83_FR_31833 83 FR 31702 - Lacey Act Implementation Plan: Composite Plant Materials

83 FR 31702 - Lacey Act Implementation Plan: Composite Plant Materials

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 131 (July 9, 2018)

Page Range31702-31704
FR Document2018-14625

The Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 amended the Lacey Act to provide, among other things, that importers submit a declaration at the time of importation for certain plants and plant products. The declaration requirements of the Lacey Act became effective on December 15, 2008, and enforcement of those requirements is being phased in. We are soliciting public comment on regulatory options that could address certain issues that have arisen with the implementation of the declaration requirement for composite plant materials.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 131 (Monday, July 9, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 131 (Monday, July 9, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 31702-31704]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-14625]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

7 CFR Part 357

[Docket No. APHIS-2018-0017]
RIN 0579-AE36


Lacey Act Implementation Plan: Composite Plant Materials

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking and request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: The Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 amended the 
Lacey Act to provide, among other things, that importers submit a 
declaration at the time of importation for certain plants and plant 
products. The declaration requirements of the Lacey Act became 
effective on December 15, 2008, and enforcement of those requirements 
is being phased in. We are soliciting public comment on regulatory 
options that could address certain issues that have arisen with the 
implementation of the declaration requirement for composite plant 
materials.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
September 7, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2018-0017.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2018-0017, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, 
APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-
1238.
    Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may 
be viewed at http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2018-
0017 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: Ms. Parul Patel, Senior 
Agriculturalist, Permitting and Compliance Coordination, PPQ, APHIS, 
4700 River Road, Unit 60, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 851-2351.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Lacey Act (16 U.S.C. 3371 et seq.), first enacted in 1900 and 
significantly amended in 1981, is the United States' oldest wildlife 
protection statute. The Act combats, among other things, trafficking in 
illegally taken wildlife, fish, or plants. The Food, Conservation and 
Energy Act of 2008, effective May 22, 2008, amended the Lacey Act by 
expanding its protection to a broader range of plants and plant 
products than were previously covered. (Section 8204, Prevention of 
Illegal Logging Practices). The Lacey Act now makes it unlawful to 
import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, or

[[Page 31703]]

