81_FR_74930 81 FR 74722 - Importation of Hass Avocados From Colombia

81 FR 74722 - Importation of Hass Avocados From Colombia

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 208 (October 27, 2016)

Page Range74722-74727
FR Document2016-26033

We are proposing to amend the fruits and vegetables regulations to allow the importation of Hass avocados from Colombia into the continental United States. As a condition of entry, Hass avocados from Colombia would have to be produced in accordance with a systems approach that would include requirements for importation in commercial consignments; registration and monitoring of places of production and packinghouses; pest-free places of production; grove sanitation, monitoring, and pest control practices; lot identification; and inspection for quarantine pests by the Colombian national plant protection organization. Additionally, avocados from Colombia would be required to be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate with an additional declaration stating that the avocados have been produced in accordance with the proposed requirements. This action would allow for the importation of Hass avocados from Colombia into the continental United States while continuing to provide protection against the introduction of plant pests.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 208 (Thursday, October 27, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 208 (Thursday, October 27, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 74722-74727]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-26033]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

7 CFR Part 319

[Docket No. APHIS-2016-0022]
RIN 0579-AE29


Importation of Hass Avocados From Colombia

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: We are proposing to amend the fruits and vegetables 
regulations to allow the importation of Hass avocados from Colombia 
into the continental United States. As a condition of entry, Hass 
avocados from Colombia would have to be produced in accordance with a 
systems approach that would include requirements for importation in 
commercial consignments; registration and monitoring of places of 
production and packinghouses; pest-free places of production; grove 
sanitation, monitoring, and pest control practices; lot identification; 
and inspection for quarantine pests by the Colombian national plant 
protection organization. Additionally, avocados from Colombia would be 
required to be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate with an 
additional declaration stating that the avocados have been produced in 
accordance with the proposed requirements. This action would allow for 
the importation of Hass avocados from Colombia into the continental 
United States while continuing to provide protection against the 
introduction of plant pests.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
December 27, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2016-0022.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comments to 
Docket No. APHIS-2016-0022, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, 
APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-
1238.

[[Page 74723]]

    Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may 
be viewed at http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2016-
0022 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, USDA/APHIS/PPQ, 4700 River Road, Unit 133, 
Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 851-2103; [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Under the regulations in ``Subpart--Fruits and Vegetables'' (7 CFR 
319.56-1 through 319.56-75, referred to below as the regulations or the 
fruits and vegetables regulations), the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service (APHIS) of the United States Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) prohibits or restricts the importation of fruits and 
vegetables into the United States from certain parts of the world to 
prevent plant pests from being introduced into and spread within the 
United States.
    The national plant protection organization (NPPO) of Colombia has 
requested that we amend the regulations to allow Hass avocados (Persea 
americana) from Colombia to be imported into the continental United 
States.
    In evaluating Colombia's request, we prepared a pest risk 
assessment (PRA) and risk management document (RMD). Copies of the PRA 
and the RMD may be obtained from the person listed under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT or viewed on the Regulations.gov Web site (see 
ADDRESSES above for instructions for accessing Regulations.gov).
    The PRA, titled ``Importation of Fresh Fruit of Avocado, Persea 
americana Miller var. `Hass', into the Continental United States from 
Colombia: A Pathway Initiated Risk Assessment,'' analyzes the potential 
pest risk associated with the importation of fresh Hass avocados into 
the continental United States from Colombia.
    The PRA identifies four pests of quarantine significance present in 
Colombia that could follow the pathway of Hass avocados from Colombia 
to the continental United States. They are:
     Heilipus lauri Boheman, an avocado seed weevil.
     Heilipus trifasciatus, an avocado seed weevil.
     Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green), pink hibiscus mealybug.
     Stenoma catenifer, avocado seed moth.
    The PRA derives plant pest risk potentials for these pests by 
estimating the likelihood of introduction of each pest into the 
continental United States through the importation of Hass avocados from 
Colombia, as well as the consequences of such introduction, if the 
avocados are not subject to mitigations to address the pests. The PRA 
considers three of the pests to have a high unmitigated pest risk 
potential (H. lauri, H. trifasciatus, and S. catenifer), and one (M. 
hirsutus) to have a medium unmitigated pest risk potential.
    Based on the findings of the PRA, APHIS has determined that 
measures beyond standard port-of-entry inspection are necessary in 
order to mitigate the risk associated with the importation of fresh 
Hass avocados from Colombia into the continental United States. These 
measures are listed in the RMD and are used as the basis for the 
requirements of this proposed rule.
    Therefore, we are proposing to amend the regulations to allow the 
importation of commercial consignments of fresh Hass avocados from 
Colombia into the continental United States, subject to a systems 
approach. Requirements of the systems approach, which would be added to 
the regulations as a new Sec.  319.56-76, are discussed below.

Proposed Systems Approach

General Requirements

    Proposed paragraph (a) of Sec.  319.56-76 would set out general 
requirements for fresh Hass avocados from Colombia destined for export 
to the continental United States.
    Proposed paragraph (a)(1) would require the NPPO of Colombia to 
provide an operational workplan to APHIS that details the systems 
approach activities that the NPPO of Colombia and places of production 
and packinghouses registered with the NPPO of Colombia would, subject 
to APHIS approval of the workplan, implement to meet the proposed 
requirements. An operational workplan is an arrangement between APHIS' 
Plant Protection and Quarantine program and officials of the NPPO of a 
foreign government that specifies in detail the phytosanitary measures 
that will comply with U.S. regulations governing the import or export 
of a specific commodity. Other foreign parties associated with an 
export program, such as producers and packinghouse operators, may also 
be signatories on specific operational workplans. Operational workplans 
apply only to the signatories and establish detailed procedures and 
guidance for the day-to-day operations of specific import/export 
programs. Operational workplans also establish how specific 
phytosanitary issues are dealt with in the exporting country and make 
clear who is responsible for dealing with those issues. Operational 
workplans require APHIS approval.
    If the operational workplan is approved, APHIS would be directly 
involved with the NPPO of Colombia in monitoring and auditing the 
systems approach implementation. Such monitoring could involve site 
visits by APHIS personnel.
    Proposed paragraph (a)(2) would require the avocados considered for 
export to the continental United States to be grown by places of 
production that are registered with the NPPO of Colombia and that have 
been determined to be free from H. lauri, H. trifasciatus, and S. 
catenifer in accordance with the proposed regulations. We discuss the 
proposed protocol for considering a production site free from these 
three pests later in this document.
    Proposed paragraph (a)(3) would require the avocados to be packed 
for export to the continental United States in pest-exclusionary 
packinghouses that are registered with the NPPO of Colombia.
    Registration of places of production and packinghouses with the 
NPPO of Colombia would ensure that the NPPO exercises oversight of 
these locations and that the places of production and packinghouses 
continuously follow the provisions of the export program. It would also 
facilitate traceback in the event that avocados from Colombia are 
determined to be infested with quarantine pests.
    Proposed paragraph (a)(4) would require Hass avocados from Colombia 
to be imported into the continental United States in commercial 
consignments only. Noncommercial shipments are more prone to 
infestations because the commodity is often ripe to overripe, could be 
of a variety with unknown susceptibility to pests, and is often grown 
with little or no pest control. Commercial consignments, as defined in 
Sec.  319.56-2 of the regulations, are consignments that an inspector 
identifies as having been imported for sale and distribution. Such 
identification is based on a variety of indicators, including, but not 
limited to: Quantity of produce, type of packaging,

[[Page 74724]]

identification of place of production or packinghouse on the packaging, 
and documents consigning the fruits or vegetables to a wholesaler or 
retailer. We currently require most other fruits and vegetables 
imported into the United States from foreign countries to be imported 
in commercial consignments as a mitigation against quarantine pests of 
that commodity.

Monitoring and Oversight

    The systems approach we are proposing includes monitoring and 
oversight requirements in paragraph (b) of proposed Sec.  319.56-76. 
These requirements are to ensure that the required phytosanitary 
measures are properly implemented throughout the process of growing and 
packing of avocados for export to the United States.
    Proposed paragraph (b)(1) would require the NPPO of Colombia to 
visit and inspect registered places of production monthly, starting at 
least 2 months before harvest and continuing until the end of the 
shipping season, to verify that the growers are complying with grove 
sanitation requirements (discussed below) and following pest control 
guidelines, when necessary, to reduce quarantine pest populations. Any 
personnel conducting trapping and pest surveys under this section at 
registered places of production would have to be hired, trained, and 
supervised by the NPPO of Colombia. APHIS would monitor the places of 
production, if necessary. We may consider it necessary to monitor a 
place of production, for example, if a registered place of production 
is suspended from the export program for avocadoes from Colombia due to 
the presence of quarantine plant pests at the place of production, but 
is subsequently reinstated after taking appropriate remedial actions to 
address these pests.
    Under paragraph (b)(2), in addition to conducting fruit inspections 
at the packinghouses, the NPPO of Colombia would be required to monitor 
packinghouse operations to verify that the packinghouses are complying 
with the packinghouse requirements for pest exclusion, safeguarding, 
and identification that are described later in this document.
    Under paragraph (b)(3), if the NPPO of Colombia finds that a place 
of production or a packinghouse is not complying with the proposed 
regulations, no avocados from the place of production or packinghouse 
would be eligible for export to the United States until APHIS and the 
NPPO of Colombia conduct an investigation and agree that appropriate 
remedial actions have been implemented.
    Paragraph (b)(4) would require the NPPO of Colombia to retain all 
forms and documents related to export program activities in places of 
production and packinghouses for at least 1 year and, as requested, 
provide them to APHIS for review. Such forms and documents would 
include (but would not necessarily be limited to) trapping and survey 
records for H. lauri, H. trifasciatus, and S. catenifer, as well as 
inspection records, and, if applicable, treatment records. Treatment 
records would be applicable when, for instance, the NPPO has required a 
place of production to follow pest control guidelines as a condition of 
registration, and these guidelines include treatment.

