81_FR_42695 81 FR 42569 - Standardizing Phytosanitary Treatment Regulations: Approval of Cold Treatment and Irradiation Facilities; Cold Treatment Schedules; Establishment of Fumigation and Cold Treatment Compliance Agreements

81 FR 42569 - Standardizing Phytosanitary Treatment Regulations: Approval of Cold Treatment and Irradiation Facilities; Cold Treatment Schedules; Establishment of Fumigation and Cold Treatment Compliance Agreements

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 126 (June 30, 2016)

Page Range42569-42576
FR Document2016-15568

We are proposing to amend the phytosanitary treatment regulations to establish generic criteria that would allow for the approval of new cold treatment facilities in the Southern and Western States of the United States. These criteria, if met, would allow us to approve new cold treatment facilities without rulemaking and facilitate the importation of fruit requiring cold treatment while continuing to provide protection against the introduction of pests of concern into the United States. We are also proposing to amend the fruit cutting and inspection requirements in the cold treatment regulations in order to expand cutting and inspection to commodities that have been treated for a wider variety of pests of concern. This action would provide for a greater degree of phytosanitary protection. We are also proposing to add requirements concerning the establishment of compliance agreements for all entities that operate fumigation facilities. Finally, we are proposing to harmonize language concerning State compliance with facility establishment and parameters for the movement of consignments from the port of entry or points of origin in the United States to the treatment facility in the irradiation treatment regulations with proposed language in the cold treatment regulations. These actions would serve to codify and make enforceable existing procedures concerning compliance agreements for these facilities.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 126 (Thursday, June 30, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 126 (Thursday, June 30, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 42569-42576]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-15568]


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Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 126 / Thursday, June 30, 2016 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 42569]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

7 CFR Part 305

[Docket No. APHIS-2013-0081]
RIN 0579-AD90


Standardizing Phytosanitary Treatment Regulations: Approval of 
Cold Treatment and Irradiation Facilities; Cold Treatment Schedules; 
Establishment of Fumigation and Cold Treatment Compliance Agreements

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: We are proposing to amend the phytosanitary treatment 
regulations to establish generic criteria that would allow for the 
approval of new cold treatment facilities in the Southern and Western 
States of the United States. These criteria, if met, would allow us to 
approve new cold treatment facilities without rulemaking and facilitate 
the importation of fruit requiring cold treatment while continuing to 
provide protection against the introduction of pests of concern into 
the United States. We are also proposing to amend the fruit cutting and 
inspection requirements in the cold treatment regulations in order to 
expand cutting and inspection to commodities that have been treated for 
a wider variety of pests of concern. This action would provide for a 
greater degree of phytosanitary protection. We are also proposing to 
add requirements concerning the establishment of compliance agreements 
for all entities that operate fumigation facilities. Finally, we are 
proposing to harmonize language concerning State compliance with 
facility establishment and parameters for the movement of consignments 
from the port of entry or points of origin in the United States to the 
treatment facility in the irradiation treatment regulations with 
proposed language in the cold treatment regulations. These actions 
would serve to codify and make enforceable existing procedures 
concerning compliance agreements for these facilities.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
August 29, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2013-0081.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2013-0081, 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-2013-
0081 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. David B. Lamb, Senior Regulatory 
Policy Specialist, IRM, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, 
Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 851-2103.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The phytosanitary treatments regulations in 7 CFR part 305 set out 
general requirements for certifying or approving treatment facilities 
and for performing treatments listed in the Plant Protection and 
Quarantine (PPQ) Treatment Manual \1\ for fruits, vegetables, and other 
articles to prevent the introduction or dissemination of plant pests or 
noxious weeds into or through the United States. Within part 305, Sec.  
305.6 (referred to below as the regulations) sets out requirements for 
treatment procedures, monitoring, facilities, and enclosures needed for 
performing sustained refrigeration (cold treatment) sufficient to kill 
certain insect pests associated with imported fruits and vegetables and 
with regulated articles moved interstate from quarantined areas within 
the United States. Under the regulations, all domestic facilities used 
to provide cold treatment for these articles must operate under a 
compliance agreement with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service (APHIS) and be certified as capable of delivering required cold 
treatment and handling articles to prevent reinfestation of treated 
articles. An inspector \2\ monitors all domestic treatments. The 
regulations require safeguards to prevent the escape of pests during 
transportation to and while at the facility. These include, but are not 
limited to, inspections, precooling, and physical separation of 
untreated and treated articles. The facility must maintain records of 
all treatments and must periodically be recertified. These conditions 
have allowed for the safe, effective treatment of many different kinds 
of articles, as is demonstrated by the track record of cold treatment 
facilities currently operating in the United States and other 
countries.
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    \1\ The PPQ Treatment Manual is available at (http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/downloads/treatment.pdf).
    \2\ Section 305.1 defines an inspector as ``Any individual 
authorized by the Administrator of APHIS or the Commissioner of 
Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security, to 
enforce the regulations in this part.''
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Cold Treatment in Southern and Western States

    In Sec.  305.6, paragraph (b) allows cold treatment facilities to 
be located in the area north of 39[deg] latitude and east of 104[deg] 
longitude. When the cold treatment regulations were established, areas 
outside of these coordinates were identified as having conditions 
favorable for the establishment of exotic fruit flies. The location 
restrictions served as an additional safeguard against the possibility 
that fruit flies could escape from imported articles prior to treatment 
and become established in the United States.
    Although the regulations initially did not allow cold treatment 
facilities to be located in Southern and Western States, APHIS 
periodically received requests for exemptions. In response to these 
requests, APHIS conducted site-specific evaluations for these locations 
and determined that regulated articles can be safely transported to, 
handled in, and treated by specific cold treatment facilities outside 
of the areas established

[[Page 42570]]

by the regulations under special conditions to mitigate the possible 
escape of pests of concern. Over the years, APHIS has amended its 
regulations to allow cold treatment facilities to be located at the 
maritime ports of Wilmington, NC; Seattle, WA; Corpus Christi, TX; and 
Gulfport, MS; Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Seattle, WA; 
Hartsfield-Atlanta International Airport, Atlanta, GA; and, most 
recently, MidAmerica St. Louis Airport, Mascoutah, IL.
    In addition to those requests, certain importers of fruits and 
vegetables have shown considerable interest in locating cold treatment 
facilities in places that are not currently allowed under the 
regulations (e.g., Miami and Port Everglades, FL, and Savannah, GA).

Proposed Changes to the Regulations Governing Cold Treatment Facilities 
in Southern and Western States

    In anticipation of future requests to locate additional cold 
treatment facilities in the Southern and Western States of the United 
States, we are proposing to establish generic phytosanitary criteria 
that would replace the current location-specific criteria for cold 
treatment facilities at the ports mentioned previously and would also 
apply to new cold treatment facilities in the Southern and Western 
States of the United States. The proposed criteria are similar to those 
successfully used for the approval of new irradiation facilities in the 
Southern United States found in Sec.  305.9 of the regulations, as 
untreated fruit moving to irradiation facilities in those States 
presents the same pest risks as untreated fruit moving to cold 
treatment facilities. We would not require currently approved cold 
treatment facilities in Southern and Western States to immediately meet 
the proposed generic criteria since the specific requirements presently 
in place for each facility would continue to provide adequate 
phytosanitary protection. Nevertheless, we would require currently 
approved facilities to meet the new generic requirements as each comes 
up to renew its required recertification, which takes place at 3 year 
intervals or at other times as determined by APHIS based on treatments 
performed, commodities handled, and operations conducted at the 
facility.
    All cold treatment facilities in the Southern and Western States 
would be required to meet the current criteria for cold treatment 
facilities north of 39[deg] latitude and east of 104[deg] longitude, in 
addition to the proposed generic criteria. These generic criteria would 
be supplemented as necessary by additional measures, which would be 
described in a compliance agreement (discussed below), based on pests 
of concern associated with specific regulated articles to be treated at 
the facility and the location of the specific facility. Facilities that 
meet these requirements could then be approved for the treatment of 
regulated articles that are imported, moved interstate from Hawaii or 
U.S. territories, or moved interstate from areas quarantined for 
certain pests of concern.
    Using APHIS-approved cold treatment facilities located in the 
United States, rather than those located outside of the United States, 
to treat imported articles offers the advantage of greater ease of 
monitoring treatment. Using generic criteria, rather than site by site 
approval, for future cold treatment facilities located in Southern and 
Western States would make explicit our criteria for approving these 
facilities while eliminating the need to undertake rulemaking in order 
to approve new facilities.
    To support this action, we have prepared a treatment evaluation 
document (TED) entitled ``Phytosanitary Criteria for Establishing 
Locations for Cold Treatment Facilities in Areas of the United States 
Currently Not Allowed.'' Copies of the TED may be obtained from the 
person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT and may be viewed 
on the Internet on the Regulations.gov Web site or in our reading room 
(see ADDRESSES above for instructions for accessing Regulations.gov and 
the location and hours of the reading room). In the TED, we concluded 
that the pest risks presented by cold treatment facilities in the 
Southern and Western States can be adequately managed through the use 
of special conditions to mitigate the possible escape of pests of 
concern.
    We are therefore proposing to amend the regulations by replacing 
the current specific criteria for cold treatment facilities at the 
maritime ports of Wilmington, NC; Seattle, WA; Corpus Christi, TX; and 
Gulfport, MS; Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Seattle, WA; 
MidAmerica St. Louis Airport, Mascoutah, IL; and Hartsfield-Atlanta 
International Airport, Atlanta, GA, in Sec.  305.6 with generic 
phytosanitary criteria for any cold treatment facility in a Southern or 
Western State. The proposed generic criteria would have to be followed 
in addition to the current requirements that apply to all cold 
treatment facilities. The proposed generic criteria for new facilities 
in the Southern and Western States are based on the current conditions 
for allowing cold treatment facilities at the maritime ports of 
Wilmington, NC; Seattle, WA; Corpus Christi, TX; and Gulfport, MS; 
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Seattle, WA; MidAmerica St. Louis 
Airport, Mascoutah, IL; and Hartsfield-Atlanta International Airport, 
Atlanta, GA.
    In proposed paragraph (b)(1)(i) of Sec.  305.6, we would require 
that prospective facility operators submit a detailed layout of the 
facility site and its location to APHIS. APHIS would evaluate plant 
health risks based on the proposed location and layout of the facility 
site before a facility is approved. APHIS would only approve a proposed 
facility if the Administrator determines that regulated articles can be 
safely transported to the facility from the port of entry or points of 
origin in the United States. Proposed paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of Sec.  
305.6 provides that the State government of the Southern or Western 
State in which the facility would be located would also have to concur 
in writing with the location of the cold treatment facility; if it does 
not concur, the State government must provide a written explanation of 
concern based on pest risks. In instances where the State government 
does not concur with the proposed facility location, and provides a 
written explanation of concern based on pest risks, then APHIS and the 
State would need to agree on a strategy to resolve such risks before 
APHIS approved the facility. If the State does not provide a written 
explanation of concern based on pest risks, then State concurrence will 
not be required before APHIS approves the facility location.
    Under this proposal, paragraphs (b)(1)(iii) and (b)(1)(iv) of Sec.  
305.6 would provide, respectively, that untreated articles may not be 
removed from their packaging prior to treatment under any 
circumstances, and that facilities must have contingency plans, 
approved by APHIS, for safely destroying or disposing of regulated 
articles if the facility were unable to properly treat a shipment. 
Alternatively, facilities could be approved to apply alternative 
treatments, if available, such as fumigation with methyl bromide or 
irradiation.
    Proposed paragraph (b)(1)(v) of Sec.  305.6 would allow a cold 
treatment facility to treat only those articles that are approved by 
APHIS for treatment at that facility. If, during the approval process 
for regulated articles, APHIS determines that additional safeguards 
(such as trapping for specific pests using specific lures, inspection 
for any pests of concern not mitigated by cold treatment or to monitor 
pest population in the consignment, or applying

