent in writing to APHIS, including 
information as to the scientific name of the plant (genus, species), 
common or trade names, annual trade volume (e.g., cubic meters) or 
weight (e.g., metric tons/kilograms) of the commodity, and any other 
information that will help us make a determination, such as countries 
or regions where grown, estimated number of acres or hectares in 
commercial production, and so on.
    We inadvertently did not obtain OMB approval for this information 
collection activity. Therefore, in accordance with section 3507(d) of 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), we 
published a notice in the Federal Register on October 15, 2014 (79 FR 
61846-61847, Docket No. APHIS-2014-0082), announcing our intention to 
initiate this information collection and to solicit comments. We have 
asked OMB to approve our use of this information collection for 3 
years. When OMB notifies us of its decision, we will publish a document 
in the Federal Register providing notice of the assigned OMB control 
number, and we will combine this collection with OMB control number 
0579-0349 once it is approved by OMB.

E-Government Act Compliance

    The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is committed to 
compliance with the EGovernment Act to promote the use of the Internet 
and other information technologies, to provide increased opportunities 
for citizen access to Government information and services, and for 
other purposes. For information pertinent to E-Government Act 
compliance related to this rule, please contact Ms. Kimberly Hardy, 
APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 851-2727.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 357

    Endangered and threatened species, Plants (Agriculture).

PART 357--CONTROL OF ILLEGALLY TAKEN PLANTS

0
Accordingly, we are adopting as a final rule, without change, the 
interim final rule that amended 7 CFR part 357 and that was published 
at 78 FR 40940-40945 on July 9, 2013.


[[Page 3941]]


    Done in Washington, DC, this 15th day of January 2016.
Gary Woodward,
Deputy Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. 2016-01399 Filed 1-22-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-34-P



                                                                                                                                                                                                         3939

                                                Rules and Regulations                                                                                          Federal Register
                                                                                                                                                               Vol. 81, No. 15