Grove Sanitation

    Under paragraph (c) of proposed Sec.  319.56-76, avocado fruit that 
has fallen from the trees would have to be removed from each place of 
production at least once every 7 days, starting 2 months before harvest 
and continuing to the end of harvest. This procedure would reduce the 
amount of material in the groves that could serve as potential host 
material for insect pests.
    Fruit that has fallen from avocado trees to the ground may be 
damaged and thus more susceptible to infestation. Therefore, proposed 
paragraph (c) would not allow fallen avocado fruit to be included in 
field containers of fruit brought to the packinghouse to be packed for 
export.

Mitigation Measures for H. lauri, H. trifasciatus, and S. catenifer

    Proposed paragraph (d) of Sec.  319.56-76 would require either that 
the avocados are grown in places of production located in departments 
\1\ of Colombia that are designated as free of H. lauri, H. 
trifasciatus, and S. catenifer in accordance with Sec.  319.56-5, or 
are grown in places of production that have been surveyed by the NPPO 
of Colombia and have been determined to be free of these pests. (We 
discuss measures designed to remove M. hirsutus from the pathway of the 
avocados later in this document.)
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    \1\ Departments are the administrative unit of Colombia.
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    Section 319.56-5 specifies that, to be determined to be free of a 
quarantine pest, an area must be surveyed according to a survey 
protocol approved by APHIS, and meet the International Plant Protection 
Convention's International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) 
No. 4, ``Requirements for the establishment of pest-free areas.'' ISPM 
No. 4 require the NPPO to take measures to maintain the pest-free 
status of the area, including, but not limited to, routine monitoring 
or the establishment of buffer areas.
    Similarly, in order for a place of production to be determined by 
APHIS to be free of H. lauri, H. trifasciatus, and S. catenifer if it 
is not located in a pest-free department, the NPPO of Colombia would 
have to maintain a 1 kilometer buffer zone around the perimeter of the 
place of production, and would have to survey representative areas of 
the place of production and buffer zone for H. lauri, H. trifasciatus, 
and S. catenifer monthly, beginning no more than 2 months before 
harvest, in accordance with a survey protocol approved by APHIS.
    If one or more H. lauri, H. trifasciatus, or S. catenifer is 
detected during a survey of the place of production or buffer zone, the 
place of production would be suspended from the export program for 
avocados to the continental United States until APHIS and the NPPO of 
Colombia conduct an investigation and agree that appropriate remedial 
actions to reestablish pest freedom have been implemented.

Harvesting Requirements

    Paragraph (e) of proposed Sec.  319.56-76 sets out requirements for 
harvesting. Harvested avocados would have to be placed in field cartons 
or containers that are marked with the official registration number of 
the place of production. The place of production where the avocados 
were grown would have to remain identifiable when the fruit leaves the 
grove, at the packinghouse, and throughout the export process. These 
requirements would ensure that APHIS and the NPPO of Colombia could 
identify the place of production where the avocados were produced if 
inspectors find quarantine pests in the fruit either before export or 
at the port of entry.
    We would require the fruit to be moved to a registered packinghouse 
within 3 hours of harvest or to be protected from fruit fly 
introduction until moved. Ceratitis capitata and Anastrepha spp. fruit 
flies are known to exist in Colombia, but Hass avocados are only hosts 
of these fruit flies once they are harvested. Safeguarding or 
expeditious shipment to a pest-exclusionary packinghouse would help 
preclude harvested avocados from becoming infested with fruit flies.
    For a similar reason, the fruit would also have to be safeguarded 
in accordance with the operational workplan while in transit to the 
packinghouse and while awaiting packing. This safeguarding would 
prevent the fruit from being infested

[[Page 74725]]

with fruit flies between harvest and packing.

Packinghouse Requirements

    Proposed paragraph (f) of Sec.  319.56-76 would contain 
packinghouse requirements for Hass avocados from Colombia.
    Paragraph (f)(1) would require registered packinghouses to accept 
only avocados that are from registered places of production and that 
are produced in accordance with the requirements of the systems 
approach during the time they are in use for packing avocados for 
export to the United States.
    Paragraph (f)(2) would require avocados to be packed within 24 
hours of harvest in a pest-exclusionary packinghouse. All openings to 
the outside of the packinghouse would have to be screened or covered by 
a barrier that prevents pest from entering, as specified within the 
operational workplan. The packinghouse would have to have double doors 
at the entrance to the facility and at the interior entrance to the 
area where the avocados are packed. These proposed requirements are 
designed to exclude insect pests from the packinghouse.
    Paragraph (f)(3) would require the avocados to be packed in insect-
proof packaging, or covered with insect-proof mesh or a plastic 
tarpaulin, for transport to the United States. These safeguards would 
have to remain intact until arrival in the United States.
    Paragraph (f)(4) would require shipping documents accompanying 
consignments of avocados from Colombia that are exported to the United 
States to specify the place of production at which the avocados were 
grown as well as the packing shed or sheds in which the fruit was 
processed and packed. The identification would have to be maintained 
until the fruit is released for entry into the United States.
    These requirements would ensure that APHIS and the NPPO of Colombia 
could identify the packinghouse at which the fruit was packed if 
inspectors find quarantine pests in the fruit either before export or 
at the port of entry.

NPPO of Colombia Inspection

    Proposed paragraph (g) of Sec.  319.56-76 would require the NPPO of 
Colombia to visually inspect a biometric sample of fruit from each 
place of production at a rate determined by APHIS, following any post-
harvest processing. Visual inspection should identify M. hirsutus, an 
external feeder.
    However, H. lauri, H. trifasciatus, and S. catenifer are all 
internal feeders. Accordingly, we would also require the inspector to 
cut a portion of the fruit to inspect for these pests.
    If a single quarantine pest is detected during this inspection 
protocol, the consignment from which the sample was taken would be 
prohibited from being shipped to the United States. Additionally, if a 
single H. lauri, H. trifasciatus, or S. catenifer at any life stage is 
detected during this inspection, the place of production of the 
infested avocados would be suspended from the export program for 
avocados to the continental United States until APHIS and the NPPO of 
Colombia conduct an investigation and agree that appropriate remedial 
actions to reestablish pest freedom have been implemented.

Phytosanitary Certificate

    Proposed paragraph (h) of Sec.  319.56-76 would require each 
consignment of Hass avocados from Colombia to be accompanied by a 
phytosanitary certificate issued by the NPPO of Colombia with an 
additional declaration that the avocados were produced in accordance 
with proposed Sec.  319.56-76 and the operational workplan.

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.
    We have prepared an economic analysis for this rule. The economic 
analysis provides an initial regulatory flexibility analysis that 
examines the potential economic effects of this proposed rule on small 
entities, as required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act. The economic 
analysis is summarized below. Copies of the full analysis are available 
by contacting the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, 
in the reading room (see ADDRESSES above for more information), or on 
the Regulations.gov Web site (see ADDRESSES above for instructions for 
accessing Regulations.gov).
    Colombia has requested market access for commercial shipments of 
Hass avocado into the continental United States under a systems 
approach. U.S. avocado imports have increased significantly over the 
years. A growing U.S. population and growing Hispanic share of the 
population, greater awareness of the avocado's health benefits, year-
round availability of fresh, affordable Hass avocados, and greater 
disposable income have contributed to the increased demand.
    The increase in demand over the past decade has contributed to 
domestic producers being able to maintain production levels despite the 
large increase in avocado imports. Annual U.S. avocado production, 
2003/04 to 2014/15, averaged 206,368 tons, of which California 
accounted for 87.5 percent or over 375 million pounds. Nearly all of 
California's production is of the Hass variety.
    Potential economic effects of this rule are estimated using a 
partial equilibrium model of the U.S. fresh Hass avocado sector. 
Colombia is expected to export 10,000 metric tons of Hass avocados 
annually to the United States. We estimated economic impacts for annual 
import levels of 10,000 and 12,000 metric tons. In addition, for the 
10,000 metric ton level, we estimate impacts assuming that 20 percent 
of the imports would displace Hass avocado imports from other 
countries, yielding a net increase in imports of 8,000 metric tons.
    For each import level, consumer welfare gains outweigh producer 
welfare losses, with positive net welfare impacts. Producer welfare 
losses under the three import levels range between $4 million and $6 
million, which is equivalent to less than 1 percent of the 2014/2015 
value of U.S. avocado production. Consumer welfare gains range between 
$14 million and $22 million, with net welfare gains for the United 
States of between $10 million and $16 million. The price of fresh Hass 
avocados is estimated to decline by less than 2 percent under all three 
import scenarios.
    While APHIS does not have information on the size distribution of 
U.S. avocado producers, according to the Census of Agriculture there 
were a total of 93,020 Fruit and Tree Nut farms (NAICS 1113) in the 
United States in 2012. The average value of agricultural products sold 
by these farms was less than $274,000, which is well below the Small 
Business Administration's small-entity standard of $750,000. It is 
reasonable to assume that most avocado farms qualify as small entities. 
Between 2002 and 2012, the number of avocado operations in California 
grew by approximately 17 percent, from 4,801 to 5,602 operations.