[[Page 42571]]

required treatments in addition to cold treatment) are deemed necessary 
during transport or while at a specific cold treatment facility, the 
compliance agreement for the facility would be amended accordingly.
    Under proposed paragraph (b)(1)(vi) of Sec.  305.6, APHIS, the 
importer, and the cold treatment facility would need to agree on 
arrangements for treatment before the departure of a consignment from 
its country of origin or point of origin in the United States. This 
would ensure that untreated shipments of regulated articles arriving at 
the facility would not have to wait for an extended period of time for 
cold treatment. The expeditious treatment of the articles would 
minimize the risk of pests of concern maturing in fruits, vegetables, 
or other articles. In addition, we are proposing that APHIS and the 
cold treatment facility would have to agree in advance about all 
parameters, such as time, routing, and conveyance, by which every 
consignment would move from the port of entry or points of origin in 
the United States to the cold treatment facility. In most instances, 
this would be determined by establishing the shortest route between the 
port of entry or points of origin in the United States and the cold 
treatment facility that does not include an area that contains host 
material for pests of concern during the time of year that the host 
material is most abundant in the region. This route would then be used 
at all times of the year, since an area that is free of host material 
during the time of year that it is most abundantly grown, would be 
unlikely to grow host material at any other time of year. This 
predetermined route would reduce the amount of time that a shipment 
would have to wait before undergoing cold treatment and would reduce 
the risk that any pests of concern in the shipments would come into 
contact with host material en route to the cold treatment facility. If 
APHIS and the cold treatment facility cannot reach agreement in advance 
on all parameters by which consignments would move from the port of 
entry or points of origin in the United States then no consignments may 
be moved to that facility until an agreement has been reached.
    We are also proposing to require in paragraph (b)(1)(vii) of Sec.  
305.6 that the conveyance transporting the regulated article to the 
cold treatment facility would need to be refrigerated using motorized 
refrigeration equipment to a temperature that would minimize the 
mobility of the pests of concern for the article. Fruits and vegetables 
requiring cold treatment are typically transported in refrigerated 
conveyances in order to preserve freshness of the commodity and prevent 
development of toxins that may affect their flavor.
    Proposed paragraph (b)(1)(viii) of Sec.  305.6 would stipulate that 
the cold treatment facility would be required to apply all required 
post-treatment safeguards as required by the compliance agreement to 
provide phytosanitary protection (e.g., larger consignments broken up 
into smaller boxes following treatment and those treated articles 
subsequently packaged in pest-proof containers per an agreement between 
the treatment facility and the importer) before releasing the articles 
to the importer or the importer's designated representative or before 
moving the articles interstate. Paragraph (b)(1)(ix) would require the 
facility to remain locked when not in operation. These requirements are 
intended to minimize the risk of cross-contamination between treated 
and untreated articles and to prevent unauthorized persons access to 
the facility, which may result in the unintended entry of pests of 
concern.
    The current regulations for cold treatment facilities at the 
maritime ports of Seattle, WA; Corpus Christi, TX; and Gulfport, MS; 
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Seattle, WA; and Hartsfield-
Atlanta International Airport, Atlanta, GA, require blacklight or 
sticky paper to be used within the cold treatment facility and other 
trapping methods to be used within the 4 square miles surrounding the 
facility. Proposed paragraph (b)(1)(x) of Sec.  305.6 requires, in 
addition, that the facility maintain and provide APHIS an updated map 
identifying places where horticultural or other crops are grown within 
4 square miles of the facility. APHIS will use this information to 
determine if any host material of concern is present. To help prevent 
establishment of pests in the unlikely event that they escape despite 
the required precautions, the presence of any host material within 4 
square miles of the facility would then necessitate specific trapping 
or other pest monitoring activities to help prevent establishment of 
any escaped pests of concern, which would be funded by the facility and 
described in the compliance agreement. All trapping and pest monitoring 
activities would need to be approved by APHIS.
    The cold treatment facility would also need to have a pest 
management plan within the facility, which would cover such topics as 
monitoring for pests in storage and treatment areas and the actions to 
be taken in the event of the detection of pests within the facility. 
Cold treatment facilities would also be required to comply with any 
additional requirements that APHIS might require for a particular 
facility based on local conditions and any other risk factors of 
concern. This could include inspection for certain pests for which cold 
treatment is not an approved treatment, such as mites and scales. 
Proposed paragraph (b)(1)(xi) of Sec.  305.6 would require that 
facilities comply with any additional APHIS requirements including, but 
not limited to, the use of pest-proof packaging and container seals. 
Such additional requirements would be contained in a compliance 
agreement. Compliance agreements are required for all facilities in 
paragraph (f) of Sec.  305.6, which we are proposing to amend as 
detailed below under the heading ``Cold Treatment Facilities in All the 
United States.''
    We also propose to add language specifying the way in which 
domestically produced fruit would be safeguarded when moving interstate 
from areas within the United States that are quarantined for fruit 
flies. In proposed paragraph (b)(2) of Sec.  305.6, we would stipulate 
that, for articles that are moved interstate from areas quarantined for 
fruit flies, cold treatment facilities would be permitted to be located 
within or outside of the quarantined area. If the articles are treated 
outside the quarantined area, they would have to be accompanied to the 
facility by a limited permit issued in accordance with 7 CFR 301.32-
5(b) of our fruit fly regulations and must be moved in accordance with 
any safeguards determined appropriate by APHIS. These additions are 
necessary because the current cold treatment regulations do not address 
interstate movement and this addition would serve to clarify our 
requirements.

Cold Treatment Facilities in All the United States

    In paragraph (a) of Sec.  305.6, we are proposing to expand our 
requirements for initial facility certification and recertification. A 
prospective facility would only be certified if the Administrator 
determines that the location of that facility is operationally feasible 
insofar as the Federal agencies involved in its operation and oversight 
have adequate resources to conduct the necessary operations at the 
facility, that the pest risks can be managed at that location, and that 
the facility meets all criteria for approval. Facility recertification 
would continue to be required at 3 year intervals or at other times as 
determined by APHIS based on treatments performed, commodities handled, 
and operations conducted at the facility.

[[Page 42572]]

    Currently, as part of the approval process for cold treatment 
facilities, APHIS considers whether a proposed cold treatment facility 
is located within the local commuting area for APHIS employees so that 
they will be able to perform the oversight and monitoring activities 
required by Sec.  305.6. When imported articles are to be treated at a 
facility, APHIS also considers whether the facility is located within 
an area over which the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) \3\ 
has customs authority for enforcement purposes. We are proposing to 
amend paragraph (e) of Sec.  305.6, which contains requirements for 
monitoring and interagency agreements for cold treatment facilities, to 
require all cold treatment facilities to be located within the local 
commuting area for APHIS employees \4\ for oversight and monitoring 
purposes. For facilities treating imported articles, we are also 
proposing that the location of the facility would have to be within an 
area over which DHS has customs authority for enforcement purposes.
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    \3\ The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is assigned 
authority to accept entries of merchandise, to collect duties, and 
to enforce the provisions of the customs and navigation laws in 
force.
    \4\ Commuting area would be determined by contacting the local 
APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine office, State Plant Health 
Director, located in each State, Eastern Regional Office, or Western 
Regional Office.
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    The regulations in Sec.  305.6(d)(15) currently stipulate that an 
inspector will sample and cut fruit from consignments that have been 
cold treated for Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) in order to monitor 
treatment effectiveness. We are proposing to expand the fruit cutting 
and inspection requirements in order to state that consignments treated 
for other fruit flies and pests of concern may be subject to sampling 
and cutting. This would create an extra level of phytosanitary security 
for cold treated shipments.
    If the national plant protection organization cuts and inspects the 
commodity in the exporting country as part of a biometric sampling 
protocol that we have approved, however, we are proposing that we may 
waive this requirement. In such instances, inspection and cutting would 
be duplicative.
    Paragraph (f) of Sec.  305.6 currently requires that cold treatment 
facilities located in the United States must enter into a compliance 
agreement with APHIS. These compliance agreements set out requirements 
for equipment, temperature, circulation, and other operational 
requirements for performing cold treatment to ensure that treatments 
are administered properly. They also allow for inspection by APHIS in 
order to monitor compliance with those requirements. Paragraph (g) 
contains requirements for facilities located outside the United States, 
which may only operate under a bilateral workplan. A bilateral workplan 
may contain some of the same requirements as a domestic compliance 
agreement, with the potential addition of trust fund agreement 
information regarding payment of the salaries and expenses of APHIS 
employees on site. We are proposing to combine these requirements into 
a single paragraph that would set out the requirements that both 
domestic and foreign cold treatment facilities and importers would have 
to meet in order to enter into a compliance agreement with APHIS. We 
are also proposing to add language regarding compliance agreements 
required in association with articles moved interstate from Hawaii and 
the U.S. territories. These requirements are consistent with those 
required for importers shipping articles to irradiation facilities 
located in the southern United States and are necessary to ensure that 
consignments of fruits or vegetables are not diverted to any 
destination other than an approved treatment facility, to prevent 
escape of plant pests from the articles to be treated during their 
transit from the port of first arrival into the United States to the 
approved cold treatment facility, and to ensure that APHIS is aware of 
the time, route, and conveyance by which consignments will move to the 
treatment facility.

Fumigation Treatment and Compliance Agreements

    We are proposing to add a section to the regulations concerning 
fumigation treatment found in Sec.  305.5 to provide that both domestic 
and foreign fumigation treatment facilities and importers enter into a 
compliance agreement with APHIS, and agree to comply with any 
requirements deemed necessary by the Administrator. Although we 
currently enter into compliance agreements with domestic chemical 
treatment facilities and have done so for more than 20 years, the 
addition of a requirement for compliance agreements to the fumigation 
treatment regulations will add a degree of enforceability to the terms 
of those agreements in addition to codifying our existing practices.
    We are also proposing to add a requirement concerning establishment 
of a compliance agreement, or an equivalent agreement such as a 
workplan agreement, for those fumigation treatment facilities located 
outside the United States. Such facilities had not been previously 
required to sign such an agreement to treat articles imported into the 
United States under the fumigation treatment regulations. The proposed 
requirements would be identical to those found in the sections of the 
treatment regulations concerning cold treatment and heat treatment, and 
would be added in a new paragraph (c) in Sec.  305.5.

Irradiation Treatment and State and Facility Compliance

    We are proposing to harmonize the language concerning State 
compliance with irradiation treatment facility establishment and 
facility agreements found in Sec.  305.9 with the proposed language 
concerning this compliance in the cold treatment regulations.
    Section 305.9(a)(1)(ii) states that the government of the State in 
which the facility is to be located must concur in writing with the 
establishment of the facility or, if it does not concur, must provide a 
written explanation of concern based on pest risks. In instances where 
the State government does not concur with the proposed facility 
location, APHIS and the State will agree on a strategy to resolve the 
pest risk concerns prior to APHIS approval. We would add that, if the 
State does not provide a written explanation of concern based on pest 
risks, then State concurrence will not be required before APHIS 
approves the facility location.
    Section 305.9(a)(1)(vi) states that APHIS and the irradiation 
treatment facility must agree on all parameters, such as time, routing, 
and conveyance, by which the consignment will move from the port of 
entry or points of origin in the United States to the treatment 
facility. We are proposing to clarify that if APHIS and the facility 
cannot reach agreement in advance on these parameters then no 
consignments may be moved to that facility until an agreement has been 
reached.

Definitions

    We are also proposing to add a definition for ``treatment 
facility'' as follows to the regulations in Sec.  305.1: ``Any APHIS-
certified place, warehouse, or approved enclosure where a treatment is 
conducted to mitigate a plant pest.'' This is intended to provide 
clarity and guidance in the regulations as the term is included in the 
proposed additions to the regulations.

Treatment Schedules

    Finally, the current regulations in Sec.  305.2, paragraph (b), 
state that approved treatment schedules are set out in the PPQ 
Treatment Manual.

[[Page 42573]]

Section 305.3 sets forth a process for adding, revising, or removing 
treatment schedules in the PPQ Treatment Manual. Paragraph (a)(1) 
provides that removal of a treatment schedule is subject to public 
comment.
    We are proposing to remove a cold treatment schedule from the PPQ 
Treatment Manual. Treatment schedule T107-f was authorized for use on 
shipments of Ya pears (Pyrus x bretscheideri) from APHIS-authorized 
areas within Shandong Province, China, in order to provide 
phytosanitary protection against the Oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera 
dorsalis). Based on Oriental fruit fly trapping results and 
climatological and biological considerations, we have determined that 
cold treatment of Ya pears is no longer necessary and are therefore 
proposing to remove the treatment schedule. All other requirements 
regarding the importation of Ya pears would remain in place.