purchase in interstate or foreign commerce any plant, with some limited 
exceptions, taken, possessed, transported, or sold in violation of any 
law of the United States or an Indian tribe, or in violation of any 
State or foreign law that protects plants or that regulates certain 
specified plant-related activities. The Lacey Act also now makes it 
unlawful to make or submit any false record, account, or label for, or 
any false identification of, any plant.
    In addition, Section 3 of the Lacey Act, as amended, makes it 
unlawful, as of December 15, 2008, to import certain plants, including 
plant products, without an import declaration. The import declaration 
serves as a tool for combatting the illegal trade in timber and timber 
products by ensuring importers provide required information. Through 
the declaration requirement, the importer maintains accountability for 
exercising reasonable care regarding the content of the shipment before 
it arrives in the United States. Information from the declaration is 
also used to monitor implementation of Lacey Act requirements. The 
declaration must contain the scientific name of the plant, value of the 
importation, quantity of the plant, and name of the country from which 
the plant was harvested.
    On June 30, 2011, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Serviced 
(APHIS) published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) in 
the Federal Register (76 FR 38330, Docket No. APHIS-2010-0129),\1\ 
soliciting public comment on several regulatory options to address 
certain issues that have arisen with the implementation of the 
declaration requirement. These options included establishing certain 
exceptions to the declaration requirement. We solicited comments on 
these options for 60 days ending on August 29, 2011, and received 37 
comments by that date. The comments received were from academics, 
environmental groups, importers and exporters, industry associations, a 
trade union, representatives of foreign governments, and private 
citizens.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ To view the advance notice of proposed rulemaking and the 
comments we received, go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2010-0129.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The first regulatory option we discussed in the 2011 ANPR was the 
possibility of establishing a limited exception to the plant 
declaration requirement for imported products containing minimal 
amounts of plant material. The Lacey Act does not explicitly address 
whether the declaration requirement is intended to apply to such 
products, but it is questionable whether the regulatory objectives of 
the Lacey Act are furthered by applying this requirement to minimal 
amounts of non-listed (i.e., not of conservation concern) plant 
materials contained in an otherwise non-plant product. In a separate 
document published today in the Federal Register, we are proposing to 
establish an exception to the Lacey Act plant declaration requirement 
for such products.
    This notice addresses the second regulatory option that was 
discussed in the 2011 ANPR that related to a separate de minimis 
exception that related to composite plant products. This exception 
would cover composite plant materials that are not otherwise considered 
de minimis quantities under the first regulatory option. Many composite 
plant materials are currently manufactured in a manner that makes 
identification of the genus, species, and country of harvest of all of 
the plant content difficult and perhaps expensive. While provisions in 
the Lacey Act's declaration requirement address how to complete a 
declaration in situations in which the species or country of harvest of 
plant material used in an imported product varies (16 U.S.C. 
3372(f)(2)(A) and (B)), these provisions may not relieve the 
difficulties and expense faced by importers of some composite plant 
materials. In the 2011 ANPR, we solicited comments on defining the term 
composite plant materials and on two possible approaches to 
incorporating such a definition into a separate de minimis exception 
from the declaration requirement specifically for such composite plant 
materials.
    Specifically, we invited comment on the possibility of defining 
composite plant materials as plant products and plant-based components 
of products where the original plant material is mechanically or 
chemically broken down and subsequently re-composed or used as an 
extract in a manufacturing process. Such a definition would need to be 
broad enough to include various complex composite materials (e.g., 
pulp, paper, paperboard, medium density fiberboard, high density 
fiberboard, and particleboard), and also need to include exceptions for 
species listed in an appendix to the Convention on International Trade 
in Endangered Species; as an endangered or threatened species under the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973; or pursuant to any State law that 
provides for the conservation of species that are indigenous to the 
State and are threatened with extinction.
    Of the 37 commenters on the ANPR, 16 specifically addressed the 
potential approaches for composite plant materials. Most of those 
commenters supported defining the term composite plant materials 
because such a definition would provide additional guidance to 
importers. Several commenters requested that the definition be written 
in a way to exclude certain products, such as plant-derived perfume 
components and seaweed products. One commenter expressed concern that, 
under the definition we suggested in the ANPR, any wood product other 
than a log or piece of sawn timber that has not been subsequently 
attached somehow to other wood material could be defined as composite. 
Another commenter opposed the definition as contrary to the spirit and 
letter of the Lacey Act but did not address any specific aspects of the 
definition.
    We also invited comments on two possible approaches to 
incorporating such a definition into a de minimis exception from the 
declaration requirement for composite plant materials. In the first 
approach, if the plant product being imported is composed in whole or 
in part of a composite plant material, importers would be exempted from 
identifying the genus, species, and country of harvest of up to a given 
percentage of the composite plant material content, measured on the 
basis of either weight or volume.
    In the second approach, where the plant product being imported is 
composed in whole or in part of a composite plant material, the 
declaration would have to contain the average percent composite plant 
content, measured on the basis of either weight or volume, without 
regard for the species or country of harvest of the plant, in addition 
to information as to genus, species, and country of harvest for any 
non-composite plant content.
    Many of the commenters preferred the second approach to 
incorporating the definition into a de minimis exception to the plant 
declaration as the easiest to implement and least burdensome on 
importers. However, two commenters opposed omitting species and harvest 
location from the declaration for composite plant materials because 
they believed that omission would permanently exclude those products 
from the declaration requirement and would therefore be contrary to the 
intent of the Lacey Act. One of these commenters stated that while 
small amounts of diverse plant material may enter production streams 
unknowingly, the bulk of wood fiber used to make fiberboard, medium-
density fiberboard, high-density fiberboard, and similar materials is 
purposefully processed into