Executive Order 12988

    This proposed rule would allow Hass avocados to be imported into 
the continental United States from Colombia. If this proposed rule is 
adopted, State and local laws and regulations regarding avocados 
imported under this rule would be preempted while the fruit is in 
foreign commerce. Fresh avocados are generally imported for immediate 
distribution and sale to the consuming public and would

[[Page 74726]]

remain in foreign commerce until sold to the ultimate consumer. The 
question of when foreign commerce ceases in other cases must be 
addressed on a case-by-case basis. If this proposed rule is adopted, no 
retroactive effect will be given to this rule, and this rule will not 
require administrative proceedings 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.), reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements included in this proposed rule have been submitted for 
approval to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Please send 
comments on the Information Collection Request (ICR) to OMB's Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs via email to 
[email protected], Attention: Desk Officer for APHIS, 
Washington, DC 20503. Please state that your comments refer to Docket 
No. APHIS-2016-0022. Please send a copy of your comments to the USDA 
using one of the methods described under ADDRESSES at the beginning of 
this document.
    This proposed rule would allow the importation of Hass avocados 
from Colombia into the continental United States. These avocados must 
be produced in accordance with the requirements of a systems approach 
and will require information collection activities, such as an 
operational workplan, production site and packinghouse registration, 
inspection, training, monitoring, investigation, survey and survey 
investigation protocols, carton markings, shipping documents, post-
harvest inspection and investigation, recordkeeping, and phytosanitary 
certificates.
    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 3.44 hours per response.
    Respondents: Producers, importers of Hass avocados, the NPPO of 
Colombia.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 79.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 35.99.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 2,843.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 9,783 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.)
    A copy of the information collection may be viewed on the 
Regulations.gov Web site or in our reading room. (A link to 
Regulations.gov and information on the location and hours of the 
reading room are provided under the heading ADDRESSES at the beginning 
of this proposed rule.) Copies can also be obtained from Ms. Kimberly 
Hardy, APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 851-2727. 
APHIS will respond to any ICR-related comments in the final rule. All 
comments will also become a matter of public record.

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.

List of Subjects for 7 CFR Part 319

    Coffee, Cotton, Fruits, Imports, Logs, Nursery stock, Plant 
diseases and pests, Quarantine, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Rice, Vegetables.

    Accordingly, we propose to amend 7 CFR part 319 as follows:

PART 319--FOREIGN QUARANTINE NOTICES

0
1. The authority citation for part 319 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  7 U.S.C. 450, 7701-7772, and 7781-7786; 21 U.S.C. 
136 and 136a; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.3.

0
2. Add Sec.  319.56-76 to read as follows:


Sec.  319.56-76  Hass avocados from Colombia.

    Fresh Hass variety (Persea americana P. Mill) avocados may be 
imported into the continental United States from Colombia only under 
the conditions described in this section. These conditions are designed 
to prevent the introduction of the following quarantine pests: Heilipus 
lauri Boheman, avocado seed weevil; Heilipus trifasciatus, avocado seed 
weevil; Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green), pink hibiscus mealybug; and 
Stenoma catenifer, avocado seed moth.
    (a) General requirements. (1) Operational workplan. The national 
plant protection organization (NPPO) of Colombia must provide an 
operational workplan to APHIS that details the activities that the NPPO 
of Colombia and places of production and packinghouses registered with 
the NPPO of Colombia will, subject to APHIS' approval of the workplan, 
carry out to meet the requirements of this section. The operational 
workplan must include and describe the specific requirements as set 
forth in this section. APHIS will be directly involved with the NPPO of 
Colombia in monitoring and auditing implementation of the regulatory 
requirements in this section, including implementation of the 
operational workplan.
    (2) Registered places of production. The fresh avocados considered 
for export to the continental United States must be grown by places of 
production that are registered with the NPPO of Colombia and that have 
been determined to be free from H. lauri, H. trifasciatus, and S. 
catenifer in accordance with this section.
    (3) Registered packinghouses. The avocados must be packed for 
export to the continental United States in pest-exclusionary 
packinghouses that are registered with the NPPO of Colombia.
    (4) Avocados may be imported in commercial consignments only.
    (b) Monitoring and oversight. (1) The NPPO of Colombia must visit 
and inspect registered places of production monthly, starting at least 
2 months before harvest and continuing until the end of the shipping 
season, to verify that the growers are complying with the grove 
sanitation requirements of this section and following pest control 
guidelines, when necessary, to reduce quarantine pest populations. Any 
personnel conducting trapping and pest surveys under this section at 
registered

[[Page 74727]]

places of production must be hired, trained, and supervised by the NPPO 
of Colombia. APHIS may monitor the places of production if necessary.
    (2) In addition to conducting fruit inspections at the 
packinghouses, the NPPO of Colombia must monitor packinghouse 
operations to verify that the packinghouses are complying with the 
requirements of this section.
    (3) If the NPPO of Colombia finds that a place of production or 
packinghouse is not complying with the requirements of this section, no 
avocados from the place of production or packinghouse will be eligible 
for export to the United States until APHIS and the NPPO of Colombia 
conduct an investigation and agree that appropriate remedial actions 
have been implemented.
    (4) The NPPO of Colombia must retain all forms and documents 
related to export program activities in places of production and 
packinghouses for at least 1 year and, as requested, provide them to 
APHIS for review.
    (c) Grove sanitation. Avocado fruit that has fallen from the trees 
must be removed from each place of production at least once every 7 
days, starting 2 months before harvest and continuing to the end of 
harvest. Fallen avocado fruit may not be included in field containers 
of fruit brought to the packinghouse to be packed for export.
    (d) Mitigation measures for H. lauri, H. trifasciatus, and S. 
catenifer. Avocados must either be grown in places of production 
located in departments of Colombia that are designated as free of H. 
lauri, H. trifasciatus, and S. catenifer in accordance with Sec.  
319.56-5 of this chapter, or be grown in places of production that have 
been surveyed by the NPPO of Colombia and have been determined to be 
free of these pests. If the latter, the NPPO must maintain a buffer 
zone of 1 kilometer around the perimeter of the place of production, 
and must survey representative areas of the place of production and 
buffer zone for H. lauri, H. trifasciatus, and S. catenifer monthly, 
beginning no more than 2 months before harvest, in accordance with a 
survey protocol approved by APHIS. If one or more H. lauri, H. 
trifasciatus, or S. catenifer is detected during a survey of the place 
of production or buffer zone, the place of production will be suspended 
from the export program for avocados to the continental United States 
until APHIS and the NPPO of Colombia conduct an investigation and agree 
that appropriate remedial actions to reestablish pest freedom have been 
implemented.
    (e) Harvesting requirements. Harvested avocados must be placed in 
field cartons or containers that are marked with the official 
registration number of the place of production. The place of production 
where the avocados were grown must remain identifiable when the fruit 
leaves the grove, at the packinghouse, and throughout the export 
process. The fruit must be moved to a registered packinghouse within 3 
hours of harvest or must be protected from fruit fly introduction until 
moved. The fruit must be safeguarded in accordance with the operational 
workplan while in transit to the packinghouse and while awaiting 
packing.
    (f) Packinghouse requirements. (1) During the time registered 
packinghouses are in use for packing avocados for export to the United 
States, the packinghouses may only accept avocados that are from 
registered places of production and that are produced in accordance 
with the requirements of this section.
    (2) Avocados must be packed within 24 hours of harvest in a pest-
exclusionary packinghouse. All openings to the outside of the 
packinghouse must be screened or covered by a barrier that prevents 
pests from entering, as specified within the operational workplan. The 
packinghouse must have double doors at the entrance to the facility and 
at the interior entrance to the area where the avocados are packed.
    (3) Fruit must be packed in insect-proof packaging, or covered with 
insect-proof mesh or a plastic tarpaulin, for transport to the United 
States. These safeguards must remain intact until arrival in the United 
States.
    (4) Shipping documents accompanying consignments of avocados from 
Colombia that are exported to the United States must specify the place 
of production at which the avocados were grown as well as the packing 
shed or sheds in which the fruit was processed and packed. This 
identification must be maintained until the fruit is released for entry 
into the United States.
    (g) NPPO of Colombia inspection. Following any post-harvest 
processing, inspectors from the NPPO of Colombia must visually inspect 
a biometric sample of fruit from each place of production at a rate to 
be determined by APHIS. The inspectors must visually inspect for 
quarantine pests, including M. hirsutus, and must cut a portion of the 
fruit to inspect for H. lauri, H. trifasciatus, and S. catenifer. If a 
single quarantine pest is detected during this inspection protocol, the 
consignment from which the sample was taken is prohibited from being 
shipped to the United States. Additionally, if a single H. lauri, H. 
trifasciatus, or S. catenifer at any life stage is detected during this 
inspection, the place of production of the infested avocados will be 
suspended from the export program for avocados to the continental 
United States until APHIS and the NPPO of Colombia conduct an 
investigation and agree that appropriate remedial actions to 
reestablish pest freedom have been implemented.
    (h) Phytosanitary certificate. Each consignment of Hass avocados 
from Colombia must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued 
by the NPPO of Colombia with an additional declaration stating that the 
avocados in the consignment were produced in accordance with this 
section and the operational workplan.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 21st day of October 2016.
Michael C. Gregoire,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-26033 Filed 10-26-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-34-P