Executive Order 12866 and Regulatory Flexibility Act

    This proposed rule has been determined to be not significant for 
the purposes of Executive Order 12866 and, therefore, has not been 
reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget.
    In accordance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act, we have analyzed 
the potential economic effects of this action on small entities. The 
analysis is summarized below. Copies of the full analysis are available 
on the Regulations.gov Web site (see ADDRESSES above for instructions 
for accessing Regulations.gov) or by contacting the person listed under 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
    We are proposing to establish general criteria for new cold 
treatment facilities in the Southern and Western United States. These 
general criteria would be supplemented as necessary by additional 
measures, which would be described in the facility's compliance 
agreement, based on pests of concern associated with specific regulated 
articles to be treated at the facility and the location of the specific 
facility.
    We do not anticipate that the proposed rule would have an economic 
impact, since it would simply set forth the general criteria, not 
approve any new facilities.
    Under these circumstances, the Administrator of the Animal and 
Plant Health Inspection Service has determined that this action would 
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities.

Executive Order 12988

    This proposed rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, 
Civil Justice Reform. If this proposed rule is adopted: (1) All State 
and local laws and regulations that are inconsistent with this rule 
will be preempted; (2) no retroactive effect will be given to this 
rule; and (3) administrative proceedings will not be required before 
parties may file suit in court challenging this rule.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    In accordance with section 3507(d) of the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the information collection or 
recordkeeping requirements included in this proposed rule have been 
submitted for approval to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). 
Please send written comments to the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for APHIS, Washington, 
DC 20503. Please state that your comments refer to Docket No. APHIS-
2013-0081. Please send a copy of your comments to: (1) APHIS, using one 
of the methods described under ADDRESSES at the beginning of this 
document, and (2) Clearance Officer, OCIO, USDA, room 404-W, 14th 
Street and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250.
    APHIS is proposing to amend the phytosanitary treatment regulations 
to establish generic criteria that would allow for the approval of new 
cold treatment facilities in the Southern and Western States of the 
United States. These criteria, if met, would allow APHIS to approve new 
cold treatment facilities without rulemaking and facilitate the 
importation of fruit requiring cold treatment while continuing to 
provide protection against the introduction of pests of concern into 
the United States. APHIS is also proposing to amend the fruit cutting 
and inspection requirements in the cold treatment regulations in order 
to expand cutting and inspection to commodities that have been treated 
for a wider variety of pests of concern. This action would provide for 
a greater degree of phytosanitary protection. Finally, APHIS is 
proposing to add requirements concerning the establishment of 
compliance agreements for those entities that operate fumigation 
facilities. This action would serve to codify and make enforceable 
existing procedures concerning compliance agreements for these 
facilities.
    Implementing this rule will require the completion of compliance 
agreements, facility certification, detailed layouts of facilities and 
maps of the surrounding areas, State concurrence letters, limited 
permits, and contingency plans.
    We are soliciting comments from the public (as well as affected 
agencies) concerning our proposed information collection and 
recordkeeping requirements. These comments will help us:
    (1) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is 
necessary for the proper performance of our agency's functions, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    (2) Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the burden of the 
proposed information collection, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;
    (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; and
    (4) Minimize the burden of the information collection on those who 
are to respond (such as through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology; e.g., permitting electronic 
submission of responses).
    Estimate of burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 0.5 hours per response.
    Respondents: NPPO, facility operators, importers, and State 
governments.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 15.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 3.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 42.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 21 hours. (Due to 
averaging, the total annual burden hours may not equal the product of 
the annual number of responses multiplied by the reporting burden per 
response.)
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Ms. 
Kimberly Hardy, APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 
851-2727.

E-Government Act Compliance

    The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is committed to 
compliance with the E-Government 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 proposed rule, please contact Ms. Kimberly 
Hardy, APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 851-2727.

[[Page 42574]]

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 305

    Irradiation, Phytosanitary treatment, Plant diseases and pests, 
Quarantine, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Accordingly, we propose to amend 7 CFR part 305 as follows:

PART 305--PHYTOSANITARY TREATMENTS

0
1. The authority citation for part 305 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  7 U.S.C. 7701-7772 and 7781-7786; 21 U.S.C. 136 and 
136a; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.3.

0
2. Section 305.1 is amended by adding, in alphabetical order, a 
definition for treatment facility to read as follows:


Sec.  305.1  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Treatment facility. Any APHIS-certified place, warehouse, or 
approved enclosure where a treatment is conducted to mitigate a plant 
pest.
* * * * *
0
3. Section 305.5 is amended by redesignating paragraph (c) as paragraph 
(d) and adding a new paragraph (c).
    The addition reads as follows:


Sec.  305.5  Chemical treatment requirements.

* * * * *
    (c) Compliance agreements. Any person who conducts a fumigation or 
operates a facility where fumigation is conducted for phytosanitary 
purposes must sign a compliance agreement with APHIS.
    (1) Fumigation treatment facilities treating imported articles. (i) 
Compliance agreements with importers and facility operators for 
fumigation in the United States. If fumigation treatment of imported 
articles is conducted in the United States, both the importer and the 
fumigation treatment facility operator or the person who conducts 
fumigation must sign compliance agreements with APHIS. In the importer 
compliance agreement, the importer must agree to comply with any 
additional requirements found necessary by APHIS to ensure the shipment 
is not diverted to a destination other than an approved treatment 
facility and to prevent escape of plant pests from the articles to be 
treated during their transit from the port of first arrival to the 
fumigation treatment facility in the United States. In the facility 
compliance agreement, the fumigation facility operator or the person 
who conducts fumigation must agree to comply with the requirements of 
this section and any additional requirements found necessary by APHIS 
to prevent the escape of any pests of concern that may be associated 
with the articles to be treated.
    (ii) Compliance agreements with fumigation treatment facilities 
outside the United States. If fumigation treatment of imported articles 
is conducted outside the United States, the fumigation treatment 
facility operator or the person who conducts the fumigation must sign a 
compliance agreement or an equivalent agreement with APHIS and the 
national plant protection organization (NPPO) of the country in which 
the facility is located. In this agreement, the fumigation treatment 
facility operator or person conducting the fumigation must agree to 
comply with the requirements of this section, and the NPPO of the 
country in which the facility is located must agree to monitor that 
compliance and to inform the Administrator of any noncompliance.
    (2) Fumigation treatment facilities treating articles moved 
interstate from Hawaii and U.S. territories. Fumigation treatment 
facilities treating articles moved interstate from Hawaii and U.S. 
territories must complete a compliance agreement with APHIS as provided 
in Sec.  318.13-3(d) of this chapter.
    (3) Fumigation treatment facilities treating articles moved 
interstate from areas quarantined for fruit flies. Fumigation treatment 
facilities treating articles moved interstate from areas quarantined 
for fruit flies must complete a compliance agreement with APHIS as 
provided in Sec.  301.32-6 of this chapter.
    (4) Fumigation treatment facilities treating articles moved 
interstate from areas quarantined for Asian citrus psyllid. Fumigation 
treatment facilities treating articles moved interstate from areas 
quarantined only for Asian citrus psyllid, and not for citrus greening, 
must complete a compliance agreement with APHIS as provided in Sec.  
301.76-8 of this chapter.
* * * * *
0
4. Section 305.6 is amended as follows:
0
a. In the introductory text of paragraph (a), by adding two new 
sentences before the last sentence.
0
b. By redesignating paragraph (a)(2) as paragraph (a)(3).
0
c. By adding new paragraph (a)(2).
0
d. By revising paragraph (b).
0
e. By revising paragraph (d)(15).
0
f. In paragraph (e), by adding two new sentences after the last 
sentence.
0
g. By revising paragraph (f).
0
h. By removing paragraphs (g) and (h).
    The additions and revisions read as follows:


Sec.  305.6  Cold treatment requirements.

    (a) * * * A facility will only be certified or recertified if the 
Administrator determines that the location of the facility is such that 
those Federal agencies involved in its operation and oversight have 
adequate resources to conduct the necessary operations at the facility, 
that the pest risks can be managed at that location, and that the 
facility meets all criteria for approval. Other agencies that have 
regulatory oversight and requirements must concur in writing with the 
establishment of the facility prior to APHIS approval. * * *
* * * * *
    (2) Be capable of preventing the escape and spread of pests while 
regulated articles are at the facility; and
* * * * *
    (b)(1) Location of facilities. Where certified cold treatment 
facilities are available, an approved cold treatment may be conducted 
for any imported regulated article either prior to shipment to the 
United States or in the United States. For any regulated article moved 
interstate from Hawaii or U.S. territories, cold treatment may be 
conducted either prior to movement to the mainland United States or in 
the mainland United States. Cold treatment facilities may be located in 
any State on the mainland United States. For cold treatment facilities 
located in the area south of 39[deg] latitude and west of 104[deg] 
longitude, the following additional conditions must be met:
    (i) Prospective facility operators must submit a detailed layout of 
the facility site and its location to APHIS. APHIS will evaluate plant 
health risks based on the proposed location and layout of the facility 
site. APHIS will only approve a proposed facility if the Administrator 
determines that regulated articles can be safely transported to the 
facility from the port of entry or points of origin in the United 
States.
    (ii) The government of the State in which the facility is to be 
located must concur in writing with the location of the facility or, if 
it does not concur, must provide a written explanation of concern based 
on pest risks. In instances where the State government does not concur 
with the proposed facility location, and provides a written explanation 
of concern based on pest risks, APHIS and the State must agree on a 
strategy to resolve the pest risk concerns prior to APHIS approval. If 
the State does not provide a written explanation of concern based on 
pest risks, then State concurrence will not be required before APHIS 
approves the facility location.

[[Page 42575]]