[[Page 31704]]

wood chips with the direct intent of producing a composite product. The 
commenter further stated that in order for this process to be 
economically feasible, the majority of the raw materials are sourced 
within close proximity of the mill or plant. The commenter stated that 
this practice greatly limits the number of species that could be 
included in the product.
    We have decided to publish another ANPR to solicit comments 
addressing the following questions:
     Is the scope of the proposed definition for composite 
plant materials appropriate, and if not, how could it be revised?
     What would be an appropriate threshold for a de minimis 
exception from the declaration requirement for composite plant 
materials under the first approach identified above? We especially 
invite comment on the feasibility of providing importers an exemption 
from identifying in a declaration the genus, species, and country of 
harvest for up to 5 percent of the composite plant material in a 
product being imported so long as it does not include material from 
plants of conservation concern that are listed in an appendix to the 
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species; as an 
endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 
1973; or pursuant to any State law that provides for the conservation 
of species that are indigenous to the State and are threatened with 
extinction. We also invite comment on whether that percentage should be 
higher or lower, and why. Additional data on why commenters support 
either the 5 percent threshold or an alternative threshold would be 
useful for the rulemaking process. We note that where a paper or 
paperboard plant product includes recycled plant product the statute 
only requires that the importer identify an average percent of recycled 
content without regard for the species or country of harvest of a 
recycled product, in addition to the information otherwise required for 
the non-recycled plant content.
     Would the second approach discussed above, in which the 
declaration would have to contain the average percent composite plant 
content, measured on the basis of either weight or volume (in addition 
to information as to genus, species, and country of harvest for any 
non-composite plant content) be appropriate as a de minimis exception 
to the Lacey Act declaration requirement and consistent with the 
statute? Would such an approach affect U.S. manufacturers who export 
finished products to Europe and other market nations that may require 
their traders to authenticate the source of wood or wood products?
     Would an alternative approach to either of those described 
above concerning the import declaration requirement be appropriate in 
the case of composite products, and why?
     What specific activities would affected entities 
(including importers and their suppliers) need to engage in in order to 
identify the species and country of harvest of plants in composite 
plant materials and thereby comply with the declaration requirement for 
products containing such plant materials?
     How would those specific activities be affected by various 
levels of a de minimis exception to the declaration requirement 
products containing composite plant materials?
     In commenting on any of the approaches described above or 
proposing an alternative threshold, comments should take into 
consideration that a de minimis exception to a statutory requirement is 
being proposed, which means that the exception should be appropriately 
limited and consistent with the statute.
    This action has been determined to be significant for the purposes 
of Executive Order 12866 and, therefore, has been reviewed by the 
Office of Management and Budget.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 3371 et seq.; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 
371.2(d).

    Done in Washington, DC, this 3rd day of July 2018.
Greg Ibach,
Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. 2018-14625 Filed 7-6-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-34-P



                                                  31702                      Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 131 / Monday, July 9, 2018 / Proposed Rules