                                                  74722                 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 208 / Thursday, October 27, 2016 / Proposed Rules

                                                  Paperwork Reduction Act                                   Estimated annual number of                             Done in Washington, DC, this 24th day of
                                                                                                          responses per respondent: 17.                          October 2016.
                                                     In accordance with section 3507(d) of
                                                                                                                                                                 Kevin Shea,
                                                  the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995                       Estimated annual number of
                                                  (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the information               responses: 271.                                        Administrator, Animal and Plant Health
                                                                                                                                                                 Inspection Service.
                                                  collection or recordkeeping                               Estimated total annual burden on                     [FR Doc. 2016–26031 Filed 10–26–16; 8:45 am]
                                                  requirements included in this proposed                  respondents: 316 hours. (Due to
                                                  rule have been submitted for approval to                                                                       BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
                                                                                                          averaging, the total annual burden hours
                                                  the Office of Management and Budget                     may not equal the product of the annual
                                                  (OMB). Please send written comments                     number of responses multiplied by the
                                                  to the Office of Information and                                                                               DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
                                                                                                          reporting burden per response.)
                                                  Regulatory Affairs, OMB, Attention:                                                                            Animal and Plant Health Inspection
                                                  Desk Officer for APHIS, Washington, DC                    A copy of the information collection
                                                                                                          may be viewed on the Regulations.gov                   Service
                                                  20503. Please state that your comments
                                                  refer to Docket No. APHIS–2016–0005.                    Web site or in our reading room. (A link
                                                                                                          to Regulations.gov and information on                  7 CFR Part 319
                                                  Please send a copy of your comments to:
                                                  (1) Please send a copy of your comments                 the location and hours of the reading                  [Docket No. APHIS–2016–0022]
                                                  to: (1) APHIS, using one of the methods                 room are provided under the heading                    RIN 0579–AE29
                                                  described under ADDRESSES at the                        ADDRESSES at the beginning of this
                                                  beginning of this document, and (2)                     proposed rule.) Copies can also be                     Importation of Hass Avocados From
                                                  Clearance Officer, OCIO, USDA, Room                     obtained from Ms. Kimberly Hardy,                      Colombia
                                                  404–W, 14th Street and Independence                     APHIS’ Information Collection
                                                  Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250.                       Coordinator, at (301) 851–2727. APHIS                  AGENCY:  Animal and Plant Health
                                                     APHIS is proposing to amend the                      will respond to any ICR-related                        Inspection Service, USDA.
                                                  regulations governing the importation of                comments in the final rule. All                        ACTION: Proposed rule.
                                                  plants and plant products to add orchid                 comments will also become a matter of
                                                                                                          public record.                                         SUMMARY:    We are proposing to amend
                                                  plants of the genus Dendrobium from
                                                                                                                                                                 the fruits and vegetables regulations to
                                                  Taiwan to the list of plants that may be
                                                                                                          E-Government Act Compliance                            allow the importation of Hass avocados
                                                  imported into the United States in an
                                                                                                                                                                 from Colombia into the continental
                                                  approved growing medium, subject to                        The Animal and Plant Health                         United States. As a condition of entry,
                                                  specified growing requirements.                         Inspection Service is committed to                     Hass avocados from Colombia would
                                                  Respondents will complete activities                    compliance with the EGovernment Act                    have to be produced in accordance with
                                                  such as phytosanitary certificates,                     to promote the use of the Internet and                 a systems approach that would include
                                                  written agreements, and inspections.                    other information technologies, to                     requirements for importation in
                                                     We are soliciting comments from the                  provide increased opportunities for                    commercial consignments; registration
                                                  public (as well as affected agencies)                   citizen access to Government                           and monitoring of places of production
                                                  concerning our proposed information                     information and services, and for other                and packinghouses; pest-free places of
                                                  collection and recordkeeping                            purposes. For information pertinent to                 production; grove sanitation,
                                                  requirements. These comments will                       E-Government Act compliance related                    monitoring, and pest control practices;
                                                  help us:                                                to this proposed rule, please contact Ms.
                                                     (1) Evaluate whether the proposed                                                                           lot identification; and inspection for
                                                                                                          Kimberly Hardy, APHIS’ Information                     quarantine pests by the Colombian
                                                  information collection is necessary for                 Collection Coordinator, at (301) 851–
                                                  the proper performance of our agency’s                                                                         national plant protection organization.
                                                                                                          2727.                                                  Additionally, avocados from Colombia
                                                  functions, including whether the
                                                  information will have practical utility;                List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 319                     would be required to be accompanied
                                                     (2) Evaluate the accuracy of our                                                                            by a phytosanitary certificate with an
                                                  estimate of the burden of the proposed                    Coffee, Cotton, Fruits, Imports, Logs,               additional declaration stating that the
                                                  information collection, including the                   Nursery stock, Plant diseases and pests,               avocados have been produced in
                                                  validity of the methodology and                         Quarantine, Reporting and                              accordance with the proposed
                                                  assumptions used;                                       recordkeeping requirements, Rice,                      requirements. This action would allow
                                                     (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and                Vegetables.                                            for the importation of Hass avocados
                                                  clarity of the information to be                                                                               from Colombia into the continental
                                                                                                            Accordingly, we propose to amend 7                   United States while continuing to
                                                  collected; and                                          CFR part 319 as follows:
                                                     (4) Minimize the burden of the                                                                              provide protection against the
                                                  information collection on those who are                                                                        introduction of plant pests.
                                                                                                          PART 319—FOREIGN QUARANTINE
                                                  to respond (such as through the use of                                                                         DATES: We will consider all comments
                                                                                                          NOTICES
                                                  appropriate automated, electronic,                                                                             that we receive on or before December
                                                  mechanical, or other technological                                                                             27, 2016.
                                                                                                          ■ 1. The authority citation for part 319
                                                  collection techniques or other forms of                                                                        ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
                                                                                                          continues to read as follows:
                                                  information technology; e.g., permitting                                                                       by either of the following methods:
                                                  electronic submission of responses).                      Authority: 7 U.S.C. 450, 7701–7772, and                 • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
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                                                     Estimate of burden: Public reporting                 7781–7786; 21 U.S.C. 136 and 136a; 7 CFR               http://www.regulations.gov/
                                                  burden for this collection of information               2.22, 2.80, and 371.3.                                 #!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2016-0022.
                                                  is estimated to average 1.166 hours per                                                                           • Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery:
                                                                                                          § 319.37–8        [Amended]
                                                  response.                                                                                                      Send your comments to Docket No.
                                                     Respondents: Foreign government and                  ■  2. In § 319.37–8(e) introductory text,              APHIS–2016–0022, Regulatory Analysis
                                                  businesses.                                             amend the list of plants by adding, in                 and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station
                                                     Estimated annual number of                           alphabetical order, an entry for                       3A–03.8, 4700 River Road, Unit 118,
                                                  respondents: 16.                                        ‘‘Dendrobium spp. from Taiwan’’.                       Riverdale, MD 20737–1238.