    (iii) Untreated articles may not be removed from their packaging 
prior to treatment under any circumstances.
    (iv) The facility must have contingency plans, approved by APHIS, 
for safely destroying or disposing of regulated articles if the 
facility is unable to properly treat a shipment.
    (v) The facility may only treat articles approved by APHIS for 
treatment at the facility. Approved articles will be listed in the 
compliance agreement required in paragraph (f) of this section.
    (vi) Arrangements for treatment must be made before the departure 
of a consignment from its port of entry or points of origin in the 
United States. APHIS and the facility must agree on all parameters, 
such as time, routing, and conveyance, by which the consignment will 
move from the port of entry or points of origin in the United States to 
the treatment facility. If APHIS and the facility cannot reach 
agreement in advance on these parameters then no consignments may be 
moved to that facility until an agreement has been reached.
    (vii) Regulated articles must be conveyed to the facility in a 
refrigerated (via motorized refrigeration equipment) conveyance at a 
temperature that minimizes the mobility of the pests of concern for the 
article.
    (viii) The facility must apply all post-treatment safeguards 
required for certification under paragraph (a) of this section before 
releasing the articles.
    (ix) The facility must remain locked when not in operation.
    (x) The facility must maintain and provide APHIS with an updated 
map identifying places where horticultural or other crops are grown 
within 4 square miles of the facility. Proximity of host material to 
the facility will necessitate trapping or other pest monitoring 
activities, funded by the facility, to help prevent establishment of 
any escaped pests of concern, as approved by APHIS; these activities 
will be listed in the compliance agreement required in paragraph (f) of 
this section. The treatment facility must have a pest management plan 
within the facility.
    (xi) The facility must comply with any additional requirements 
including, but not limited to, the use of pest-proof packaging and 
container seals, that APHIS may require to prevent the escape of plant 
pests during transport to and from the cold treatment facility itself, 
for a particular facility based on local conditions, and for any other 
risk factors of concern. These activities will be listed in the 
compliance agreement required in paragraph (f) of this section.
    (2) For articles that are moved interstate from areas quarantined 
for fruit flies, cold treatment facilities may be located either within 
or outside of the quarantined area. If the articles are treated outside 
the quarantined area, they must be accompanied to the facility by a 
limited permit issued in accordance with Sec.  301.32-5(b) of this 
chapter and must be moved in accordance with any safeguards determined 
to be appropriate by APHIS.
* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (15) An inspector will sample and cut fruit from each consignment 
after it has been cold treated to monitor treatment effectiveness. If a 
single live pest of concern in any stage of development is found, the 
consignment will be held until an investigation is completed and 
appropriate remedial actions have been implemented. If APHIS determines 
at any time that the safeguards contained in this section do not appear 
to be effective against the pests of concern, APHIS may suspend the 
importation of fruits from the originating country and conduct an 
investigation into the cause of the deficiency. APHIS may waive the 
sampling and cutting requirement of this paragraph, provided that the 
national plant protection organization of the exporting country has 
conducted such sampling and cutting in the exporting country as part of 
a biometric sampling protocol approved by APHIS.
* * * * *
    (e) * * * Facilities must be located within the local commuting 
area for APHIS employees for inspection purposes. Facilities treating 
imported articles must also be located within an area over which the 
U.S. Department of Homeland Security is assigned authority to accept 
entries of merchandise, to collect duties, and to enforce the 
provisions of the customs and navigation laws in force.
    (f) Compliance agreements. Any person who operates a facility where 
cold treatment is conducted for phytosanitary purposes must sign a 
compliance agreement with APHIS.
    (1) Compliance agreements with importers and facility operators for 
cold treatment in the United States. If cold treatment of imported 
articles is conducted in the United States, both the importer and the 
operator of the cold treatment facility or the person who conducts the 
cold treatment must sign compliance agreements with APHIS. In the 
importer compliance agreement, the importer must agree to comply with 
any additional requirements found necessary by APHIS to ensure the 
shipment is not diverted to a destination other than an approved 
treatment facility and to prevent escape of plant pests from the 
articles to be treated during their transit from the port of first 
arrival to the cold treatment facility in the United States. In the 
facility compliance agreement, the facility operator or person 
conducting the cold treatment, must agree to comply with the 
requirements of this section and any additional requirements found 
necessary by APHIS to prevent the escape of any pests of concern that 
may be associated with the articles to be treated.
    (2) Compliance agreements with cold treatment facilities outside 
the United States. If cold treatment of imported articles is conducted 
outside the United States, the operator of the cold treatment facility 
must sign a compliance agreement or an equivalent agreement with APHIS 
and the NPPO of the country in which the facility is located. In this 
agreement, the facility operator must agree to comply with the 
requirements of this section, and the NPPO of the country in which the 
facility is located must agree to monitor that compliance and inform 
the Administrator of any noncompliance.
    (3) Cold treatment facilities treating articles moved interstate 
from Hawaii and U.S. territories. Cold treatment facilities treating 
articles moved interstate from Hawaii and the U.S. territories must 
complete a compliance agreement with APHIS as provided in Sec.  318.13-
3(d) of this chapter.
0
5. Section 305.9 is amended:
0
a. By revising paragraph (a)(1)(ii).
0
b. By revising paragraph (a)(1)(vi).
    The revisions read as follows:


Sec.  305.9  Irradiation treatment requirements.

* * * * *
    (a) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (ii) The government of the State in which the facility is to be 
located must concur in writing with the location of the facility or, if 
it does not concur, must provide a written explanation of concern based 
on pest risks. In instances where the State government does not concur 
with the proposed facility location, and provides a written explanation 
of concern based on pest risks, APHIS and the State must agree on a 
strategy to resolve the pest risk concerns prior to APHIS approval. If 
the State does not provide a written explanation of concern based on 
pest risks, then State concurrence will not be required before APHIS 
approves the facility location.
* * * * *
    (vi) Arrangements for treatment must be made before the departure 
of a consignment from its port of entry or points of origin in the 
United States.

[[Page 42576]]

APHIS and the facility must agree on all parameters, such as time, 
routing, and conveyance, by which the consignment will move from the 
port of entry or points of origin in the United States to the treatment 
facility. If APHIS and the facility cannot reach agreement in advance 
on these parameters then no consignments may be moved to that facility 
until an agreement has been reached.
* * * * *

    Done in Washington, DC, this 24th day of June 2016.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-15568 Filed 6-29-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-34-P



                                                                                                                                                                                                       42569

                                                  Proposed Rules                                                                                                 Federal Register
                                                                                                                                                                 Vol. 81, No. 126

                                                                                                                                                                 Thursday, June 30, 2016



                                                  This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER                    language in the cold treatment                         insect pests associated with imported
                                                  contains notices to the public of the proposed          regulations. These actions would serve                 fruits and vegetables and with regulated
                                                  issuance of rules and regulations. The                  to codify and make enforceable existing                articles moved interstate from
                                                  purpose of these notices is to give interested          procedures concerning compliance                       quarantined areas within the United
                                                  persons an opportunity to participate in the            agreements for these facilities.                       States. Under the regulations, all
                                                  rule making prior to the adoption of the final
                                                  rules.                                                  DATES: We will consider all comments                   domestic facilities used to provide cold
                                                                                                          that we receive on or before August 29,                treatment for these articles must operate
                                                                                                          2016.                                                  under a compliance agreement with the
                                                  DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE                               ADDRESSES: You may submit comments                     Animal and Plant Health Inspection
                                                                                                          by either of the following methods:                    Service (APHIS) and be certified as
                                                  Animal and Plant Health Inspection                        • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to                  capable of delivering required cold
                                                  Service                                                 http://www.regulations.gov/                            treatment and handling articles to
                                                                                                          #!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2013-0081.                      prevent reinfestation of treated articles.
                                                  7 CFR Part 305                                            • Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery:                   An inspector 2 monitors all domestic
                                                  [Docket No. APHIS–2013–0081]                            Send your comment to Docket No.                        treatments. The regulations require
                                                                                                          APHIS–2013–0081, Regulatory Analysis                   safeguards to prevent the escape of pests
                                                  RIN 0579–AD90                                           and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station                   during transportation to and while at
                                                                                                          3A–03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118,                     the facility. These include, but are not
                                                  Standardizing Phytosanitary Treatment                                                                          limited to, inspections, precooling, and
                                                  Regulations: Approval of Cold                           Riverdale, MD 20737–1238.
                                                                                                            Supporting documents and any                         physical separation of untreated and
                                                  Treatment and Irradiation Facilities;                                                                          treated articles. The facility must
                                                  Cold Treatment Schedules;                               comments we receive on this docket
                                                                                                          may be viewed at http://                               maintain records of all treatments and
                                                  Establishment of Fumigation and Cold                                                                           must periodically be recertified. These
                                                  Treatment Compliance Agreements                         www.regulations.gov/
                                                                                                          #!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2013-0081 or                    conditions have allowed for the safe,
                                                  AGENCY:  Animal and Plant Health                        in our reading room, which is located in               effective treatment of many different
                                                  Inspection Service, USDA.                               Room 1141 of the USDA South                            kinds of articles, as is demonstrated by
                                                  ACTION: Proposed rule.                                  Building, 14th Street and Independence                 the track record of cold treatment
                                                                                                          Avenue SW., Washington, DC. Normal                     facilities currently operating in the
                                                  SUMMARY:    We are proposing to amend                   reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30                  United States and other countries.
                                                  the phytosanitary treatment regulations                 p.m., Monday through Friday, except                    Cold Treatment in Southern and
                                                  to establish generic criteria that would                holidays. To be sure someone is there to               Western States
                                                  allow for the approval of new cold                      help you, please call (202) 799–7039
                                                  treatment facilities in the Southern and                before coming.                                            In § 305.6, paragraph (b) allows cold
                                                  Western States of the United States.                                                                           treatment facilities to be located in the
                                                                                                          FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
                                                  These criteria, if met, would allow us to                                                                      area north of 39° latitude and east of
                                                                                                          David B. Lamb, Senior Regulatory
                                                  approve new cold treatment facilities                                                                          104° longitude. When the cold treatment
                                                                                                          Policy Specialist, IRM, PPQ, APHIS,
                                                  without rulemaking and facilitate the                                                                          regulations were established, areas
                                                                                                          4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale,
                                                  importation of fruit requiring cold                                                                            outside of these coordinates were
                                                                                                          MD 20737–1231; (301) 851–2103.
                                                  treatment while continuing to provide                                                                          identified as having conditions
                                                                                                          SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                             favorable for the establishment of exotic
                                                  protection against the introduction of
                                                  pests of concern into the United States.                Background                                             fruit flies. The location restrictions
                                                  We are also proposing to amend the                                                                             served as an additional safeguard
                                                                                                             The phytosanitary treatments                        against the possibility that fruit flies
                                                  fruit cutting and inspection
                                                                                                          regulations in 7 CFR part 305 set out                  could escape from imported articles
                                                  requirements in the cold treatment
                                                                                                          general requirements for certifying or                 prior to treatment and become
                                                  regulations in order to expand cutting
                                                                                                          approving treatment facilities and for                 established in the United States.
                                                  and inspection to commodities that
                                                                                                          performing treatments listed in the Plant                 Although the regulations initially did
                                                  have been treated for a wider variety of
                                                                                                          Protection and Quarantine (PPQ)                        not allow cold treatment facilities to be
                                                  pests of concern. This action would
                                                                                                          Treatment Manual 1 for fruits,                         located in Southern and Western States,
                                                  provide for a greater degree of
                                                                                                          vegetables, and other articles to prevent              APHIS periodically received requests
                                                  phytosanitary protection. We are also
                                                                                                          the introduction or dissemination of                   for exemptions. In response to these
                                                  proposing to add requirements
                                                                                                          plant pests or noxious weeds into or                   requests, APHIS conducted site-specific
                                                  concerning the establishment of
                                                                                                          through the United States. Within part                 evaluations for these locations and
                                                  compliance agreements for all entities
                                                                                                          305, § 305.6 (referred to below as the                 determined that regulated articles can
                                                  that operate fumigation facilities.
sradovich on DSK3GDR082PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                                                                          regulations) sets out requirements for                 be safely transported to, handled in, and
                                                  Finally, we are proposing to harmonize
                                                                                                          treatment procedures, monitoring,                      treated by specific cold treatment
                                                  language concerning State compliance
                                                                                                          facilities, and enclosures needed for                  facilities outside of the areas established
                                                  with facility establishment and
                                                                                                          performing sustained refrigeration (cold
                                                  parameters for the movement of
                                                                                                          treatment) sufficient to kill certain                    2 Section 305.1 defines an inspector as ‘‘Any
                                                  consignments from the port of entry or
                                                                                                                                                                 individual authorized by the Administrator of
                                                  points of origin in the United States to                  1 The PPQ Treatment Manual is available at           APHIS or the Commissioner of Customs and Border
                                                  the treatment facility in the irradiation               (http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/       Protection, Department of Homeland Security, to
                                                  treatment regulations with proposed                     manuals/ports/downloads/treatment.pdf).                enforce the regulations in this part.’’