                                                    (i) In an appendix to the Convention                      (b) The plant material in a product                SUMMARY:   The Food, Conservation and
                                                  on International Trade in Endangered                     represents no more than 5 percent of the              Energy Act of 2008 amended the Lacey
                                                  Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (27                      total weight of the individual product                Act to provide, among other things, that
                                                  UST 1087; TIAS 8249);                                    unit, provided that the total weight of               importers submit a declaration at the
                                                    (ii) As an endangered or threatened                    the plant material in [an entry of such               time of importation for certain plants
                                                  species under the Endangered Species                     products][a product unit] does not                    and plant products. The declaration
                                                  Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); or                 exceed [2.9 kilograms] [or other                      requirements of the Lacey Act became
                                                    (iii) Pursuant to any State law that                   amount]; or, if the weight cannot be                  effective on December 15, 2008, and
                                                  provides for the conservation of species                 determined, the value of the plant                    enforcement of those requirements is
                                                  that are indigenous to the State and are                 material in the individual product unit               being phased in. We are soliciting
                                                  threatened with extinction.                              represents no more than 10 percent of                 public comment on regulatory options
                                                  *      *    *     *     *                                the declared value of the product,                    that could address certain issues that
                                                  ■ 4. Section 357.3 is added to read as                   provided that the total quantity of plant             have arisen with the implementation of
                                                  follows:                                                 material in [an entry of such products][a             the declaration requirement for
                                                                                                           product unit] has a volume of less than               composite plant materials.
                                                  § 357.3   Declaration requirement.                       [1 board foot (that is, 12 x 12 x 1 inches            DATES: We will consider all comments
                                                     (a) Any person importing any plant                    or 30.48 x 30.48 x 2.54 centimeters)] [or             that we receive on or before September
                                                  shall file upon importation a declaration                other amount].                                        7, 2018.
                                                  that contains:                                              (c) A product will not be eligible for             ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
                                                     (1) The scientific name of any plant                  an exception under paragraph (b) of this              by either of the following methods:
                                                  (including the genus and species of the                  section if it contains plant material                    • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
                                                  plant) contained in the importation;                     listed:                                               http://www.regulations.gov/#!docket
                                                     (2) A description of the value of the                    (1) In an appendix to the Convention               Detail;D=APHIS-2018-0017.
                                                  importation and the quantity, including                  on International Trade in Endangered                     • Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery:
                                                  the unit of measure, of the plant; and                   Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (27                   Send your comment to Docket No.
                                                     (3) The name of the country from                      UST 1087; TIAS 8249);                                 APHIS–2018–0017, Regulatory Analysis
                                                  which the plant was taken.                                  (2) As an endangered or threatened                 and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station
                                                     (b) The declaration relating to a plant               species under the Endangered Species                  3A–03.8, 4700 River Road, Unit 118,
                                                  product shall also contain:                              Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); or              Riverdale, MD 20737–1238.
                                                     (1) If the species of plant used to                      (3) Pursuant to any State law that                    Supporting documents and any
                                                  produce the plant product that is the                    provides for the conservation of species              comments we receive on this docket
                                                  subject of the importation varies, and                   that are indigenous to the State and are              may be viewed at http://
                                                  the species used to produce the plant                    threatened with extinction.                           www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=
                                                  product is unknown, the name of each                     ■ 6. Section 357.5 is added to read as                APHIS-2018-0017 or in our reading
                                                  species of plant that may have been                      follows:                                              room, which is located in Room 1141 of
                                                  used to produce the plant product;                                                                             the USDA South Building, 14th Street
                                                     (2) If the species of plant used to                   § 357.5 Time limit for submission of plant            and Independence Avenue SW,
                                                  produce the plant product that is the                    declarations.
                                                                                                                                                                 Washington, DC. Normal reading room
                                                  subject of the importation is commonly                     In the case of commodities for which                hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday
                                                  taken from more than one country, and                    a plant declaration is required, the                  through Friday, except holidays. To be
                                                  the country from which the plant was                     declaration must be submitted within 3                sure someone is there to help you,
                                                  taken and used to produce the plant                      business days of importation.                         please call (202) 799–7039 before
                                                  product is unknown, the name of each                       Done in Washington, DC, this 3rd day of             coming.
                                                  country from which the plant may have                    July 2018.                                            FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
                                                  been taken; and                                          Greg Ibach,                                           Parul Patel, Senior Agriculturalist,
                                                     (3) If a paper or paperboard plant                    Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory          Permitting and Compliance
                                                  product includes recycled plant                          Programs.                                             Coordination, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River
                                                  product, the average percent recycled                    [FR Doc. 2018–14630 Filed 7–6–18; 8:45 am]            Road, Unit 60, Riverdale, MD 20737–
                                                  content without regard for the species or                BILLING CODE 3410–34–P                                1231; (301) 851–2351.
                                                  country of origin of the recycled plant
                                                                                                                                                                 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                  product, in addition to the information
                                                  for the non-recycled plant content                       DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE                             Background
                                                  otherwise required by this section.                                                                               The Lacey Act (16 U.S.C. 3371 et
                                                  (Approved by the Office of Management and                Animal and Plant Health Inspection                    seq.), first enacted in 1900 and
                                                  Budget under control number 0579–0349)                   Service                                               significantly amended in 1981, is the
                                                  ■ 5. Section 357.4 is added to read as                                                                         United States’ oldest wildlife protection
                                                                                                           7 CFR Part 357                                        statute. The Act combats, among other
                                                  follows:
                                                                                                           [Docket No. APHIS–2018–0017]                          things, trafficking in illegally taken
                                                  § 357.4 Exceptions from the declaration                                                                        wildlife, fish, or plants. The Food,
                                                  requirement.                                             RIN 0579–AE36                                         Conservation and Energy Act of 2008,
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                                                    Plants and products containing plant                                                                         effective May 22, 2008, amended the
                                                  materials are excepted from the                          Lacey Act Implementation Plan:                        Lacey Act by expanding its protection to
                                                  declaration requirement if:                              Composite Plant Materials                             a broader range of plants and plant
                                                    (a) The plant is used exclusively as                   AGENCY:  Animal and Plant Health                      products than were previously covered.
                                                  packaging material to support, protect,                  Inspection Service, USDA.                             (Section 8204, Prevention of Illegal
                                                  or carry another item, unless the                                                                              Logging Practices). The Lacey Act now
                                                                                                           ACTION: Advance notice of proposed
                                                  packaging material itself is the item                                                                          makes it unlawful to import, export,
                                                                                                           rulemaking and request for comments.
                                                  being imported; or                                                                                             transport, sell, receive, acquire, or