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                                                                        Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 208 / Thursday, October 27, 2016 / Proposed Rules                                         74723

                                                    Supporting documents and any                            • Heilipus trifasciatus, an avocado                 as producers and packinghouse
                                                  comments we receive on this docket                      seed weevil.                                          operators, may also be signatories on
                                                  may be viewed at http://                                  • Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green),                 specific operational workplans.
                                                  www.regulations.gov/                                    pink hibiscus mealybug.                               Operational workplans apply only to the
                                                  #!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2016-0022 or                       • Stenoma catenifer, avocado seed                   signatories and establish detailed
                                                  in our reading room, which is located in                moth.                                                 procedures and guidance for the day-to-
                                                  room 1141 of the USDA South Building,                     The PRA derives plant pest risk                     day operations of specific import/export
                                                  14th Street and Independence Avenue                     potentials for these pests by estimating              programs. Operational workplans also
                                                  SW., Washington, DC. Normal reading                     the likelihood of introduction of each                establish how specific phytosanitary
                                                  room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,                     pest into the continental United States               issues are dealt with in the exporting
                                                  Monday through Friday, except                           through the importation of Hass                       country and make clear who is
                                                  holidays. To be sure someone is there to                avocados from Colombia, as well as the                responsible for dealing with those
                                                  help you, please call (202) 799–7039                    consequences of such introduction, if                 issues. Operational workplans require
                                                  before coming.                                          the avocados are not subject to                       APHIS approval.
                                                  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.                    mitigations to address the pests. The                    If the operational workplan is
                                                  David B. Lamb, Senior Regulatory                        PRA considers three of the pests to have              approved, APHIS would be directly
                                                  Policy Specialist, USDA/APHIS/PPQ,                      a high unmitigated pest risk potential                involved with the NPPO of Colombia in
                                                  4700 River Road, Unit 133, Riverdale,                   (H. lauri, H. trifasciatus, and S.                    monitoring and auditing the systems
                                                  MD 20737–1236; (301) 851–2103;                          catenifer), and one (M. hirsutus) to have             approach implementation. Such
                                                  David.B.Lamb@aphis.usda.gov.                            a medium unmitigated pest risk                        monitoring could involve site visits by
                                                                                                          potential.                                            APHIS personnel.
                                                  SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                                                                                       Proposed paragraph (a)(2) would
                                                                                                            Based on the findings of the PRA,
                                                  Background                                              APHIS has determined that measures                    require the avocados considered for
                                                                                                          beyond standard port-of-entry                         export to the continental United States
                                                     Under the regulations in ‘‘Subpart—                                                                        to be grown by places of production that
                                                  Fruits and Vegetables’’ (7 CFR 319.56–                  inspection are necessary in order to
                                                                                                          mitigate the risk associated with the                 are registered with the NPPO of
                                                  1 through 319.56–75, referred to below                                                                        Colombia and that have been
                                                  as the regulations or the fruits and                    importation of fresh Hass avocados from
                                                                                                          Colombia into the continental United                  determined to be free from H. lauri, H.
                                                  vegetables regulations), the Animal and                                                                       trifasciatus, and S. catenifer in
                                                  Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)                 States. These measures are listed in the
                                                                                                          RMD and are used as the basis for the                 accordance with the proposed
                                                  of the United States Department of                                                                            regulations. We discuss the proposed
                                                  Agriculture (USDA) prohibits or                         requirements of this proposed rule.
                                                                                                            Therefore, we are proposing to amend                protocol for considering a production
                                                  restricts the importation of fruits and                                                                       site free from these three pests later in
                                                  vegetables into the United States from                  the regulations to allow the importation
                                                                                                          of commercial consignments of fresh                   this document.
                                                  certain parts of the world to prevent                                                                            Proposed paragraph (a)(3) would
                                                  plant pests from being introduced into                  Hass avocados from Colombia into the
                                                                                                          continental United States, subject to a               require the avocados to be packed for
                                                  and spread within the United States.                                                                          export to the continental United States
                                                     The national plant protection                        systems approach. Requirements of the
                                                                                                          systems approach, which would be                      in pest-exclusionary packinghouses that
                                                  organization (NPPO) of Colombia has                                                                           are registered with the NPPO of
                                                  requested that we amend the regulations                 added to the regulations as a new
                                                                                                                                                                Colombia.
                                                  to allow Hass avocados (Persea                          § 319.56–76, are discussed below.
                                                                                                                                                                   Registration of places of production
                                                  americana) from Colombia to be                          Proposed Systems Approach                             and packinghouses with the NPPO of
                                                  imported into the continental United                                                                          Colombia would ensure that the NPPO
                                                  States.                                                 General Requirements                                  exercises oversight of these locations
                                                     In evaluating Colombia’s request, we                    Proposed paragraph (a) of § 319.56–76              and that the places of production and
                                                  prepared a pest risk assessment (PRA)                   would set out general requirements for                packinghouses continuously follow the
                                                  and risk management document (RMD).                     fresh Hass avocados from Colombia                     provisions of the export program. It
                                                  Copies of the PRA and the RMD may be                    destined for export to the continental                would also facilitate traceback in the
                                                  obtained from the person listed under                   United States.                                        event that avocados from Colombia are
                                                  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT or                         Proposed paragraph (a)(1) would                    determined to be infested with
                                                  viewed on the Regulations.gov Web site                  require the NPPO of Colombia to                       quarantine pests.
                                                  (see ADDRESSES above for instructions                   provide an operational workplan to                       Proposed paragraph (a)(4) would
                                                  for accessing Regulations.gov).                         APHIS that details the systems approach               require Hass avocados from Colombia to
                                                     The PRA, titled ‘‘Importation of Fresh               activities that the NPPO of Colombia                  be imported into the continental United
                                                  Fruit of Avocado, Persea americana                      and places of production and                          States in commercial consignments
                                                  Miller var. ‘Hass’, into the Continental                packinghouses registered with the                     only. Noncommercial shipments are
                                                  United States from Colombia: A                          NPPO of Colombia would, subject to                    more prone to infestations because the
                                                  Pathway Initiated Risk Assessment,’’                    APHIS approval of the workplan,                       commodity is often ripe to overripe,
                                                  analyzes the potential pest risk                        implement to meet the proposed                        could be of a variety with unknown
                                                  associated with the importation of fresh                requirements. An operational workplan                 susceptibility to pests, and is often
                                                  Hass avocados into the continental                      is an arrangement between APHIS’ Plant                grown with little or no pest control.
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                                                  United States from Colombia.                            Protection and Quarantine program and                 Commercial consignments, as defined in
                                                     The PRA identifies four pests of                     officials of the NPPO of a foreign                    § 319.56–2 of the regulations, are
                                                  quarantine significance present in                      government that specifies in detail the               consignments that an inspector
                                                  Colombia that could follow the pathway                  phytosanitary measures that will                      identifies as having been imported for
                                                  of Hass avocados from Colombia to the                   comply with U.S. regulations governing                sale and distribution. Such
                                                  continental United States. They are:                    the import or export of a specific                    identification is based on a variety of
                                                     • Heilipus lauri Boheman, an                         commodity. Other foreign parties                      indicators, including, but not limited to:
                                                  avocado seed weevil.                                    associated with an export program, such               Quantity of produce, type of packaging,


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                                                  74724                 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 208 / Thursday, October 27, 2016 / Proposed Rules