                                             VerDate Sep<11>2014   18:10 Jun 29, 2016   Jkt 238001   PO 00000   Frm 00001   Fmt 4702   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\30JNP1.SGM   30JNP1


                                                  42570                   Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 126 / Thursday, June 30, 2016 / Proposed Rules

                                                  by the regulations under special                        supplemented as necessary by                           cold treatment facilities at the maritime
                                                  conditions to mitigate the possible                     additional measures, which would be                    ports of Wilmington, NC; Seattle, WA;
                                                  escape of pests of concern. Over the                    described in a compliance agreement                    Corpus Christi, TX; and Gulfport, MS;
                                                  years, APHIS has amended its                            (discussed below), based on pests of                   Seattle-Tacoma International Airport,
                                                  regulations to allow cold treatment                     concern associated with specific                       Seattle, WA; MidAmerica St. Louis
                                                  facilities to be located at the maritime                regulated articles to be treated at the                Airport, Mascoutah, IL; and Hartsfield-
                                                  ports of Wilmington, NC; Seattle, WA;                   facility and the location of the specific              Atlanta International Airport, Atlanta,
                                                  Corpus Christi, TX; and Gulfport, MS;                   facility. Facilities that meet these                   GA.
                                                  Seattle-Tacoma International Airport,                   requirements could then be approved                       In proposed paragraph (b)(1)(i) of
                                                  Seattle, WA; Hartsfield-Atlanta                         for the treatment of regulated articles                § 305.6, we would require that
                                                  International Airport, Atlanta, GA; and,                that are imported, moved interstate from               prospective facility operators submit a
                                                  most recently, MidAmerica St. Louis                     Hawaii or U.S. territories, or moved                   detailed layout of the facility site and its
                                                  Airport, Mascoutah, IL.                                 interstate from areas quarantined for                  location to APHIS. APHIS would
                                                    In addition to those requests, certain                certain pests of concern.                              evaluate plant health risks based on the
                                                  importers of fruits and vegetables have                    Using APHIS-approved cold treatment                 proposed location and layout of the
                                                  shown considerable interest in locating                 facilities located in the United States,               facility site before a facility is approved.
                                                  cold treatment facilities in places that                rather than those located outside of the               APHIS would only approve a proposed
                                                  are not currently allowed under the                     United States, to treat imported articles              facility if the Administrator determines
                                                  regulations (e.g., Miami and Port                       offers the advantage of greater ease of                that regulated articles can be safely
                                                  Everglades, FL, and Savannah, GA).                      monitoring treatment. Using generic                    transported to the facility from the port
                                                                                                          criteria, rather than site by site approval,           of entry or points of origin in the United
                                                  Proposed Changes to the Regulations
                                                                                                          for future cold treatment facilities                   States. Proposed paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of
                                                  Governing Cold Treatment Facilities in
                                                                                                          located in Southern and Western States                 § 305.6 provides that the State
                                                  Southern and Western States
                                                                                                          would make explicit our criteria for                   government of the Southern or Western
                                                     In anticipation of future requests to                approving these facilities while                       State in which the facility would be
                                                  locate additional cold treatment                        eliminating the need to undertake                      located would also have to concur in
                                                  facilities in the Southern and Western                  rulemaking in order to approve new                     writing with the location of the cold
                                                  States of the United States, we are                     facilities.                                            treatment facility; if it does not concur,
                                                  proposing to establish generic                             To support this action, we have                     the State government must provide a
                                                  phytosanitary criteria that would                       prepared a treatment evaluation                        written explanation of concern based on
                                                  replace the current location-specific                   document (TED) entitled ‘‘Phytosanitary                pest risks. In instances where the State
                                                  criteria for cold treatment facilities at               Criteria for Establishing Locations for                government does not concur with the
                                                  the ports mentioned previously and                      Cold Treatment Facilities in Areas of the              proposed facility location, and provides
                                                  would also apply to new cold treatment                  United States Currently Not Allowed.’’                 a written explanation of concern based
                                                  facilities in the Southern and Western                  Copies of the TED may be obtained from                 on pest risks, then APHIS and the State
                                                  States of the United States. The                        the person listed under FOR FURTHER                    would need to agree on a strategy to
                                                  proposed criteria are similar to those                  INFORMATION CONTACT and may be                         resolve such risks before APHIS
                                                  successfully used for the approval of                   viewed on the Internet on the                          approved the facility. If the State does
                                                  new irradiation facilities in the                       Regulations.gov Web site or in our                     not provide a written explanation of
                                                  Southern United States found in § 305.9                 reading room (see ADDRESSES above for                  concern based on pest risks, then State
                                                  of the regulations, as untreated fruit                  instructions for accessing                             concurrence will not be required before
                                                  moving to irradiation facilities in those               Regulations.gov and the location and                   APHIS approves the facility location.
                                                  States presents the same pest risks as                  hours of the reading room). In the TED,                   Under this proposal, paragraphs
                                                  untreated fruit moving to cold treatment                we concluded that the pest risks                       (b)(1)(iii) and (b)(1)(iv) of § 305.6 would
                                                  facilities. We would not require                        presented by cold treatment facilities in              provide, respectively, that untreated
                                                  currently approved cold treatment                       the Southern and Western States can be                 articles may not be removed from their
                                                  facilities in Southern and Western                      adequately managed through the use of                  packaging prior to treatment under any
                                                  States to immediately meet the                          special conditions to mitigate the                     circumstances, and that facilities must
                                                  proposed generic criteria since the                     possible escape of pests of concern.                   have contingency plans, approved by
                                                  specific requirements presently in place                   We are therefore proposing to amend                 APHIS, for safely destroying or
                                                  for each facility would continue to                     the regulations by replacing the current               disposing of regulated articles if the
                                                  provide adequate phytosanitary                          specific criteria for cold treatment                   facility were unable to properly treat a
                                                  protection. Nevertheless, we would                      facilities at the maritime ports of                    shipment. Alternatively, facilities could
                                                  require currently approved facilities to                Wilmington, NC; Seattle, WA; Corpus                    be approved to apply alternative
                                                  meet the new generic requirements as                    Christi, TX; and Gulfport, MS; Seattle-                treatments, if available, such as
                                                  each comes up to renew its required                     Tacoma International Airport, Seattle,                 fumigation with methyl bromide or
                                                  recertification, which takes place at 3                 WA; MidAmerica St. Louis Airport,                      irradiation.
                                                  year intervals or at other times as                     Mascoutah, IL; and Hartsfield-Atlanta                     Proposed paragraph (b)(1)(v) of
                                                  determined by APHIS based on                            International Airport, Atlanta, GA, in                 § 305.6 would allow a cold treatment
                                                  treatments performed, commodities                       § 305.6 with generic phytosanitary                     facility to treat only those articles that
                                                  handled, and operations conducted at                    criteria for any cold treatment facility in            are approved by APHIS for treatment at
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                                                  the facility.                                           a Southern or Western State. The                       that facility. If, during the approval
                                                     All cold treatment facilities in the                 proposed generic criteria would have to                process for regulated articles, APHIS
                                                  Southern and Western States would be                    be followed in addition to the current                 determines that additional safeguards
                                                  required to meet the current criteria for               requirements that apply to all cold                    (such as trapping for specific pests using
                                                  cold treatment facilities north of 39°                  treatment facilities. The proposed                     specific lures, inspection for any pests
                                                  latitude and east of 104° longitude, in                 generic criteria for new facilities in the             of concern not mitigated by cold
                                                  addition to the proposed generic                        Southern and Western States are based                  treatment or to monitor pest population
                                                  criteria. These generic criteria would be               on the current conditions for allowing                 in the consignment, or applying


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                                                                          Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 126 / Thursday, June 30, 2016 / Proposed Rules                                             42571

                                                  required treatments in addition to cold                 in refrigerated conveyances in order to                required to comply with any additional
                                                  treatment) are deemed necessary during                  preserve freshness of the commodity                    requirements that APHIS might require
                                                  transport or while at a specific cold                   and prevent development of toxins that                 for a particular facility based on local
                                                  treatment facility, the compliance                      may affect their flavor.                               conditions and any other risk factors of
                                                  agreement for the facility would be                        Proposed paragraph (b)(1)(viii) of                  concern. This could include inspection
                                                  amended accordingly.                                    § 305.6 would stipulate that the cold                  for certain pests for which cold
                                                     Under proposed paragraph (b)(1)(vi)                  treatment facility would be required to                treatment is not an approved treatment,
                                                  of § 305.6, APHIS, the importer, and the                apply all required post-treatment                      such as mites and scales. Proposed
                                                  cold treatment facility would need to                   safeguards as required by the                          paragraph (b)(1)(xi) of § 305.6 would
                                                  agree on arrangements for treatment                     compliance agreement to provide                        require that facilities comply with any
                                                  before the departure of a consignment                   phytosanitary protection (e.g., larger                 additional APHIS requirements
                                                  from its country of origin or point of                  consignments broken up into smaller                    including, but not limited to, the use of
                                                  origin in the United States. This would                 boxes following treatment and those                    pest-proof packaging and container
                                                  ensure that untreated shipments of                      treated articles subsequently packaged                 seals. Such additional requirements
                                                  regulated articles arriving at the facility             in pest-proof containers per an                        would be contained in a compliance
                                                  would not have to wait for an extended                  agreement between the treatment                        agreement. Compliance agreements are
                                                  period of time for cold treatment. The                  facility and the importer) before                      required for all facilities in paragraph (f)
                                                  expeditious treatment of the articles                   releasing the articles to the importer or              of § 305.6, which we are proposing to
                                                  would minimize the risk of pests of                     the importer’s designated representative               amend as detailed below under the
                                                  concern maturing in fruits, vegetables,                 or before moving the articles interstate.              heading ‘‘Cold Treatment Facilities in
                                                  or other articles. In addition, we are                  Paragraph (b)(1)(ix) would require the                 All the United States.’’
                                                  proposing that APHIS and the cold                       facility to remain locked when not in                     We also propose to add language
                                                  treatment facility would have to agree in               operation. These requirements are                      specifying the way in which
                                                  advance about all parameters, such as                   intended to minimize the risk of cross-                domestically produced fruit would be
                                                  time, routing, and conveyance, by                       contamination between treated and
                                                                                                                                                                 safeguarded when moving interstate
                                                  which every consignment would move                      untreated articles and to prevent
                                                                                                                                                                 from areas within the United States that
                                                  from the port of entry or points of origin              unauthorized persons access to the
                                                                                                                                                                 are quarantined for fruit flies. In
                                                  in the United States to the cold                        facility, which may result in the
                                                                                                                                                                 proposed paragraph (b)(2) of § 305.6, we
                                                  treatment facility. In most instances,                  unintended entry of pests of concern.
                                                                                                             The current regulations for cold                    would stipulate that, for articles that are
                                                  this would be determined by
                                                                                                          treatment facilities at the maritime ports             moved interstate from areas quarantined
                                                  establishing the shortest route between
                                                                                                          of Seattle, WA; Corpus Christi, TX; and                for fruit flies, cold treatment facilities
                                                  the port of entry or points of origin in
                                                                                                          Gulfport, MS; Seattle-Tacoma                           would be permitted to be located within
                                                  the United States and the cold treatment
                                                                                                          International Airport, Seattle, WA; and                or outside of the quarantined area. If the
                                                  facility that does not include an area
                                                  that contains host material for pests of                Hartsfield-Atlanta International Airport,              articles are treated outside the
                                                  concern during the time of year that the                Atlanta, GA, require blacklight or sticky              quarantined area, they would have to be
                                                  host material is most abundant in the                   paper to be used within the cold                       accompanied to the facility by a limited
                                                  region. This route would then be used                   treatment facility and other trapping                  permit issued in accordance with 7 CFR
                                                  at all times of the year, since an area that            methods to be used within the 4 square                 301.32–5(b) of our fruit fly regulations
                                                  is free of host material during the time                miles surrounding the facility. Proposed               and must be moved in accordance with
                                                  of year that it is most abundantly grown,               paragraph (b)(1)(x) of § 305.6 requires,               any safeguards determined appropriate
                                                  would be unlikely to grow host material                 in addition, that the facility maintain                by APHIS. These additions are
                                                  at any other time of year. This                         and provide APHIS an updated map                       necessary because the current cold
                                                  predetermined route would reduce the                    identifying places where horticultural or              treatment regulations do not address
                                                  amount of time that a shipment would                    other crops are grown within 4 square                  interstate movement and this addition
                                                  have to wait before undergoing cold                     miles of the facility. APHIS will use this             would serve to clarify our requirements.
                                                  treatment and would reduce the risk                     information to determine if any host                   Cold Treatment Facilities in All the
                                                  that any pests of concern in the                        material of concern is present. To help                United States
                                                  shipments would come into contact                       prevent establishment of pests in the
                                                  with host material en route to the cold                 unlikely event that they escape despite                   In paragraph (a) of § 305.6, we are
                                                  treatment facility. If APHIS and the cold               the required precautions, the presence                 proposing to expand our requirements
                                                  treatment facility cannot reach                         of any host material within 4 square                   for initial facility certification and
                                                  agreement in advance on all parameters                  miles of the facility would then                       recertification. A prospective facility
                                                  by which consignments would move                        necessitate specific trapping or other                 would only be certified if the
                                                  from the port of entry or points of origin              pest monitoring activities to help                     Administrator determines that the
                                                  in the United States then no                            prevent establishment of any escaped                   location of that facility is operationally
                                                  consignments may be moved to that                       pests of concern, which would be                       feasible insofar as the Federal agencies
                                                  facility until an agreement has been                    funded by the facility and described in                involved in its operation and oversight
                                                  reached.                                                the compliance agreement. All trapping                 have adequate resources to conduct the
                                                     We are also proposing to require in                  and pest monitoring activities would                   necessary operations at the facility, that
                                                  paragraph (b)(1)(vii) of § 305.6 that the               need to be approved by APHIS.                          the pest risks can be managed at that
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                                                  conveyance transporting the regulated                      The cold treatment facility would also              location, and that the facility meets all
                                                  article to the cold treatment facility                  need to have a pest management plan                    criteria for approval. Facility
                                                  would need to be refrigerated using                     within the facility, which would cover                 recertification would continue to be
                                                  motorized refrigeration equipment to a                  such topics as monitoring for pests in                 required at 3 year intervals or at other
                                                  temperature that would minimize the                     storage and treatment areas and the                    times as determined by APHIS based on
                                                  mobility of the pests of concern for the                actions to be taken in the event of the                treatments performed, commodities
                                                  article. Fruits and vegetables requiring                detection of pests within the facility.                handled, and operations conducted at
                                                  cold treatment are typically transported                Cold treatment facilities would also be                the facility.