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                                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 131 / Monday, July 9, 2018 / Proposed Rules                                           31703

                                                  purchase in interstate or foreign                        questionable whether the regulatory                   materials. Most of those commenters
                                                  commerce any plant, with some limited                    objectives of the Lacey Act are furthered             supported defining the term composite
                                                  exceptions, taken, possessed,                            by applying this requirement to minimal               plant materials because such a
                                                  transported, or sold in violation of any                 amounts of non-listed (i.e., not of                   definition would provide additional
                                                  law of the United States or an Indian                    conservation concern) plant materials                 guidance to importers. Several
                                                  tribe, or in violation of any State or                   contained in an otherwise non-plant                   commenters requested that the
                                                  foreign law that protects plants or that                 product. In a separate document                       definition be written in a way to
                                                  regulates certain specified plant-related                published today in the Federal Register,              exclude certain products, such as plant-
                                                  activities. The Lacey Act also now                       we are proposing to establish an                      derived perfume components and
                                                  makes it unlawful to make or submit                      exception to the Lacey Act plant                      seaweed products. One commenter
                                                  any false record, account, or label for, or              declaration requirement for such                      expressed concern that, under the
                                                  any false identification of, any plant.                  products.                                             definition we suggested in the ANPR,
                                                     In addition, Section 3 of the Lacey                      This notice addresses the second                   any wood product other than a log or
                                                  Act, as amended, makes it unlawful, as                   regulatory option that was discussed in               piece of sawn timber that has not been
                                                  of December 15, 2008, to import certain                  the 2011 ANPR that related to a separate              subsequently attached somehow to
                                                  plants, including plant products,                        de minimis exception that related to                  other wood material could be defined as
                                                  without an import declaration. The                       composite plant products. This                        composite. Another commenter opposed
                                                  import declaration serves as a tool for                  exception would cover composite plant                 the definition as contrary to the spirit
                                                  combatting the illegal trade in timber                   materials that are not otherwise                      and letter of the Lacey Act but did not
                                                  and timber products by ensuring                          considered de minimis quantities under                address any specific aspects of the
                                                  importers provide required information.                  the first regulatory option. Many                     definition.
                                                  Through the declaration requirement,                     composite plant materials are currently                  We also invited comments on two
                                                  the importer maintains accountability                    manufactured in a manner that makes                   possible approaches to incorporating
                                                  for exercising reasonable care regarding                 identification of the genus, species, and             such a definition into a de minimis
                                                  the content of the shipment before it                    country of harvest of all of the plant                exception from the declaration
                                                  arrives in the United States. Information                content difficult and perhaps expensive.              requirement for composite plant
                                                  from the declaration is also used to                     While provisions in the Lacey Act’s                   materials. In the first approach, if the
                                                  monitor implementation of Lacey Act                      declaration requirement address how to                plant product being imported is
                                                  requirements. The declaration must                       complete a declaration in situations in               composed in whole or in part of a
                                                  contain the scientific name of the plant,                which the species or country of harvest               composite plant material, importers
                                                  value of the importation, quantity of the                of plant material used in an imported                 would be exempted from identifying the
                                                  plant, and name of the country from                      product varies (16 U.S.C. 3372(f)(2)(A)               genus, species, and country of harvest of
                                                  which the plant was harvested.                           and (B)), these provisions may not                    up to a given percentage of the
                                                     On June 30, 2011, the Animal and                      relieve the difficulties and expense                  composite plant material content,
                                                  Plant Health Inspection Serviced                         faced by importers of some composite                  measured on the basis of either weight
                                                  (APHIS) published an advance notice of                   plant materials. In the 2011 ANPR, we                 or volume.
                                                  proposed rulemaking (ANPR) in the                        solicited comments on defining the term                  In the second approach, where the
                                                  Federal Register (76 FR 38330, Docket                    composite plant materials and on two                  plant product being imported is