                                                  identification of place of production or                   Paragraph (b)(4) would require the                 pest-free status of the area, including,
                                                  packinghouse on the packaging, and                      NPPO of Colombia to retain all forms                  but not limited to, routine monitoring or
                                                  documents consigning the fruits or                      and documents related to export                       the establishment of buffer areas.
                                                  vegetables to a wholesaler or retailer.                 program activities in places of                          Similarly, in order for a place of
                                                  We currently require most other fruits                  production and packinghouses for at                   production to be determined by APHIS
                                                  and vegetables imported into the United                 least 1 year and, as requested, provide               to be free of H. lauri, H. trifasciatus, and
                                                  States from foreign countries to be                     them to APHIS for review. Such forms                  S. catenifer if it is not located in a pest-
                                                  imported in commercial consignments                     and documents would include (but                      free department, the NPPO of Colombia
                                                  as a mitigation against quarantine pests                would not necessarily be limited to)                  would have to maintain a 1 kilometer
                                                  of that commodity.                                      trapping and survey records for H. lauri,             buffer zone around the perimeter of the
                                                                                                          H. trifasciatus, and S. catenifer, as well            place of production, and would have to
                                                  Monitoring and Oversight                                                                                      survey representative areas of the place
                                                                                                          as inspection records, and, if applicable,
                                                     The systems approach we are                          treatment records. Treatment records                  of production and buffer zone for H.
                                                  proposing includes monitoring and                       would be applicable when, for instance,               lauri, H. trifasciatus, and S. catenifer
                                                  oversight requirements in paragraph (b)                 the NPPO has required a place of                      monthly, beginning no more than 2
                                                  of proposed § 319.56–76. These                          production to follow pest control                     months before harvest, in accordance
                                                  requirements are to ensure that the                     guidelines as a condition of registration,            with a survey protocol approved by
                                                  required phytosanitary measures are                     and these guidelines include treatment.               APHIS.
                                                  properly implemented throughout the                                                                              If one or more H. lauri, H. trifasciatus,
                                                  process of growing and packing of                       Grove Sanitation                                      or S. catenifer is detected during a
                                                  avocados for export to the United States.                  Under paragraph (c) of proposed                    survey of the place of production or
                                                     Proposed paragraph (b)(1) would                      § 319.56–76, avocado fruit that has                   buffer zone, the place of production
                                                  require the NPPO of Colombia to visit                   fallen from the trees would have to be                would be suspended from the export
                                                  and inspect registered places of                        removed from each place of production                 program for avocados to the continental
                                                  production monthly, starting at least 2                 at least once every 7 days, starting 2                United States until APHIS and the
                                                  months before harvest and continuing                    months before harvest and continuing to               NPPO of Colombia conduct an
                                                  until the end of the shipping season, to                the end of harvest. This procedure                    investigation and agree that appropriate
                                                  verify that the growers are complying                   would reduce the amount of material in                remedial actions to reestablish pest
                                                  with grove sanitation requirements                      the groves that could serve as potential              freedom have been implemented.
                                                  (discussed below) and following pest                    host material for insect pests.
                                                  control guidelines, when necessary, to                                                                        Harvesting Requirements
                                                                                                             Fruit that has fallen from avocado
                                                  reduce quarantine pest populations.                     trees to the ground may be damaged and                  Paragraph (e) of proposed § 319.56–76
                                                  Any personnel conducting trapping and                   thus more susceptible to infestation.                 sets out requirements for harvesting.
                                                  pest surveys under this section at                      Therefore, proposed paragraph (c)                     Harvested avocados would have to be
                                                  registered places of production would                   would not allow fallen avocado fruit to               placed in field cartons or containers that
                                                  have to be hired, trained, and                          be included in field containers of fruit              are marked with the official registration
                                                  supervised by the NPPO of Colombia.                     brought to the packinghouse to be                     number of the place of production. The
                                                  APHIS would monitor the places of                       packed for export.                                    place of production where the avocados
                                                  production, if necessary. We may                                                                              were grown would have to remain
                                                  consider it necessary to monitor a place                Mitigation Measures for H. lauri, H.                  identifiable when the fruit leaves the
                                                  of production, for example, if a                        trifasciatus, and S. catenifer                        grove, at the packinghouse, and
                                                  registered place of production is                          Proposed paragraph (d) of § 319.56–76              throughout the export process. These
                                                  suspended from the export program for                   would require either that the avocados                requirements would ensure that APHIS
                                                  avocadoes from Colombia due to the                      are grown in places of production                     and the NPPO of Colombia could
                                                  presence of quarantine plant pests at the               located in departments 1 of Colombia                  identify the place of production where
                                                  place of production, but is subsequently                that are designated as free of H. lauri, H.           the avocados were produced if
                                                  reinstated after taking appropriate                     trifasciatus, and S. catenifer in                     inspectors find quarantine pests in the
                                                  remedial actions to address these pests.                accordance with § 319.56–5, or are                    fruit either before export or at the port
                                                     Under paragraph (b)(2), in addition to               grown in places of production that have               of entry.
                                                  conducting fruit inspections at the                     been surveyed by the NPPO of Colombia                   We would require the fruit to be
                                                  packinghouses, the NPPO of Colombia                     and have been determined to be free of                moved to a registered packinghouse
                                                  would be required to monitor                            these pests. (We discuss measures                     within 3 hours of harvest or to be
                                                  packinghouse operations to verify that                  designed to remove M. hirsutus from the               protected from fruit fly introduction
                                                  the packinghouses are complying with                    pathway of the avocados later in this                 until moved. Ceratitis capitata and
                                                  the packinghouse requirements for pest                  document.)                                            Anastrepha spp. fruit flies are known to
                                                  exclusion, safeguarding, and                               Section 319.56–5 specifies that, to be             exist in Colombia, but Hass avocados
                                                  identification that are described later in              determined to be free of a quarantine                 are only hosts of these fruit flies once
                                                  this document.                                          pest, an area must be surveyed                        they are harvested. Safeguarding or
                                                     Under paragraph (b)(3), if the NPPO of               according to a survey protocol approved               expeditious shipment to a pest-
                                                  Colombia finds that a place of                          by APHIS, and meet the International                  exclusionary packinghouse would help
                                                  production or a packinghouse is not                                                                           preclude harvested avocados from
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                                                                                                          Plant Protection Convention’s
                                                  complying with the proposed                             International Standards for                           becoming infested with fruit flies.
                                                  regulations, no avocados from the place                 Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) No. 4,                    For a similar reason, the fruit would
                                                  of production or packinghouse would be                  ‘‘Requirements for the establishment of               also have to be safeguarded in
                                                  eligible for export to the United States                pest-free areas.’’ ISPM No. 4 require the             accordance with the operational
                                                  until APHIS and the NPPO of Colombia                    NPPO to take measures to maintain the                 workplan while in transit to the
                                                  conduct an investigation and agree that                                                                       packinghouse and while awaiting
                                                  appropriate remedial actions have been                    1 Departments are the administrative unit of        packing. This safeguarding would
                                                  implemented.                                            Colombia.                                             prevent the fruit from being infested


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                                                                        Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 208 / Thursday, October 27, 2016 / Proposed Rules                                         74725

                                                  with fruit flies between harvest and                    inspector to cut a portion of the fruit to            producers being able to maintain
                                                  packing.                                                inspect for these pests.                              production levels despite the large
                                                                                                             If a single quarantine pest is detected            increase in avocado imports. Annual
                                                  Packinghouse Requirements                               during this inspection protocol, the                  U.S. avocado production, 2003/04 to
                                                    Proposed paragraph (f) of § 319.56–76                 consignment from which the sample                     2014/15, averaged 206,368 tons, of
                                                  would contain packinghouse                              was taken would be prohibited from                    which California accounted for 87.5
                                                  requirements for Hass avocados from                     being shipped to the United States.                   percent or over 375 million pounds.
                                                  Colombia.                                               Additionally, if a single H. lauri, H.                Nearly all of California’s production is
                                                    Paragraph (f)(1) would require                        trifasciatus, or S. catenifer at any life             of the Hass variety.
                                                  registered packinghouses to accept only                 stage is detected during this inspection,                Potential economic effects of this rule
                                                  avocados that are from registered places                the place of production of the infested               are estimated using a partial equilibrium
                                                  of production and that are produced in                  avocados would be suspended from the                  model of the U.S. fresh Hass avocado
                                                  accordance with the requirements of the                 export program for avocados to the                    sector. Colombia is expected to export
                                                  systems approach during the time they                   continental United States until APHIS                 10,000 metric tons of Hass avocados
                                                  are in use for packing avocados for                     and the NPPO of Colombia conduct an                   annually to the United States. We
                                                  export to the United States.                            investigation and agree that appropriate              estimated economic impacts for annual
                                                    Paragraph (f)(2) would require                        remedial actions to reestablish pest                  import levels of 10,000 and 12,000
                                                  avocados to be packed within 24 hours                   freedom have been implemented.                        metric tons. In addition, for the 10,000
                                                  of harvest in a pest-exclusionary                                                                             metric ton level, we estimate impacts
                                                                                                          Phytosanitary Certificate                             assuming that 20 percent of the imports
                                                  packinghouse. All openings to the
                                                  outside of the packinghouse would have                    Proposed paragraph (h) of § 319.56–76               would displace Hass avocado imports
                                                  to be screened or covered by a barrier                  would require each consignment of Hass                from other countries, yielding a net
                                                  that prevents pest from entering, as                    avocados from Colombia to be                          increase in imports of 8,000 metric tons.
                                                  specified within the operational                        accompanied by a phytosanitary                           For each import level, consumer
                                                  workplan. The packinghouse would                        certificate issued by the NPPO of                     welfare gains outweigh producer
                                                  have to have double doors at the                        Colombia with an additional declaration               welfare losses, with positive net welfare
                                                                                                          that the avocados were produced in                    impacts. Producer welfare losses under
                                                  entrance to the facility and at the
                                                                                                          accordance with proposed § 319.56–76                  the three import levels range between $4
                                                  interior entrance to the area where the
                                                                                                          and the operational workplan.                         million and $6 million, which is
                                                  avocados are packed. These proposed
                                                                                                                                                                equivalent to less than 1 percent of the
                                                  requirements are designed to exclude                    Executive Order 12866 and Regulatory                  2014/2015 value of U.S. avocado
                                                  insect pests from the packinghouse.                     Flexibility Act                                       production. Consumer welfare gains
                                                    Paragraph (f)(3) would require the                       This proposed rule has been                        range between $14 million and $22
                                                  avocados to be packed in insect-proof                   determined to be not significant for the              million, with net welfare gains for the
                                                  packaging, or covered with insect-proof                 purposes of Executive Order 12866 and,                United States of between $10 million
                                                  mesh or a plastic tarpaulin, for transport              therefore, has not been reviewed by the               and $16 million. The price of fresh Hass
                                                  to the United States. These safeguards                  Office of Management and Budget.                      avocados is estimated to decline by less
                                                  would have to remain intact until                          We have prepared an economic                       than 2 percent under all three import
                                                  arrival in the United States.                           analysis for this rule. The economic                  scenarios.
                                                    Paragraph (f)(4) would require                        analysis provides an initial regulatory                  While APHIS does not have
                                                  shipping documents accompanying                         flexibility analysis that examines the                information on the size distribution of
                                                  consignments of avocados from                           potential economic effects of this                    U.S. avocado producers, according to
                                                  Colombia that are exported to the                       proposed rule on small entities, as                   the Census of Agriculture there were a
                                                  United States to specify the place of                   required by the Regulatory Flexibility                total of 93,020 Fruit and Tree Nut farms
                                                  production at which the avocados were                   Act. The economic analysis is                         (NAICS 1113) in the United States in
                                                  grown as well as the packing shed or                    summarized below. Copies of the full                  2012. The average value of agricultural
                                                  sheds in which the fruit was processed                  analysis are available by contacting the              products sold by these farms was less
                                                  and packed. The identification would                    person listed under FOR FURTHER                       than $274,000, which is well below the
                                                  have to be maintained until the fruit is                INFORMATION CONTACT, in the reading                   Small Business Administration’s small-
                                                  released for entry into the United States.              room (see ADDRESSES above for more                    entity standard of $750,000. It is
                                                    These requirements would ensure that                  information), or on the Regulations.gov               reasonable to assume that most avocado
                                                  APHIS and the NPPO of Colombia could                    Web site (see ADDRESSES above for                     farms qualify as small entities. Between
                                                  identify the packinghouse at which the                  instructions for accessing                            2002 and 2012, the number of avocado
                                                  fruit was packed if inspectors find                     Regulations.gov).                                     operations in California grew by
                                                  quarantine pests in the fruit either                       Colombia has requested market access               approximately 17 percent, from 4,801 to
                                                  before export or at the port of entry.                  for commercial shipments of Hass                      5,602 operations.
                                                  NPPO of Colombia Inspection                             avocado into the continental United
                                                                                                          States under a systems approach. U.S.                 Executive Order 12988
                                                    Proposed paragraph (g) of § 319.56–76                 avocado imports have increased                          This proposed rule would allow Hass
                                                  would require the NPPO of Colombia to                   significantly over the years. A growing               avocados to be imported into the
                                                  visually inspect a biometric sample of                  U.S. population and growing Hispanic                  continental United States from
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                                                  fruit from each place of production at a                share of the population, greater                      Colombia. If this proposed rule is
                                                  rate determined by APHIS, following                     awareness of the avocado’s health                     adopted, State and local laws and
                                                  any post-harvest processing. Visual                     benefits, year-round availability of fresh,           regulations regarding avocados
                                                  inspection should identify M. hirsutus,                 affordable Hass avocados, and greater                 imported under this rule would be
                                                  an external feeder.                                     disposable income have contributed to                 preempted while the fruit is in foreign
                                                    However, H. lauri, H. trifasciatus, and               the increased demand.                                 commerce. Fresh avocados are generally
                                                  S. catenifer are all internal feeders.                     The increase in demand over the past               imported for immediate distribution and
                                                  Accordingly, we would also require the                  decade has contributed to domestic                    sale to the consuming public and would