                                                                                                                                                               Monday, January 25, 2016



                                                This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER                    Imports, Regulations, and Manuals,                     label for, or any false identification of,
                                                contains regulatory documents having general            PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 60,                   any plant covered by the Act.
                                                applicability and legal effect, most of which           Riverdale, MD 20737–1231; 301–851–
                                                are keyed to and codified in the Code of
                                                                                                                                                                  In addition, Section 3 of the Lacey
                                                                                                        2351.                                                  Act, as amended, makes it unlawful,
                                                Federal Regulations, which is published under
                                                50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.                   SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                             beginning December 15, 2008, to import
                                                                                                                                                               plants and plant products without an
                                                                                                        Background
                                                The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by                                                                     import declaration. The declaration
                                                the Superintendent of Documents. Prices of                 The Lacey Act (16 U.S.C. 3371 et                    must contain, among other things, the
                                                new books are listed in the first FEDERAL               seq.), first enacted in 1900 and                       scientific name of the plant, value of the
                                                REGISTER issue of each week.                            significantly amended in 1981, is the                  importation, quantity of the plant, and
                                                                                                        United States’ oldest wildlife protection              name of the country from which the
                                                                                                        statute. The Act combats trafficking in                plant was harvested. Currently,
                                                DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE                               ‘‘illegal’’ wildlife, fish, and plants. The            enforcement of the declaration
                                                                                                        Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of                  requirement is being phased in, as
                                                Animal and Plant Health Inspection
                                                                                                        2008, effective May 22, 2008, amended                  described in two notices we published
                                                Service
                                                                                                        the Lacey Act by expanding its                         in the Federal Register 1 (74 FR 5911–
                                                                                                        protections to a broader range of plants               5913 and 74 FR 45415–45418, Docket
                                                7 CFR Part 357
                                                                                                        and plant products (Section 8204,                      No. APHIS–2008–0119).
                                                [Docket No. APHIS–2009–0018]                            Prevention of Illegal Logging Practices).
                                                                                                                                                                  On August 4, 2010, we published in
                                                                                                        As amended, the Lacey Act now makes
                                                RIN 0579–AD11                                                                                                  the Federal Register (75 FR 46859–
                                                                                                        it unlawful to, among other things,
                                                                                                                                                               46861, Docket No. APHIS–2009–0018) a
                                                Lacey Act Implementation Plan;                          import, export, transport, sell, receive,
                                                                                                                                                               proposal 2 to establish a new part in the
                                                Definitions for Exempt and Regulated                    acquire, or purchase in interstate or
                                                                                                                                                               plant-related provisions of title 7,
                                                Articles                                                foreign commerce any plant, with some
                                                                                                                                                               chapter III of the Code of Federal
                                                                                                        limited exceptions, taken, possessed,
                                                AGENCY:  Animal and Plant Health                                                                               Regulations (CFR), containing
                                                                                                        transported or sold in violation of any
                                                Inspection Service, USDA.                                                                                      definitions for the terms common
                                                                                                        Federal, State, tribal, or foreign law that
                                                                                                                                                               cultivar and common food crop.
                                                ACTION: Affirmation of interim final rule.              protects plants or that regulates the theft
                                                                                                                                                               Common cultivars and common food
                                                                                                        of plants; the taking of plants from a
                                                SUMMARY:   We are adopting as a final                                                                          crops are among the categorical
                                                                                                        park, forest reserve, or other officially
                                                rule, without change, an interim final                                                                         exclusions to the provisions of the Act.
                                                                                                        protected area; the taking of plants from
                                                rule that established definitions for the                                                                      The Act does not define the terms
                                                                                                        an officially designated area; or the
                                                terms common cultivar and common                                                                               common cultivar and common food
                                                                                                        taking of plants without, or contrary to,
                                                food crop and several related terms. The                                                                       crop but instead gives authority to the
                                                                                                        required authorization.
                                                2008 amendments to the Lacey Act                                                                               U.S. Department of Agriculture and the
                                                                                                           The statute excludes from the
                                                expanded its protections to a broader                                                                          U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) to
                                                                                                        definition of the term ‘‘plant’’ the
                                                range of plant species; extended its                                                                           define these terms by regulation.
                                                                                                        following categories: (i) Common
                                                reach to encompass products, including                  cultivars, except trees, and common                       Comments on the proposed rule were
                                                timber, that derive from illegally                      food crops; (ii) scientific specimens for              required to be received on or before
                                                harvested plants; and required that                     laboratory or field research (unless they              November 29, 2010. The comments we
                                                importers submit a declaration at the                   are listed in an appendix to the                       received on the proposed rule included
                                                time of importation for certain plants                  Convention on International Trade in                   concerns about two additional terms
                                                and plant products. Common cultivars                    Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and                   used in the regulations. Specifically,
                                                and common food crops are among the                     Flora (CITES, 27 UST 1087; TIAS 8249);                 some commenters asked that we define
                                                categorical exclusions to the provisions                as an endangered or threatened species                 the term commercial scale to clarify that
                                                of the Act. The Act does not define the                 under the Endangered Species Act of                    the definitions apply to specialty
                                                terms common cultivar and common                        1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); or                      products grown commercially on a
                                                food crop but instead gives authority to                pursuant to any State law that provides                smaller scale. One commenter also
                                                the U.S. Department of Agriculture and                  for the conservation of species that are               asked that we define the word tree as it
                                                the U.S. Department of the Interior to                  indigenous to the State and are                        is used in the regulations. The
                                                define these terms by regulation. The                   threatened with extinction); and (iii)                 commenter noted that there is no
                                                interim final rule specifically requested               plants that are to remain planted or to                globally accepted botanical definition
                                                comment on definitions of two related                   be planted or replanted (unless they are               for tree and stated that adding a
                                                terms: Commercial scale and tree. This                  listed in an appendix to CITES; as an                  definition to the regulations would help
                                                document responds to comments we                        endangered or threatened species under                 clarify which products require a
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES




                                                received on those definitions.                          the Endangered Species Act of 1973; or                 declaration.
                                                DATES: Effective on January 25, 2016, we                pursuant to any State law that provides
                                                are adopting as a final rule the interim                for the conservation of species that are                 1 To view these notices and the comments we

                                                final rule published at 78 FR 40940–                    indigenous to the State and are                        received, go to http://www.regulations.gov/
                                                40945 on July 9, 2013.                                                                                         #!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2008-0119.
                                                                                                        threatened with extinction). The Lacey                   2 To view the proposed rule and the comments
                                                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.                    Act also now makes it unlawful to make                 we received, go to http://www.regulations.gov/
                                                Parul Patel, Senior Agriculturalist,                    or submit any false record, account, or                #!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2009-0018.