                                                  No. APHIS–2010–0129),1 soliciting                        possible approaches to incorporating                  composed in whole or in part of a
                                                  public comment on several regulatory                     such a definition into a separate de                  composite plant material, the
                                                  options to address certain issues that                   minimis exception from the declaration                declaration would have to contain the
                                                                                                           requirement specifically for such                     average percent composite plant
                                                  have arisen with the implementation of
                                                                                                           composite plant materials.                            content, measured on the basis of either
                                                  the declaration requirement. These
                                                                                                              Specifically, we invited comment on                weight or volume, without regard for the
                                                  options included establishing certain
                                                                                                           the possibility of defining composite                 species or country of harvest of the
                                                  exceptions to the declaration
                                                                                                           plant materials as plant products and                 plant, in addition to information as to
                                                  requirement. We solicited comments on
                                                                                                           plant-based components of products                    genus, species, and country of harvest
                                                  these options for 60 days ending on
                                                                                                           where the original plant material is                  for any non-composite plant content.
                                                  August 29, 2011, and received 37                                                                                  Many of the commenters preferred the
                                                                                                           mechanically or chemically broken
                                                  comments by that date. The comments                                                                            second approach to incorporating the
                                                                                                           down and subsequently re-composed or
                                                  received were from academics,                                                                                  definition into a de minimis exception
                                                                                                           used as an extract in a manufacturing
                                                  environmental groups, importers and                      process. Such a definition would need                 to the plant declaration as the easiest to
                                                  exporters, industry associations, a trade                to be broad enough to include various                 implement and least burdensome on
                                                  union, representatives of foreign                        complex composite materials (e.g., pulp,              importers. However, two commenters
                                                  governments, and private citizens.                       paper, paperboard, medium density                     opposed omitting species and harvest
                                                     The first regulatory option we                                                                              location from the declaration for
                                                                                                           fiberboard, high density fiberboard, and
                                                  discussed in the 2011 ANPR was the                       particleboard), and also need to include              composite plant materials because they
                                                  possibility of establishing a limited                    exceptions for species listed in an                   believed that omission would
                                                  exception to the plant declaration                       appendix to the Convention on                         permanently exclude those products
                                                  requirement for imported products                        International Trade in Endangered                     from the declaration requirement and
                                                  containing minimal amounts of plant                      Species; as an endangered or threatened               would therefore be contrary to the intent
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                                                  material. The Lacey Act does not                         species under the Endangered Species                  of the Lacey Act. One of these
                                                  explicitly address whether the                           Act of 1973; or pursuant to any State                 commenters stated that while small
                                                  declaration requirement is intended to                   law that provides for the conservation of             amounts of diverse plant material may
                                                  apply to such products, but it is                        species that are indigenous to the State              enter production streams unknowingly,
                                                    1 To view the advance notice of proposed
                                                                                                           and are threatened with extinction.                   the bulk of wood fiber used to make
                                                  rulemaking and the comments we received, go to
                                                                                                              Of the 37 commenters on the ANPR,                  fiberboard, medium-density fiberboard,
                                                  http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=             16 specifically addressed the potential               high-density fiberboard, and similar
                                                  APHIS-2010-0129.                                         approaches for composite plant                        materials is purposefully processed into