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                                                  74726                 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 208 / Thursday, October 27, 2016 / Proposed Rules

                                                  remain in foreign commerce until sold                   appropriate automated, electronic,                      Authority: 7 U.S.C. 450, 7701–7772, and
                                                  to the ultimate consumer. The question                  mechanical, or other technological                    7781–7786; 21 U.S.C. 136 and 136a; 7 CFR
                                                  of when foreign commerce ceases in                      collection techniques or other forms of               2.22, 2.80, and 371.3.
                                                  other cases must be addressed on a case-                information technology; e.g., permitting              ■   2. Add § 319.56–76 to read as follows:
                                                  by-case basis. If this proposed rule is                 electronic submission of responses).
                                                  adopted, no retroactive effect will be                     Estimate of burden: Public reporting               § 319.56–76       Hass avocados from
                                                                                                                                                                Colombia.
                                                  given to this rule, and this rule will not              burden for this collection of information
                                                  require administrative proceedings                      is estimated to average 3.44 hours per                   Fresh Hass variety (Persea americana
                                                  before parties may file suit in court                   response.                                             P. Mill) avocados may be imported into
                                                  challenging this rule.                                     Respondents: Producers, importers of               the continental United States from
                                                                                                          Hass avocados, the NPPO of Colombia.                  Colombia only under the conditions
                                                  Paperwork Reduction Act                                                                                       described in this section. These
                                                                                                             Estimated annual number of
                                                     In accordance with section 3507(d) of                respondents: 79.                                      conditions are designed to prevent the
                                                  the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995                        Estimated annual number of                         introduction of the following quarantine
                                                  (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), reporting and                 responses per respondent: 35.99.                      pests: Heilipus lauri Boheman, avocado
                                                  recordkeeping requirements included in                     Estimated annual number of                         seed weevil; Heilipus trifasciatus,
                                                  this proposed rule have been submitted                  responses: 2,843.                                     avocado seed weevil; Maconellicoccus
                                                  for approval to the Office of                              Estimated total annual burden on                   hirsutus (Green), pink hibiscus
                                                  Management and Budget (OMB). Please                     respondents: 9,783 hours. (Due to                     mealybug; and Stenoma catenifer,
                                                  send comments on the Information                        averaging, the total annual burden hours              avocado seed moth.
                                                  Collection Request (ICR) to OMB’s                       may not equal the product of the annual                  (a) General requirements. (1)
                                                  Office of Information and Regulatory                    number of responses multiplied by the                 Operational workplan. The national
                                                  Affairs via email to oira_submissions@                  reporting burden per response.)                       plant protection organization (NPPO) of
                                                  omb.eop.gov, Attention: Desk Officer for                   A copy of the information collection               Colombia must provide an operational
                                                  APHIS, Washington, DC 20503. Please                     may be viewed on the Regulations.gov                  workplan to APHIS that details the
                                                  state that your comments refer to Docket                Web site or in our reading room. (A link              activities that the NPPO of Colombia
                                                  No. APHIS–2016–0022. Please send a                      to Regulations.gov and information on                 and places of production and
                                                  copy of your comments to the USDA                       the location and hours of the reading                 packinghouses registered with the
                                                  using one of the methods described                      room are provided under the heading                   NPPO of Colombia will, subject to
                                                  under ADDRESSES at the beginning of                     ADDRESSES at the beginning of this                    APHIS’ approval of the workplan, carry
                                                  this document.                                          proposed rule.) Copies can also be                    out to meet the requirements of this
                                                     This proposed rule would allow the                   obtained from Ms. Kimberly Hardy,                     section. The operational workplan must
                                                  importation of Hass avocados from                       APHIS’ Information Collection                         include and describe the specific
                                                  Colombia into the continental United                    Coordinator, at (301) 851–2727. APHIS                 requirements as set forth in this section.
                                                  States. These avocados must be                          will respond to any ICR-related                       APHIS will be directly involved with
                                                  produced in accordance with the                         comments in the final rule. All                       the NPPO of Colombia in monitoring
                                                  requirements of a systems approach and                  comments will also become a matter of                 and auditing implementation of the
                                                  will require information collection                     public record.                                        regulatory requirements in this section,
                                                  activities, such as an operational                                                                            including implementation of the
                                                  workplan, production site and                           E-Government Act Compliance                           operational workplan.
                                                  packinghouse registration, inspection,                     The Animal and Plant Health                           (2) Registered places of production.
                                                  training, monitoring, investigation,                    Inspection Service is committed to                    The fresh avocados considered for
                                                  survey and survey investigation                         compliance with the E-Government Act                  export to the continental United States
                                                  protocols, carton markings, shipping                    to promote the use of the Internet and                must be grown by places of production
                                                  documents, post-harvest inspection and                  other information technologies, to                    that are registered with the NPPO of
                                                  investigation, recordkeeping, and                       provide increased opportunities for                   Colombia and that have been
                                                  phytosanitary certificates.                             citizen access to Government                          determined to be free from H. lauri, H.
                                                     We are soliciting comments from the                  information and services, and for other               trifasciatus, and S. catenifer in
                                                  public (as well as affected agencies)                   purposes. For information pertinent to                accordance with this section.
                                                  concerning our proposed information                     E-Government Act compliance related                      (3) Registered packinghouses. The
                                                  collection and recordkeeping                            to this proposed rule, please contact Ms.             avocados must be packed for export to
                                                  requirements. These comments will                       Kimberly Hardy, APHIS’ Information                    the continental United States in pest-
                                                  help us:                                                Collection Coordinator, at (301) 851–                 exclusionary packinghouses that are
                                                     (1) Evaluate whether the proposed                    2727.                                                 registered with the NPPO of Colombia.
                                                  information collection is necessary for                                                                          (4) Avocados may be imported in
                                                  the proper performance of our agency’s                  List of Subjects for 7 CFR Part 319                   commercial consignments only.
                                                  functions, including whether the                          Coffee, Cotton, Fruits, Imports, Logs,                 (b) Monitoring and oversight. (1) The
                                                  information will have practical utility;                Nursery stock, Plant diseases and pests,              NPPO of Colombia must visit and
                                                     (2) Evaluate the accuracy of our                     Quarantine, Reporting and                             inspect registered places of production
                                                  estimate of the burden of the proposed                  recordkeeping requirements, Rice,                     monthly, starting at least 2 months
                                                  information collection, including the                                                                         before harvest and continuing until the
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                                                                                                          Vegetables.
                                                  validity of the methodology and                           Accordingly, we propose to amend 7                  end of the shipping season, to verify
                                                  assumptions used;                                       CFR part 319 as follows:                              that the growers are complying with the
                                                     (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and                                                                      grove sanitation requirements of this
                                                  clarity of the information to be                        PART 319—FOREIGN QUARANTINE                           section and following pest control
                                                  collected; and                                          NOTICES                                               guidelines, when necessary, to reduce
                                                     (4) Minimize the burden of the                                                                             quarantine pest populations. Any
                                                  information collection on those who are                 ■ 1. The authority citation for part 319              personnel conducting trapping and pest
                                                  to respond (such as through the use of                  continues to read as follows:                         surveys under this section at registered