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                                                  42572                   Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 126 / Thursday, June 30, 2016 / Proposed Rules

                                                     Currently, as part of the approval                   allow for inspection by APHIS in order                 outside the United States. Such facilities
                                                  process for cold treatment facilities,                  to monitor compliance with those                       had not been previously required to sign
                                                  APHIS considers whether a proposed                      requirements. Paragraph (g) contains                   such an agreement to treat articles
                                                  cold treatment facility is located within               requirements for facilities located                    imported into the United States under
                                                  the local commuting area for APHIS                      outside the United States, which may                   the fumigation treatment regulations.
                                                  employees so that they will be able to                  only operate under a bilateral workplan.               The proposed requirements would be
                                                  perform the oversight and monitoring                    A bilateral workplan may contain some                  identical to those found in the sections
                                                  activities required by § 305.6. When                    of the same requirements as a domestic                 of the treatment regulations concerning
                                                  imported articles are to be treated at a                compliance agreement, with the                         cold treatment and heat treatment, and
                                                  facility, APHIS also considers whether                  potential addition of trust fund                       would be added in a new paragraph (c)
                                                  the facility is located within an area                  agreement information regarding                        in § 305.5.
                                                  over which the U.S. Department of                       payment of the salaries and expenses of
                                                                                                          APHIS employees on site. We are                        Irradiation Treatment and State and
                                                  Homeland Security (DHS) 3 has customs                                                                          Facility Compliance
                                                  authority for enforcement purposes. We                  proposing to combine these
                                                  are proposing to amend paragraph (e) of                 requirements into a single paragraph                      We are proposing to harmonize the
                                                  § 305.6, which contains requirements                    that would set out the requirements that               language concerning State compliance
                                                  for monitoring and interagency                          both domestic and foreign cold                         with irradiation treatment facility
                                                  agreements for cold treatment facilities,               treatment facilities and importers would               establishment and facility agreements
                                                  to require all cold treatment facilities to             have to meet in order to enter into a                  found in § 305.9 with the proposed
                                                  be located within the local commuting                   compliance agreement with APHIS. We                    language concerning this compliance in
                                                  area for APHIS employees 4 for oversight                are also proposing to add language                     the cold treatment regulations.
                                                  and monitoring purposes. For facilities                 regarding compliance agreements                           Section 305.9(a)(1)(ii) states that the
                                                  treating imported articles, we are also                 required in association with articles                  government of the State in which the
                                                  proposing that the location of the                      moved interstate from Hawaii and the                   facility is to be located must concur in
                                                  facility would have to be within an area                U.S. territories. These requirements are               writing with the establishment of the
                                                  over which DHS has customs authority                    consistent with those required for                     facility or, if it does not concur, must
                                                  for enforcement purposes.                               importers shipping articles to                         provide a written explanation of
                                                     The regulations in § 305.6(d)(15)                    irradiation facilities located in the                  concern based on pest risks. In instances
                                                  currently stipulate that an inspector will              southern United States and are                         where the State government does not
                                                  sample and cut fruit from consignments                  necessary to ensure that consignments                  concur with the proposed facility
                                                  that have been cold treated for                         of fruits or vegetables are not diverted               location, APHIS and the State will agree
                                                  Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) in order               to any destination other than an                       on a strategy to resolve the pest risk
                                                  to monitor treatment effectiveness. We                  approved treatment facility, to prevent                concerns prior to APHIS approval. We
                                                  are proposing to expand the fruit cutting               escape of plant pests from the articles to             would add that, if the State does not
                                                  and inspection requirements in order to                 be treated during their transit from the               provide a written explanation of
                                                  state that consignments treated for other               port of first arrival into the United                  concern based on pest risks, then State
                                                  fruit flies and pests of concern may be                 States to the approved cold treatment                  concurrence will not be required before
                                                  subject to sampling and cutting. This                   facility, and to ensure that APHIS is                  APHIS approves the facility location.
                                                  would create an extra level of                          aware of the time, route, and                             Section 305.9(a)(1)(vi) states that
                                                  phytosanitary security for cold treated                 conveyance by which consignments will                  APHIS and the irradiation treatment
                                                  shipments.                                              move to the treatment facility.                        facility must agree on all parameters,
                                                     If the national plant protection                                                                            such as time, routing, and conveyance,
                                                                                                          Fumigation Treatment and Compliance
                                                  organization cuts and inspects the                                                                             by which the consignment will move
                                                                                                          Agreements
                                                  commodity in the exporting country as                                                                          from the port of entry or points of origin
                                                  part of a biometric sampling protocol                      We are proposing to add a section to                in the United States to the treatment
                                                                                                          the regulations concerning fumigation                  facility. We are proposing to clarify that
                                                  that we have approved, however, we are
                                                                                                          treatment found in § 305.5 to provide                  if APHIS and the facility cannot reach
                                                  proposing that we may waive this
                                                                                                          that both domestic and foreign                         agreement in advance on these
                                                  requirement. In such instances,
                                                                                                          fumigation treatment facilities and                    parameters then no consignments may
                                                  inspection and cutting would be
                                                                                                          importers enter into a compliance                      be moved to that facility until an
                                                  duplicative.
                                                     Paragraph (f) of § 305.6 currently                   agreement with APHIS, and agree to                     agreement has been reached.
                                                  requires that cold treatment facilities                 comply with any requirements deemed
                                                                                                          necessary by the Administrator.                        Definitions
                                                  located in the United States must enter
                                                                                                          Although we currently enter into                          We are also proposing to add a
                                                  into a compliance agreement with
                                                                                                          compliance agreements with domestic                    definition for ‘‘treatment facility’’ as
                                                  APHIS. These compliance agreements
                                                                                                          chemical treatment facilities and have                 follows to the regulations in § 305.1:
                                                  set out requirements for equipment,
                                                                                                          done so for more than 20 years, the                    ‘‘Any APHIS-certified place, warehouse,
                                                  temperature, circulation, and other
                                                                                                          addition of a requirement for                          or approved enclosure where a
                                                  operational requirements for performing
                                                                                                          compliance agreements to the                           treatment is conducted to mitigate a
                                                  cold treatment to ensure that treatments
                                                                                                          fumigation treatment regulations will                  plant pest.’’ This is intended to provide
                                                  are administered properly. They also
                                                                                                          add a degree of enforceability to the                  clarity and guidance in the regulations
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                                                    3 The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is
                                                                                                          terms of those agreements in addition to               as the term is included in the proposed
                                                  assigned authority to accept entries of merchandise,    codifying our existing practices.                      additions to the regulations.
                                                  to collect duties, and to enforce the provisions of        We are also proposing to add a
                                                  the customs and navigation laws in force.               requirement concerning establishment                   Treatment Schedules
                                                    4 Commuting area would be determined by
                                                                                                          of a compliance agreement, or an                         Finally, the current regulations in
                                                  contacting the local APHIS Plant Protection and
                                                  Quarantine office, State Plant Health Director,
                                                                                                          equivalent agreement such as a                         § 305.2, paragraph (b), state that
                                                  located in each State, Eastern Regional Office, or      workplan agreement, for those                          approved treatment schedules are set
                                                  Western Regional Office.                                fumigation treatment facilities located                out in the PPQ Treatment Manual.


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                                                                          Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 126 / Thursday, June 30, 2016 / Proposed Rules                                          42573

                                                  Section 305.3 sets forth a process for                  Executive Order 12988                                  concurrence letters, limited permits,
                                                  adding, revising, or removing treatment                    This proposed rule has been reviewed                and contingency plans.
                                                  schedules in the PPQ Treatment                          under Executive Order 12988, Civil                        We are soliciting comments from the
                                                  Manual. Paragraph (a)(1) provides that                  Justice Reform. If this proposed rule is               public (as well as affected agencies)
                                                  removal of a treatment schedule is                      adopted: (1) All State and local laws and              concerning our proposed information
                                                  subject to public comment.                              regulations that are inconsistent with                 collection and recordkeeping
                                                     We are proposing to remove a cold                    this rule will be preempted; (2) no                    requirements. These comments will
                                                  treatment schedule from the PPQ                         retroactive effect will be given to this               help us:
                                                  Treatment Manual. Treatment schedule                    rule; and (3) administrative proceedings                  (1) Evaluate whether the proposed
                                                  T107-f was authorized for use on                        will not be required before parties may                information collection is necessary for
                                                  shipments of Ya pears (Pyrus x                          file suit in court challenging this rule.              the proper performance of our agency’s
                                                  bretscheideri) from APHIS-authorized                                                                           functions, including whether the
                                                                                                          Paperwork Reduction Act                                information will have practical utility;
                                                  areas within Shandong Province, China,
                                                  in order to provide phytosanitary                          In accordance with section 3507(d) of                  (2) Evaluate the accuracy of our
                                                  protection against the Oriental fruit fly               the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995                    estimate of the burden of the proposed
                                                  (Bactrocera dorsalis). Based on Oriental                (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the information              information collection, including the
                                                  fruit fly trapping results and                          collection or recordkeeping                            validity of the methodology and
                                                  climatological and biological                           requirements included in this proposed                 assumptions used;
                                                  considerations, we have determined that                 rule have been submitted for approval to                  (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and
                                                  cold treatment of Ya pears is no longer                 the Office of Management and Budget                    clarity of the information to be
                                                  necessary and are therefore proposing to                (OMB). Please send written comments                    collected; and
                                                  remove the treatment schedule. All                      to the Office of Information and                          (4) Minimize the burden of the
                                                  other requirements regarding the                        Regulatory Affairs, OMB, Attention:                    information collection on those who are
                                                  importation of Ya pears would remain                    Desk Officer for APHIS, Washington, DC                 to respond (such as through the use of
                                                  in place.                                               20503. Please state that your comments                 appropriate automated, electronic,
                                                                                                          refer to Docket No. APHIS–2013–0081.                   mechanical, or other technological
                                                  Executive Order 12866 and Regulatory                    Please send a copy of your comments to:                collection techniques or other forms of
                                                  Flexibility Act                                         (1) APHIS, using one of the methods                    information technology; e.g., permitting
                                                                                                          described under ADDRESSES at the                       electronic submission of responses).
                                                     This proposed rule has been                          beginning of this document, and (2)                       Estimate of burden: Public reporting
                                                  determined to be not significant for the                Clearance Officer, OCIO, USDA, room                    burden for this collection of information
                                                  purposes of Executive Order 12866 and,                  404–W, 14th Street and Independence                    is estimated to average 0.5 hours per
                                                  therefore, has not been reviewed by the                 Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250.                      response.
                                                  Office of Management and Budget.                           APHIS is proposing to amend the                        Respondents: NPPO, facility
                                                     In accordance with the Regulatory                    phytosanitary treatment regulations to                 operators, importers, and State
                                                  Flexibility Act, we have analyzed the                   establish generic criteria that would                  governments.
                                                  potential economic effects of this action               allow for the approval of new cold                        Estimated annual number of
                                                  on small entities. The analysis is                      treatment facilities in the Southern and               respondents: 15.
                                                  summarized below. Copies of the full                    Western States of the United States.                      Estimated annual number of
                                                  analysis are available on the                           These criteria, if met, would allow                    responses per respondent: 3.
                                                  Regulations.gov Web site (see                           APHIS to approve new cold treatment                       Estimated annual number of
                                                  ADDRESSES above for instructions for                    facilities without rulemaking and                      responses: 42.
                                                  accessing Regulations.gov) or by                        facilitate the importation of fruit                       Estimated total annual burden on
                                                  contacting the person listed under FOR                  requiring cold treatment while                         respondents: 21 hours. (Due to
                                                  FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.                            continuing to provide protection against               averaging, the total annual burden hours
                                                     We are proposing to establish general                the introduction of pests of concern into              may not equal the product of the annual
                                                  criteria for new cold treatment facilities              the United States. APHIS is also                       number of responses multiplied by the
                                                  in the Southern and Western United                      proposing to amend the fruit cutting and               reporting burden per response.)
                                                  States. These general criteria would be                 inspection requirements in the cold                       Copies of this information collection
                                                  supplemented as necessary by                            treatment regulations in order to expand               can be obtained from Ms. Kimberly
                                                  additional measures, which would be                     cutting and inspection to commodities                  Hardy, APHIS’ Information Collection
                                                  described in the facility’s compliance                  that have been treated for a wider                     Coordinator, at (301) 851–2727.
                                                  agreement, based on pests of concern                    variety of pests of concern. This action
                                                                                                          would provide for a greater degree of                  E-Government Act Compliance
                                                  associated with specific regulated
                                                  articles to be treated at the facility and              phytosanitary protection. Finally,                        The Animal and Plant Health
                                                  the location of the specific facility.                  APHIS is proposing to add requirements                 Inspection Service is committed to
                                                                                                          concerning the establishment of                        compliance with the E-Government Act
                                                     We do not anticipate that the                        compliance agreements for those                        to promote the use of the Internet and
                                                  proposed rule would have an economic                    entities that operate fumigation                       other information technologies, to
                                                  impact, since it would simply set forth                 facilities. This action would serve to                 provide increased opportunities for
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                                                  the general criteria, not approve any                   codify and make enforceable existing                   citizen access to Government
                                                  new facilities.                                         procedures concerning compliance                       information and services, and for other
                                                     Under these circumstances, the                       agreements for these facilities.                       purposes. For information pertinent to
                                                  Administrator of the Animal and Plant                      Implementing this rule will require                 E-Government Act compliance related
                                                  Health Inspection Service has                           the completion of compliance                           to this proposed rule, please contact Ms.
                                                  determined that this action would not                   agreements, facility certification,                    Kimberly Hardy, APHIS’ Information
                                                  have a significant economic impact on                   detailed layouts of facilities and maps of             Collection Coordinator, at (301) 851–
                                                  a substantial number of small entities.                 the surrounding areas, State                           2727.