                                           VerDate Sep<11>2014   13:57 Jan 22, 2016   Jkt 238001   PO 00000   Frm 00001   Fmt 4700   Sfmt 4700   E:\FR\FM\25JAR1.SGM   25JAR1


                                                3940              Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 15 / Monday, January 25, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                                   We agreed with the commenters that                   site at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/                     extension of the approval for this
                                                adding definitions of these terms would                 plant_health/lacey_act/index.shtml.                    information collection.
                                                improve clarity. Therefore, in an interim               The public may also send inquiries                        Common cultivars and common food
                                                final rule 3 published in the Federal                   about specific taxa or commodities and                 crops are among the categorical
                                                Register on July 9, 2013 (78 FR 40940–                  requests to add taxa or commodities to                 exclusions to the provisions of the Act.
                                                40945, Docket No. APHIS–2009–0018),                     the list, or remove them from the list, by             In the July 2013 interim final rule, we
                                                we proposed to define commercial scale                  writing to The Lacey Act, ATT:                         advised the public that inquiries about
                                                as ‘‘production, in individual products                 Common Cultivar/Common Food Crop,                      specific taxa or commodities and
                                                or markets, that is typical of commercial               c/o U.S. Department of Agriculture, Box                requests to add taxa or commodities to
                                                activity, regardless of the production                  10, 4700 River Road, Riverdale, MD                     the list, or remove them from the list, be
                                                methods or amount of production of a                    20737 or by email to                                   sent in writing to APHIS, including
                                                particular facility, or the purpose of an               lacey.act.declaration@aphis.usda.gov                   information as to the scientific name of
                                                individual shipment’’ and tree as ‘‘a                   and including the following                            the plant (genus, species), common or
                                                woody perennial plant that has a well-                  information:                                           trade names, annual trade volume (e.g.,
                                                defined stem or stems and a continuous                     • Scientific name of the plant (genus,              cubic meters) or weight (e.g., metric
                                                cambium, and that exhibits true                         species);                                              tons/kilograms) of the commodity, and
                                                secondary growth.’’                                        • Common or trade names;                            any other information that will help us
                                                   We invited public comment on these                      • Annual trade volume (e.g., cubic                  make a determination, such as countries
                                                two definitions. Comments on the                        meters) or weight (e.g., metric tons/                  or regions where grown, estimated
                                                interim final rule were required to be                  kilograms) of the commodity; and                       number of acres or hectares in
                                                received on or before August 8, 2013.                      • Any other information that will                   commercial production, and so on.
                                                We received two comments by that date.                  help us make a determination, such as                     We inadvertently did not obtain OMB
                                                The comments were from an                               countries or regions where grown,                      approval for this information collection
                                                organization of State plant pest                        estimated number of acres or hectares in               activity. Therefore, in accordance with
                                                regulatory agencies and a retailer selling              commercial production, and so on.                      section 3507(d) of the Paperwork
                                                home furnishings.                                          Decisions about which products will                 Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501
                                                   One commenter supported the                          be included on the list will be made                   et seq.), we published a notice in the
                                                additional definitions as proposed. The                 jointly by APHIS and the DOI’s Fish and                Federal Register on October 15, 2014
                                                other commenter stated that the                         Wildlife Service. We will inform our                   (79 FR 61846–61847, Docket No.
                                                definitions of common cultivar,                         stakeholders when the list is updated                  APHIS–2014–0082), announcing our
                                                common food crop, and tree do not                       via email and other electronic media.                  intention to initiate this information
                                                provide enough clarity for importers to                 We will also note updates of the list on               collection and to solicit comments. We
                                                determine whether certain products are                  APHIS’ Lacey Act Web site mentioned                    have asked OMB to approve our use of
                                                subject to provisions of the Act, but did               above.                                                 this information collection for 3 years.
                                                not address the specific wording of the                    Therefore, for the reasons given in the             When OMB notifies us of its decision,
                                                definitions. The commenter also asked                   interim final rule and in this document,               we will publish a document in the
                                                whether certain products, including                     we are adopting the interim final rule as              Federal Register providing notice of the
                                                rattan, palm leaves, and willow and                     a final rule without change.                           assigned OMB control number, and we
                                                osier branches, were considered                                                                                will combine this collection with OMB
                                                                                                           This action also affirms the