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                                                  31704                      Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 131 / Monday, July 9, 2018 / Proposed Rules

                                                  wood chips with the direct intent of                     and other market nations that may                     announces an extension of the public
                                                  producing a composite product. The                       require their traders to authenticate the             comment period for submitting
                                                  commenter further stated that in order                   source of wood or wood products?                      comments on the RFI or any other
                                                  for this process to be economically                         • Would an alternative approach to                 subject within the scope of the RFI. The
                                                  feasible, the majority of the raw                        either of those described above                       comment period is extended to
                                                  materials are sourced within close                       concerning the import declaration                     September 21, 2018.
                                                  proximity of the mill or plant. The                      requirement be appropriate in the case                DATES: The comment period for the RFI
                                                  commenter stated that this practice                      of composite products, and why?                       published on June 22, 2018 (83 FR
                                                  greatly limits the number of species that                   • What specific activities would                   29048) is extended. Written comments
                                                  could be included in the product.                        affected entities (including importers                and information are requested and will
                                                     We have decided to publish another                    and their suppliers) need to engage in in             be accepted on or before September 21,
                                                  ANPR to solicit comments addressing                      order to identify the species and country             2018.
                                                  the following questions:                                 of harvest of plants in composite plant               ADDRESSES: Interested persons are
                                                     • Is the scope of the proposed                        materials and thereby comply with the
                                                  definition for composite plant materials                                                                       encouraged to submit comments using
                                                                                                           declaration requirement for products                  the Federal eRulemaking Portal at
                                                  appropriate, and if not, how could it be                 containing such plant materials?                      http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
                                                  revised?                                                    • How would those specific activities              instructions for submitting comments.
                                                     • What would be an appropriate                        be affected by various levels of a de
                                                  threshold for a de minimis exception                                                                           Alternatively, interested persons may
                                                                                                           minimis exception to the declaration                  submit comments, identified by docket
                                                  from the declaration requirement for                     requirement products containing
                                                  composite plant materials under the                                                                            number EERE–2017–BT–TP–0029, by
                                                                                                           composite plant materials?                            any of the following methods:
                                                  first approach identified above? We                         • In commenting on any of the
                                                  especially invite comment on the                                                                                  • Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://
                                                                                                           approaches described above or                         www.regulations.gov. Follow the
                                                  feasibility of providing importers an                    proposing an alternative threshold,
                                                  exemption from identifying in a                                                                                instructions for submitting comments.
                                                                                                           comments should take into                                • Email: to WSHP2017TP0029@
                                                  declaration the genus, species, and                      consideration that a de minimis
                                                  country of harvest for up to 5 percent of                                                                      ee.doe.gov. Include the docket number
                                                                                                           exception to a statutory requirement is               EERE–2017–BT–TP–0029 in the subject
                                                  the composite plant material in a                        being proposed, which means that the
                                                  product being imported so long as it                                                                           line of the message.
                                                                                                           exception should be appropriately                        • Postal Mail: Appliance and
                                                  does not include material from plants of                 limited and consistent with the statute.
                                                  conservation concern that are listed in                                                                        Equipment Standards Program, U.S.
                                                                                                              This action has been determined to be              Department of Energy, Building
                                                  an appendix to the Convention on                         significant for the purposes of Executive
                                                  International Trade in Endangered                                                                              Technologies Office, Mailstop EE–5B,
                                                                                                           Order 12866 and, therefore, has been                  Test Procedure RFI for Water-Source
                                                  Species; as an endangered or threatened                  reviewed by the Office of Management
                                                  species under the Endangered Species                                                                           Heat Pumps, Docket No. EERE–2017–