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                                                  42574                    Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 126 / Thursday, June 30, 2016 / Proposed Rules

                                                  List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 305                      requirements found necessary by APHIS                  § 305.6   Cold treatment requirements.
                                                    Irradiation, Phytosanitary treatment,                 to prevent the escape of any pests of                     (a) * * * A facility will only be
                                                  Plant diseases and pests, Quarantine,                   concern that may be associated with the                certified or recertified if the
                                                  Reporting and recordkeeping                             articles to be treated.                                Administrator determines that the
                                                  requirements.                                              (ii) Compliance agreements with                     location of the facility is such that those
                                                                                                          fumigation treatment facilities outside                Federal agencies involved in its
                                                    Accordingly, we propose to amend 7
                                                                                                          the United States. If fumigation                       operation and oversight have adequate
                                                  CFR part 305 as follows:
                                                                                                          treatment of imported articles is                      resources to conduct the necessary
                                                  PART 305—PHYTOSANITARY                                  conducted outside the United States, the               operations at the facility, that the pest
                                                  TREATMENTS                                              fumigation treatment facility operator or              risks can be managed at that location,
                                                                                                          the person who conducts the fumigation                 and that the facility meets all criteria for
                                                  ■ 1. The authority citation for part 305                must sign a compliance agreement or an                 approval. Other agencies that have
                                                  continues to read as follows:                           equivalent agreement with APHIS and                    regulatory oversight and requirements
                                                    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7701–7772 and 7781–               the national plant protection                          must concur in writing with the
                                                  7786; 21 U.S.C. 136 and 136a; 7 CFR 2.22,               organization (NPPO) of the country in                  establishment of the facility prior to
                                                  2.80, and 371.3.                                        which the facility is located. In this                 APHIS approval. * * *
                                                  ■ 2. Section 305.1 is amended by                        agreement, the fumigation treatment                    *       *    *      *     *
                                                  adding, in alphabetical order, a                        facility operator or person conducting                    (2) Be capable of preventing the
                                                  definition for treatment facility to read               the fumigation must agree to comply                    escape and spread of pests while
                                                  as follows:                                             with the requirements of this section,                 regulated articles are at the facility; and
                                                                                                          and the NPPO of the country in which                   *       *    *      *     *
                                                  § 305.1   Definitions.                                  the facility is located must agree to                     (b)(1) Location of facilities. Where
                                                                                                          monitor that compliance and to inform                  certified cold treatment facilities are
                                                  *     *     *     *    *
                                                    Treatment facility. Any APHIS-                        the Administrator of any                               available, an approved cold treatment
                                                  certified place, warehouse, or approved                 noncompliance.                                         may be conducted for any imported
                                                  enclosure where a treatment is                             (2) Fumigation treatment facilities                 regulated article either prior to
                                                  conducted to mitigate a plant pest.                     treating articles moved interstate from                shipment to the United States or in the
                                                                                                          Hawaii and U.S. territories. Fumigation                United States. For any regulated article
                                                  *     *     *     *    *                                treatment facilities treating articles
                                                  ■ 3. Section 305.5 is amended by                                                                               moved interstate from Hawaii or U.S.
                                                                                                          moved interstate from Hawaii and U.S.                  territories, cold treatment may be
                                                  redesignating paragraph (c) as paragraph                territories must complete a compliance
                                                  (d) and adding a new paragraph (c).                                                                            conducted either prior to movement to
                                                                                                          agreement with APHIS as provided in                    the mainland United States or in the
                                                    The addition reads as follows:
                                                                                                          § 318.13–3(d) of this chapter.                         mainland United States. Cold treatment
                                                  § 305.5   Chemical treatment requirements.                 (3) Fumigation treatment facilities                 facilities may be located in any State on
                                                  *      *     *    *     *                               treating articles moved interstate from                the mainland United States. For cold
                                                     (c) Compliance agreements. Any                       areas quarantined for fruit flies.                     treatment facilities located in the area
                                                  person who conducts a fumigation or                     Fumigation treatment facilities treating               south of 39° latitude and west of 104°
                                                  operates a facility where fumigation is                 articles moved interstate from areas                   longitude, the following additional
                                                  conducted for phytosanitary purposes                    quarantined for fruit flies must complete              conditions must be met:
                                                  must sign a compliance agreement with                   a compliance agreement with APHIS as                      (i) Prospective facility operators must
                                                  APHIS.                                                  provided in § 301.32–6 of this chapter.                submit a detailed layout of the facility
                                                     (1) Fumigation treatment facilities                     (4) Fumigation treatment facilities                 site and its location to APHIS. APHIS
                                                  treating imported articles. (i)                         treating articles moved interstate from                will evaluate plant health risks based on
                                                  Compliance agreements with importers                    areas quarantined for Asian citrus                     the proposed location and layout of the
                                                  and facility operators for fumigation in                psyllid. Fumigation treatment facilities               facility site. APHIS will only approve a
                                                  the United States. If fumigation                        treating articles moved interstate from                proposed facility if the Administrator
                                                  treatment of imported articles is                       areas quarantined only for Asian citrus                determines that regulated articles can be
                                                  conducted in the United States, both the                psyllid, and not for citrus greening,                  safely transported to the facility from
                                                  importer and the fumigation treatment                   must complete a compliance agreement                   the port of entry or points of origin in
                                                  facility operator or the person who                     with APHIS as provided in § 301.76–8                   the United States.
                                                  conducts fumigation must sign                           of this chapter.                                          (ii) The government of the State in
                                                  compliance agreements with APHIS. In                    *       *    *     *    *                              which the facility is to be located must
                                                  the importer compliance agreement, the                  ■ 4. Section 305.6 is amended as                       concur in writing with the location of
                                                  importer must agree to comply with any                  follows:                                               the facility or, if it does not concur,
                                                  additional requirements found                           ■ a. In the introductory text of                       must provide a written explanation of
                                                  necessary by APHIS to ensure the                        paragraph (a), by adding two new                       concern based on pest risks. In instances
                                                  shipment is not diverted to a destination               sentences before the last sentence.                    where the State government does not
                                                  other than an approved treatment                        ■ b. By redesignating paragraph (a)(2) as              concur with the proposed facility
                                                  facility and to prevent escape of plant                 paragraph (a)(3).                                      location, and provides a written
                                                  pests from the articles to be treated                   ■ c. By adding new paragraph (a)(2).                   explanation of concern based on pest
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                                                  during their transit from the port of first             ■ d. By revising paragraph (b).                        risks, APHIS and the State must agree
                                                  arrival to the fumigation treatment                     ■ e. By revising paragraph (d)(15).                    on a strategy to resolve the pest risk
                                                  facility in the United States. In the                   ■ f. In paragraph (e), by adding two new               concerns prior to APHIS approval. If the
                                                  facility compliance agreement, the                      sentences after the last sentence.                     State does not provide a written
                                                  fumigation facility operator or the                     ■ g. By revising paragraph (f).                        explanation of concern based on pest
                                                  person who conducts fumigation must                     ■ h. By removing paragraphs (g) and (h).               risks, then State concurrence will not be
                                                  agree to comply with the requirements                      The additions and revisions read as                 required before APHIS approves the
                                                  of this section and any additional                      follows:                                               facility location.


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                                                                          Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 126 / Thursday, June 30, 2016 / Proposed Rules                                              42575