                                                common cultivars and if they would be                                                                          control number 0579–0349 once it is
                                                                                                        information contained in the interim
                                                included on the list of common                                                                                 approved by OMB.
                                                                                                        final rule concerning Executive Orders
                                                cultivars.
                                                                                                        12866 and 13563 and the Regulatory                     E-Government Act Compliance
                                                   Willows and osiers are trees and
                                                                                                        Flexibility Act, Executive Orders 12988
                                                therefore cannot be excepted from the                                                                             The Animal and Plant Health
                                                                                                        and 13175.
                                                declaration requirement. We note that                                                                          Inspection Service is committed to
                                                several species of palms, including                     Paperwork Reduction Act                                compliance with the EGovernment Act
                                                African oil palm (Elaeis guineensis),                                                                          to promote the use of the Internet and
                                                                                                           Section 3 of the Lacey Act makes it
                                                carnauba palm (Copernicia spp.), and                                                                           other information technologies, to
                                                                                                        unlawful to import certain plants and
                                                palms in the genera Astrocaryum,                                                                               provide increased opportunities for
                                                                                                        plant products without an import
                                                Bactris, and Euterpe are included on the                                                                       citizen access to Government
                                                                                                        declaration, which must contain, among
                                                list of common cultivars and common                                                                            information and services, and for other
                                                                                                        other things, the scientific name of the
                                                food crops that are excepted from the                                                                          purposes. For information pertinent to
                                                                                                        plant, value of the importation, quantity
                                                declaration requirement. Rattan and                                                                            E-Government Act compliance related
                                                                                                        of the plant, and name of the country in
                                                other palms are not currently excepted                                                                         to this rule, please contact Ms. Kimberly
                                                                                                        which the plant was harvested. In
                                                from the declaration requirement but                                                                           Hardy, APHIS’ Information Collection
                                                                                                        addition, there is a supplemental form
                                                may be evaluated as common food crops                                                                          Coordinator, at (301) 851–2727.
                                                                                                        that must be completed if additional
                                                or common cultivars if a member of the
                                                                                                        space is needed to declare additional                  List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 357
                                                public submits a request as described
                                                                                                        plants and plant products. Also, records                 Endangered and threatened species,
                                                below.
                                                                                                        of the import declaration and                          Plants (Agriculture).
                                                   As we explained in the interim final
                                                                                                        supplemental form must be retained for
                                                rule, the list of common cultivars and
                                                                                                        at least 5 years. These collection                     PART 357—CONTROL OF ILLEGALLY
                                                common food crops is intended to be
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES




                                                                                                        activities have been approved by the                   TAKEN PLANTS
                                                illustrative, not exhaustive. The list is
                                                                                                        Office of Management and Budget
                                                available on the Animal and Plant
                                                                                                        (OMB) under OMB control number                         ■ Accordingly, we are adopting as a
                                                Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Web
                                                                                                        0579–0349. We published a notice in                    final rule, without change, the interim
                                                  3 To view the interim final rule and the comments     the Federal Register on August 21, 2014                final rule that amended 7 CFR part 357
                                                we received, go to http://www.regulations.gov/          (79 FR 49491–49492, Docket No.                         and that was published at 78 FR 40940–
                                                #!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2009-0018.                       APHIS–2014–0073) seeking an                            40945 on July 9, 2013.