                                                                                                           and Budget.                                           BT–TP–0029, 1000 Independence
                                                  Act of 1973; or pursuant to any State
                                                  law that provides for the conservation of                  Authority: 16 U.S.C. 3371 et seq.; 7 CFR            Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585–
                                                  species that are indigenous to the State                 2.22, 2.80, and 371.2(d).                             0121. Telephone: (202) 287–1445. If
                                                  and are threatened with extinction. We                     Done in Washington, DC, this 3rd day of             possible, please submit all items on a
                                                  also invite comment on whether that                      July 2018.                                            compact disc (‘‘CD’’), in which case it is
                                                  percentage should be higher or lower,                    Greg Ibach,                                           not necessary to include printed copies.
                                                  and why. Additional data on why                          Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory             • Hand Delivery/Courier: Appliance
                                                  commenters support either the 5 percent                  Programs.                                             and Equipment Standards Program, U.S.
                                                  threshold or an alternative threshold                    [FR Doc. 2018–14625 Filed 7–6–18; 8:45 am]            Department of Energy, Building
                                                  would be useful for the rulemaking                       BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
                                                                                                                                                                 Technologies Office, 950 L’Enfant Plaza
                                                  process. We note that where a paper or                                                                         SW, 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20024.
                                                  paperboard plant product includes                                                                              Telephone: (202) 287–1445. If possible,
                                                  recycled plant product the statute only                  DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY                                  please submit all items on a CD, in
                                                  requires that the importer identify an                                                                         which case it is not necessary to include
                                                  average percent of recycled content                      10 CFR Part 431                                       printed copies.
                                                  without regard for the species or                                                                                 No telefacsimilies (faxes) will be
                                                  country of harvest of a recycled product,                [EERE–2017–BT–TP–0029]                                accepted.
                                                  in addition to the information otherwise                                                                          Docket: The docket for this activity,
                                                                                                           Energy Conservation Program: Test
                                                  required for the non-recycled plant                                                                            which includes Federal Register
                                                                                                           Procedure for Water-Source Heat
                                                  content.                                                                                                       notices, comments, and other
                                                                                                           Pumps
                                                     • Would the second approach                                                                                 supporting documents/materials, is
                                                  discussed above, in which the                            AGENCY:  Office of Energy Efficiency and              available for review at http://
                                                  declaration would have to contain the                    Renewable Energy, Department of                       www.regulations.gov. All documents in
                                                  average percent composite plant                          Energy.                                               the docket are listed in the http://
                                                  content, measured on the basis of either                 ACTION: Extension of public comment                   www.regulations.gov index. However,
                                                  weight or volume (in addition to                                                                               some documents listed in the index,
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                                                                           period.
                                                  information as to genus, species, and                                                                          such as those containing information
                                                  country of harvest for any non-                          SUMMARY:   On June 22, 2018, the U.S.                 that is exempt from public disclosure,
                                                  composite plant content) be appropriate                  Department of Energy (‘‘DOE’’)                        may not be publicly available.
                                                  as a de minimis exception to the Lacey                   published in the Federal Register a                      The docket web page can be found at:
                                                  Act declaration requirement and                          request for information (RFI) to consider             https://www.regulations.gov/docket
                                                  consistent with the statute? Would such                  whether to amend DOE’s test procedure                 Browser?rpp=25&po=0&D=EERE-2017-
                                                  an approach affect U.S. manufacturers                    for commercial water-source heat                      BT-TP-0029. The docket web page
                                                  who export finished products to Europe                   pumps (‘‘WSHPs’’). This notice                        contains instructions on how to access


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Document Created: 2018-07-07 00:42:15
Document Modified: 2018-07-07 00:42:15
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
ActionAdvance notice of proposed rulemaking and request for comments.
DatesWe will consider all comments that we receive on or before September 7, 2018.
ContactMs. Parul Patel, Senior Agriculturalist, Permitting and Compliance Coordination, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 60, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 851-2351.
FR Citation83 FR 31702 
RIN Number0579-AE36

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