                                                     (iii) Untreated articles may not be                  fruit flies, cold treatment facilities may             pests from the articles to be treated
                                                  removed from their packaging prior to                   be located either within or outside of                 during their transit from the port of first
                                                  treatment under any circumstances.                      the quarantined area. If the articles are              arrival to the cold treatment facility in
                                                     (iv) The facility must have                          treated outside the quarantined area,                  the United States. In the facility
                                                  contingency plans, approved by APHIS,                   they must be accompanied to the facility               compliance agreement, the facility
                                                  for safely destroying or disposing of                   by a limited permit issued in                          operator or person conducting the cold
                                                  regulated articles if the facility is unable            accordance with § 301.32–5(b) of this                  treatment, must agree to comply with
                                                  to properly treat a shipment.                           chapter and must be moved in                           the requirements of this section and any
                                                     (v) The facility may only treat articles             accordance with any safeguards                         additional requirements found
                                                  approved by APHIS for treatment at the                  determined to be appropriate by APHIS.                 necessary by APHIS to prevent the
                                                  facility. Approved articles will be listed              *      *      *     *   *                              escape of any pests of concern that may
                                                  in the compliance agreement required in                    (d) * * *                                           be associated with the articles to be
                                                  paragraph (f) of this section.                             (15) An inspector will sample and cut               treated.
                                                     (vi) Arrangements for treatment must                 fruit from each consignment after it has                  (2) Compliance agreements with cold
                                                  be made before the departure of a                       been cold treated to monitor treatment                 treatment facilities outside the United
                                                  consignment from its port of entry or                   effectiveness. If a single live pest of                States. If cold treatment of imported
                                                  points of origin in the United States.                  concern in any stage of development is                 articles is conducted outside the United
                                                  APHIS and the facility must agree on all                found, the consignment will be held                    States, the operator of the cold treatment
                                                  parameters, such as time, routing, and                  until an investigation is completed and                facility must sign a compliance
                                                  conveyance, by which the consignment                    appropriate remedial actions have been                 agreement or an equivalent agreement
                                                  will move from the port of entry or                     implemented. If APHIS determines at                    with APHIS and the NPPO of the
                                                  points of origin in the United States to                any time that the safeguards contained                 country in which the facility is located.
                                                  the treatment facility. If APHIS and the                in this section do not appear to be                    In this agreement, the facility operator
                                                  facility cannot reach agreement in                      effective against the pests of concern,                must agree to comply with the
                                                  advance on these parameters then no                     APHIS may suspend the importation of                   requirements of this section, and the
                                                  consignments may be moved to that                       fruits from the originating country and                NPPO of the country in which the
                                                  facility until an agreement has been                    conduct an investigation into the cause                facility is located must agree to monitor
                                                  reached.                                                of the deficiency. APHIS may waive the                 that compliance and inform the
                                                     (vii) Regulated articles must be                                                                            Administrator of any noncompliance.
                                                                                                          sampling and cutting requirement of
                                                  conveyed to the facility in a refrigerated                                                                        (3) Cold treatment facilities treating
                                                                                                          this paragraph, provided that the
                                                  (via motorized refrigeration equipment)                                                                        articles moved interstate from Hawaii
                                                                                                          national plant protection organization of
                                                  conveyance at a temperature that                                                                               and U.S. territories. Cold treatment
                                                                                                          the exporting country has conducted
                                                  minimizes the mobility of the pests of                                                                         facilities treating articles moved
                                                                                                          such sampling and cutting in the
                                                  concern for the article.                                                                                       interstate from Hawaii and the U.S.
                                                     (viii) The facility must apply all post-             exporting country as part of a biometric
                                                                                                          sampling protocol approved by APHIS.                   territories must complete a compliance
                                                  treatment safeguards required for                                                                              agreement with APHIS as provided in
                                                  certification under paragraph (a) of this               *      *      *     *   *
                                                                                                             (e) * * * Facilities must be located                § 318.13–3(d) of this chapter.
                                                  section before releasing the articles.                                                                         ■ 5. Section 305.9 is amended:
                                                     (ix) The facility must remain locked                 within the local commuting area for                    ■ a. By revising paragraph (a)(1)(ii).
                                                  when not in operation.                                  APHIS employees for inspection                         ■ b. By revising paragraph (a)(1)(vi).
                                                     (x) The facility must maintain and                   purposes. Facilities treating imported                    The revisions read as follows:
                                                  provide APHIS with an updated map                       articles must also be located within an
                                                  identifying places where horticultural or               area over which the U.S. Department of                 § 305.9   Irradiation treatment requirements.
                                                  other crops are grown within 4 square                   Homeland Security is assigned authority                *       *    *      *     *
                                                  miles of the facility. Proximity of host                to accept entries of merchandise, to                      (a) * * *
                                                  material to the facility will necessitate               collect duties, and to enforce the                        (1) * * *
                                                  trapping or other pest monitoring                       provisions of the customs and                             (ii) The government of the State in
                                                  activities, funded by the facility, to help             navigation laws in force.                              which the facility is to be located must
                                                  prevent establishment of any escaped                       (f) Compliance agreements. Any                      concur in writing with the location of
                                                  pests of concern, as approved by APHIS;                 person who operates a facility where                   the facility or, if it does not concur,
                                                  these activities will be listed in the                  cold treatment is conducted for                        must provide a written explanation of
                                                  compliance agreement required in                        phytosanitary purposes must sign a                     concern based on pest risks. In instances
                                                  paragraph (f) of this section. The                      compliance agreement with APHIS.                       where the State government does not
                                                  treatment facility must have a pest                        (1) Compliance agreements with                      concur with the proposed facility
                                                  management plan within the facility.                    importers and facility operators for cold              location, and provides a written
                                                     (xi) The facility must comply with                   treatment in the United States. If cold                explanation of concern based on pest
                                                  any additional requirements including,                  treatment of imported articles is                      risks, APHIS and the State must agree
                                                  but not limited to, the use of pest-proof               conducted in the United States, both the               on a strategy to resolve the pest risk
                                                  packaging and container seals, that                     importer and the operator of the cold                  concerns prior to APHIS approval. If the
                                                  APHIS may require to prevent the                        treatment facility or the person who                   State does not provide a written
                                                  escape of plant pests during transport to               conducts the cold treatment must sign                  explanation of concern based on pest
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                                                  and from the cold treatment facility                    compliance agreements with APHIS. In                   risks, then State concurrence will not be
                                                  itself, for a particular facility based on              the importer compliance agreement, the                 required before APHIS approves the
                                                  local conditions, and for any other risk                importer must agree to comply with any                 facility location.
                                                  factors of concern. These activities will               additional requirements found                          *       *    *      *     *
                                                  be listed in the compliance agreement                   necessary by APHIS to ensure the                          (vi) Arrangements for treatment must
                                                  required in paragraph (f) of this section.              shipment is not diverted to a destination              be made before the departure of a
                                                     (2) For articles that are moved                      other than an approved treatment                       consignment from its port of entry or
                                                  interstate from areas quarantined for                   facility and to prevent escape of plant                points of origin in the United States.


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                                                  42576                    Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 126 / Thursday, June 30, 2016 / Proposed Rules

                                                  APHIS and the facility must agree on all                Background                                             DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
                                                  parameters, such as time, routing, and
                                                  conveyance, by which the consignment                      The Act authorized the establishment                 10 CFR Part 460
                                                  will move from the port of entry or                     of a national beef promotion and
                                                  points of origin in the United States to                research program. The final Order was                  Draft Environmental Assessment for
                                                  the treatment facility. If APHIS and the                published in the Federal Register (51                  Notice of Proposed Rulemaking,
                                                  facility cannot reach agreement in                      FR 21632) on July 18, 1986, and the                    ‘‘Energy Conservation Standards for
                                                  advance on these parameters then no                     collection of assessments began on                     Manufactured Housing’’ With Request
                                                  consignments may be moved to that                       October 1, 1986. The program is                        for Information on Impacts to Indoor
                                                  facility until an agreement has been                    administered by the Cattlemen’s Beef                   Air Quality
                                                  reached.                                                Promotion and Research Board,                          AGENCY:  Office of Energy Efficiency and
                                                  *      *    *     *     *                               appointed by the Secretary of                          Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of
                                                    Done in Washington, DC, this 24th day of              Agriculture from industry nominations,                 Energy.
                                                  June 2016.                                              and composed of 100 cattle producers                   ACTION: Notice of availability; request
                                                  Kevin Shea,                                             and importers. The program is funded                   for public comment, and request for
                                                  Administrator, Animal and Plant Health                  by a $1-per-head assessment on                         information.
                                                  Inspection Service.                                     producer marketing of cattle in the U.S.
                                                                                                          and on imported cattle, as well as an                  SUMMARY:    Section 413 of the Energy
                                                  [FR Doc. 2016–15568 Filed 6–29–16; 8:45 am]                                                                    Independence and Security Act of 2007
                                                                                                          equivalent amount on imported beef
                                                  BILLING CODE 3410–34–P                                                                                         (EISA) directs the U.S. Department of
                                                                                                          and beef products. The U.S. Customs
                                                                                                                                                                 Energy (DOE) to establish energy
                                                                                                          and Border Protection Service collects
                                                                                                                                                                 conservation standards for
                                                  DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE                               assessments from importers.                            manufactured housing. Section 413
                                                                                                            On March 16, 2016, AMS published                     further directs DOE to base its energy
                                                  Agricultural Marketing Service
                                                                                                          in the Federal Register (81 FR 14022) a                conservation standards on the most
                                                  7 CFR Part 1260                                         proposed rule amending the Order                       recent version of the International
                                                                                                          established under the Act to add                       Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and
                                                                                                          Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS)                       any supplements to that document,
                                                  [No. AMS–LPS–15–0084]                                                                                          except where DOE finds that the IECC
                                                                                                          codes for veal and veal products not
                                                                                                          currently covered under the Order and                  is not cost effective or where a more
                                                  Amendment to the Beef Promotion and
                                                                                                          to update the carcass weight for                       stringent standard would be more cost
                                                  Research Rules and Regulations;
                                                                                                          imported veal carcasses used to                        effective, based on the impact of the
                                                  Withdrawal
                                                                                                          determine the assessment rate for                      IECC on the purchase price of
                                                  AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service,                 imported veal and veal products.                       manufactured housing and on total
                                                  USDA.                                                                                                          lifecycle construction and operating
                                                                                                            Following publication, AMS                           costs. On June 17, 2016, DOE published
                                                  ACTION: Withdrawal of proposed rule.                    discovered an error in the carcass                     a notice of proposed rulemaking in the
                                                                                                          weight of imported veal carcasses used                 Federal Register pertaining to energy
                                                  SUMMARY:   This document informs the
                                                                                                          to determine the assessment rate for                   efficiency for manufactured housing.
                                                  public that the Agricultural Marketing
                                                                                                          imported veal and veal products. The                      Pursuant to the National
                                                  Service (AMS) of the U.S. Department of
                                                  Agriculture (USDA) is withdrawing the                   correct weight used to calculate the                   Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of
                                                  proposed rule published in the Federal                  assessment rate was published as 151                   1969, DOE Office of Energy Efficiency
                                                  Register (81 FR 14022) on March 16,                     pounds, but the correct weight is 154                  and Renewable Energy (EERE) has
                                                  2016, regarding the Beef Promotion and                  pounds. In addition, the industry                      prepared a draft environmental
                                                  Research Order (Order) established                      recently requested the formula for how                 assessment (EA) to evaluate the
                                                  under the Beef Promotion and Research                   the assessment rate for imported veal                  environmental impacts of this proposed
                                                  Act of 1985 (Act). The proposed rule is                 and veal products is calculated. As a                  action. DOE is seeking public comment
                                                  being withdrawn because of an error                     result of both the discovered error and                on the environmental issues addressed
                                                  noted in the formula determining the                    the industry request, AMS is                           in the EA. In conjunction with issuance
                                                  assessment rate on imported veal                        withdrawing the proposed rule and will                 of this draft EA for public review and
                                                  carcass weight and to provide the                       publish a new proposed rule with the                   comment, DOE is issuing a request for
                                                  calculation to establish the assessment                 corrected carcass weight and formula.                  information that will help it analyze
                                                  rate on importer veal and veal products.                                                                       potential impacts on indoor air quality
                                                                                                            Dated: June 17, 2016.                                (IAQ) from the proposed energy
                                                  DATES: The proposed rule published on                   Elanor Starmer,                                        conservation standards, in particular
                                                  March 26, 2016 (81 FR 14022), is                                                                               sealing manufactured homes tighter.
                                                                                                          Administrator, Agricultural Marketing
                                                  withdrawn.                                              Service.                                               DATES: Comments regarding this draft
                                                  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                        [FR Doc. 2016–14823 Filed 6–29–16; 8:45 am]            EA and/or information on IAQ must be
                                                  Michael Dinkel, Agricultural Marketing                  BILLING CODE 3410–02–P                                 received on or before August 15, 2016.
                                                  Specialist; Research and Promotion                                                                             ADDRESSES: Written comments should
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                                                  Division, Room 2610–S; Livestock,                                                                              be sent to Roak Parker at U.S.
                                                  Poultry, and Seed Program; AMS,                                                                                Department of Energy, 15013 Denver
                                                  USDA, STOP 0249; 1400 Independence                                                                             West Parkway, Golden, CO 80401, or by
                                                  Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250–                                                                              email at RulemakingEAs@ee.doe.gov.
                                                  0249; facsimile 202/720–1125;                                                                                  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                  telephone 301/352–7497, or by email at                                                                         Requests for additional information or
                                                  Michael.Dinkel@ams.usda.gov.                                                                                   copies of the draft environmental
                                                  SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                                                                                     assessment should be directed to Roak


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Document Created: 2018-02-08 07:45:26
Document Modified: 2018-02-08 07:45:26
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionProposed Rules
ActionProposed rule.
DatesWe will consider all comments that we receive on or before August 29, 2016.
ContactMr. David B. Lamb, Senior Regulatory Policy Specialist, IRM, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 851-2103.
FR Citation81 FR 42569 
RIN Number0579-AD90
CFR AssociatedIrradiation; Phytosanitary Treatment; Plant Diseases and Pests; Quarantine and Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements

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