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                                                                  Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 15 / Monday, January 25, 2016 / Rules and Regulations                                            3941

                                                  Done in Washington, DC, this 15th day of                Dated: January 20, 2016.                             opposed the proposed increases to the
                                                January 2016.                                           Dale L. Aultman,                                       size standards in the wholesale trade
                                                Gary Woodward,                                          Secretary, Farm Credit Administration Board.           industries. However, while some
                                                Deputy Under Secretary for Marketing and                [FR Doc. 2016–01398 Filed 1–22–16; 8:45 am]            commenters appeared to be cognizant of
                                                Regulatory Programs.                                    BILLING CODE 6705–01–P
                                                                                                                                                               the effects of the proposed increases and
                                                [FR Doc. 2016–01399 Filed 1–22–16; 8:45 am]                                                                    how they apply to various small
                                                BILLING CODE 3410–34–P                                                                                         business programs and their industries,
                                                                                                                                                               others did not seem to be aware that the
                                                                                                        SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
                                                                                                                                                               NAICS codes and size standards for the
                                                                                                        13 CFR Part 121                                        wholesale and retail trade industries do
                                                FARM CREDIT ADMINISTRATION                                                                                     not apply to Federal Government
                                                                                                        RIN 3245–AG49                                          procurement programs and the
                                                12 CFR Parts 600 and 606                                                                                       proposed increases would have no
                                                                                                        Small Business Size Standards:                         impact on size eligibility for Federal
                                                                                                        Employee Based Size Standards in                       contracts.
                                                RIN 3052–AD08                                           Wholesale Trade and Retail Trade                         What follows is a summary and
                                                Organization and Functions;                             AGENCY:  U.S. Small Business                           discussion of the comments, their
                                                Enforcement of Nondiscrimination on                     Administration.                                        positions and the issues they raise, and
                                                the Basis of Handicap in Programs or                    ACTION: Final rule.                                    SBA’s responses. All comments are
                                                Activities Conducted by the Farm                                                                               available for public review at the
                                                Credit Administration; Organization of                  SUMMARY:    The U.S. Small Business                    Federal Rulemaking Portal,
                                                the Farm Credit Administration                          Administration (SBA or Agency) is                      www.regulations.gov.
                                                                                                        increasing 47 small business size
                                                AGENCY:    Farm Credit Administration.                                                                         Summary and Discussion of Public
                                                                                                        standards based on a concern’s number
                                                                                                                                                               Comments to the May 19, 2014
                                                ACTION:   Notice of effective date.                     of employees. These increases affect 46
                                                                                                                                                               Proposed Rule
                                                                                                        industries in North American Industry
                                                SUMMARY:   The Farm Credit                              Classification System (NAICS) Sector                      Two parties submitted identical
                                                Administration (FCA, we, Agency or                      42, Wholesale Trade, and one industry                  comments, opposing SBA’s proposal to
                                                our) amended our regulations to reflect                 in NAICS Sector 44–45, Retail Trade.                   increase the size standards. The
                                                internal organization changes and to                    SBA retains the size standards for the                 commenters stated that current size
                                                update a statutory citation for the Farm                remaining industries in those sectors                  standards are already too high, and
                                                Credit Act. In accordance with the law,                 and the 500-employee size standard for                 expanding them will make matters
                                                                                                        the Federal Government’s procurement                   worse. The commenters contended that
                                                the effective date of the rule is no earlier
                                                                                                        of supplies under the nonmanufacturer                  98 percent of all businesses (including
                                                than 30 days from the date of
                                                                                                        rule. As part of its comprehensive size                non-employer firms) have 1–19
                                                publication in the Federal Register
                                                                                                        standards review under the Small                       employees, and those businesses mostly
                                                during which either or both Houses of
                                                                                                        Business Jobs Act of 2010, SBA                         need loans of $50,000 to $250,000.
                                                Congress are in session.
                                                                                                        reviewed all 71 industries in NAICS                    Expanding the definition of ‘‘small’’ is
                                                DATES:  Under the authority of 12 U.S.C.                                                                       crippling their ability to get loans, they
                                                                                                        Sector 42, as well as the two industries
                                                2252, the regulation amending 12 CFR                                                                           added. The commenters maintained that
                                                                                                        in NAICS Sector 44–45, that have
                                                parts 600 and 606 published on                                                                                 the average size of SBA’s loan increased
                                                                                                        employee based size standards. The
                                                November 5, 2015 (80 FR 68427) is                                                                              from $182,000 in 2008 to $547,000 in
                                                                                                        revisions adopted in this rule primarily
                                                effective January 25, 2016.                                                                                    2013, while the share of loans under
                                                                                                        affect eligibility for SBA’s financial
                                                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                        assistance programs, and have no                       $100,000, which they claimed generally
                                                Michael T. Wilson, Policy Analyst,                      impact on Federal procurement                          go to truly small businesses, decreased
                                                Office of Regulatory Policy, Farm Credit                programs.                                              from 24 percent to 9 percent.
                                                Administration, McLean, VA 22102–                                                                                 The European Union defines the
                                                                                                        DATES: This rule is effective on February              smallest unit of small business as less
                                                5090, (703) 883–4124, TTY (703) 883–                    26, 2016.
                                                4056, or Jane Virga, Senior Counsel,                                                                           than 10 employees, and Australia
                                                                                                        FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carl                  defines ‘‘small’’ as 1–14 employees
                                                Office of General Counsel, Farm Credit
                                                                                                        Jordan, Office of Size Standards, (202)                under its Fair Work Act, the
                                                Administration, McLean, VA 22102–
                                                                                                        205–6618 or sizestandards@sba.gov.                     commenters noted. In addition, they
                                                5090, (703) 883–4071, TTY (703) 883–
                                                4056.                                                   SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May                      stated that the U.S. Congress defines
                                                                                                        19, 2014 (79 FR 28631), SBA proposed                   small business as 20–25 employees
                                                SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:       The Farm               to increase employee based size                        ‘‘and rarely as high as 50.’’ The
                                                Credit Administration amended our                       standards for 46 industries in NAICS                   commenters asked SBA to stop focusing
                                                regulations to reflect internal                         Sector 42, Wholesale Trade, and one                    on 2 percent of the largest small
                                                organization changes and to update a                    industry in NAICS Sector 44–45, Retail                 businesses and refocus on the remaining
                                                statutory citation for the Farm Credit                  Trade. The Agency proposed keeping                     98 percent of small businesses because
                                                Act. In accordance with 12 U.S.C. 2252,                 the current size standards for the                     they are the ones who really need the
                                                the effective date of the final rule is no              remaining industries in those sectors.                 help. The higher size standards, if
                                                earlier than 30 days from the date of                   SBA also proposed to retain the 500-                   adopted, will put loan assistance out of
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES