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                                                                        Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 208 / Thursday, October 27, 2016 / Proposed Rules                                              74727

                                                  places of production must be hired,                     field cartons or containers that are                  United States. Additionally, if a single
                                                  trained, and supervised by the NPPO of                  marked with the official registration                 H. lauri, H. trifasciatus, or S. catenifer
                                                  Colombia. APHIS may monitor the                         number of the place of production. The                at any life stage is detected during this
                                                  places of production if necessary.                      place of production where the avocados                inspection, the place of production of
                                                     (2) In addition to conducting fruit                  were grown must remain identifiable                   the infested avocados will be suspended
                                                  inspections at the packinghouses, the                   when the fruit leaves the grove, at the               from the export program for avocados to
                                                  NPPO of Colombia must monitor                           packinghouse, and throughout the                      the continental United States until
                                                  packinghouse operations to verify that                  export process. The fruit must be moved               APHIS and the NPPO of Colombia
                                                  the packinghouses are complying with                    to a registered packinghouse within 3                 conduct an investigation and agree that
                                                  the requirements of this section.                       hours of harvest or must be protected                 appropriate remedial actions to
                                                     (3) If the NPPO of Colombia finds that               from fruit fly introduction until moved.              reestablish pest freedom have been
                                                  a place of production or packinghouse                   The fruit must be safeguarded in                      implemented.
                                                  is not complying with the requirements                  accordance with the operational                          (h) Phytosanitary certificate. Each
                                                  of this section, no avocados from the                   workplan while in transit to the                      consignment of Hass avocados from
                                                  place of production or packinghouse                     packinghouse and while awaiting                       Colombia must be accompanied by a
                                                  will be eligible for export to the United               packing.                                              phytosanitary certificate issued by the
                                                  States until APHIS and the NPPO of                         (f) Packinghouse requirements. (1)                 NPPO of Colombia with an additional
                                                  Colombia conduct an investigation and                   During the time registered                            declaration stating that the avocados in
                                                  agree that appropriate remedial actions                 packinghouses are in use for packing                  the consignment were produced in
                                                  have been implemented.                                  avocados for export to the United States,             accordance with this section and the
                                                     (4) The NPPO of Colombia must retain                 the packinghouses may only accept                     operational workplan.
                                                  all forms and documents related to                      avocados that are from registered places
                                                  export program activities in places of                                                                         Done in Washington, DC, this 21st day of
                                                                                                          of production and that are produced in                October 2016.
                                                  production and packinghouses for at                     accordance with the requirements of
                                                  least 1 year and, as requested, provide                                                                       Michael C. Gregoire,
                                                                                                          this section.
                                                  them to APHIS for review.                                  (2) Avocados must be packed within                 Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant
                                                     (c) Grove sanitation. Avocado fruit                  24 hours of harvest in a pest-                        Health Inspection Service.
                                                  that has fallen from the trees must be                  exclusionary packinghouse. All                        [FR Doc. 2016–26033 Filed 10–26–16; 8:45 am]
                                                  removed from each place of production                   openings to the outside of the                        BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
                                                  at least once every 7 days, starting 2                  packinghouse must be screened or
                                                  months before harvest and continuing to                 covered by a barrier that prevents pests
                                                  the end of harvest. Fallen avocado fruit                from entering, as specified within the                DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
                                                  may not be included in field containers                 operational workplan. The
                                                  of fruit brought to the packinghouse to                 packinghouse must have double doors                   10 CFR Part 431
                                                  be packed for export.                                   at the entrance to the facility and at the            [Docket Number EERE–2014–BT–STD–
                                                     (d) Mitigation measures for H. lauri,                interior entrance to the area where the               0048]
                                                  H. trifasciatus, and S. catenifer.                      avocados are packed.
                                                  Avocados must either be grown in                           (3) Fruit must be packed in insect-                RIN 1904–AD37
                                                  places of production located in                         proof packaging, or covered with insect-
                                                  departments of Colombia that are                                                                              Energy Conservation Standards for
                                                                                                          proof mesh or a plastic tarpaulin, for
                                                  designated as free of H. lauri, H.                                                                            Residential Central Air Conditioners
                                                                                                          transport to the United States. These
                                                  trifasciatus, and S. catenifer in                                                                             and Heat Pumps: Availability of
                                                                                                          safeguards must remain intact until
                                                  accordance with § 319.56–5 of this                                                                            Provisional Analysis Results
                                                                                                          arrival in the United States.
                                                  chapter, or be grown in places of                          (4) Shipping documents                             AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and
                                                  production that have been surveyed by                   accompanying consignments of                          Renewable Energy, Department of
                                                  the NPPO of Colombia and have been                      avocados from Colombia that are                       Energy.
                                                  determined to be free of these pests. If                exported to the United States must                    ACTION: Notice of data availability
                                                  the latter, the NPPO must maintain a                    specify the place of production at which              (NODA).
                                                  buffer zone of 1 kilometer around the                   the avocados were grown as well as the
                                                  perimeter of the place of production,                   packing shed or sheds in which the fruit              SUMMARY:    The U.S. Department of
                                                  and must survey representative areas of                 was processed and packed. This                        Energy (DOE) has completed a
                                                  the place of production and buffer zone                 identification must be maintained until               provisional analysis to translate the
                                                  for H. lauri, H. trifasciatus, and S.                   the fruit is released for entry into the              residential central air conditioner and
                                                  catenifer monthly, beginning no more                    United States.                                        heat pump energy conservation
                                                  than 2 months before harvest, in                           (g) NPPO of Colombia inspection.                   standard levels recommended by the
                                                  accordance with a survey protocol                       Following any post-harvest processing,                CAC/HP ECS Working Group—
                                                  approved by APHIS. If one or more H.                    inspectors from the NPPO of Colombia                  expressed in terms of the test procedure
                                                  lauri, H. trifasciatus, or S. catenifer is              must visually inspect a biometric                     at the time of the Working Group
                                                  detected during a survey of the place of                sample of fruit from each place of                    negotiations—into levels consistent
                                                  production or buffer zone, the place of                 production at a rate to be determined by              with the DOE test procedure proposed
                                                  production will be suspended from the                   APHIS. The inspectors must visually                   in the August 2016 test procedure
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                                                  export program for avocados to the                      inspect for quarantine pests, including               SNOPR. At this time, DOE is not
                                                  continental United States until APHIS                   M. hirsutus, and must cut a portion of                proposing any energy conservation
                                                  and the NPPO of Colombia conduct an                     the fruit to inspect for H. lauri, H.                 standard for residential central air
                                                  investigation and agree that appropriate                trifasciatus, and S. catenifer. If a single           conditioners and heat pumps. However,
                                                  remedial actions to reestablish pest                    quarantine pest is detected during this               it is publishing these analysis results
                                                  freedom have been implemented.                          inspection protocol, the consignment                  and the underlining assumptions and
                                                     (e) Harvesting requirements.                         from which the sample was taken is                    calculations that might ultimately
                                                  Harvested avocados must be placed in                    prohibited from being shipped to the                  support a proposed standard. DOE


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Document Created: 2016-10-27 01:52:17
Document Modified: 2016-10-27 01:52:17
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 December 27, 2016.
ContactMr. David B. Lamb, Senior Regulatory Policy Specialist, USDA/APHIS/PPQ, 4700 River Road, Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 851-2103; [email protected]
FR Citation81 FR 74722 
RIN Number0579-AE29
CFR AssociatedCoffee; Cotton; Fruits; Imports; Logs; Nursery Stock; Plant Diseases and Pests; Quarantine; Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements; Rice and Vegetables

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