                                                publication in the Federal Register                     employee size standard for Federal                     reach for most small businesses, they
                                                during which either or both Houses of                   procurement of supplies under the                      argued.
                                                Congress are in session. Based on the                   nonmanufacturer rule (13 CFR 121.406).                    Another commenter that offers startup
                                                records of the sessions of Congress, the                   The proposed rule sought comments                   workshops to entrepreneurs expressed
                                                effective date of the regulations is                    from the public on the Agency’s                        concerns on how SBA defines small
                                                January 25, 2016. (12 U.S.C. 2252(a)(9)                 proposals and received seven                           business. Specifically, the commenter
                                                and (10))                                               comments. Generally, commenters                        stated that almost any business with up


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Document Created: 2018-02-02 12:35:10
Document Modified: 2018-02-02 12:35:10
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionRules and Regulations
ActionAffirmation of interim final rule.
DatesEffective on January 25, 2016, we are adopting as a final rule the interim final rule published at 78 FR 40940-40945 on July 9, 2013.
ContactMs. Parul Patel, Senior Agriculturalist, Imports, Regulations, and Manuals, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 60, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; 301-851-2351.
FR Citation81 FR 3939 
RIN Number0579-AD11
CFR AssociatedEndangered and Threatened Species and Plants (agriculture)

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