[Federal Register: March 6, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 44)]
[Notices]
[Page 13485-13486]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06mr01-40]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. 00-008-2]
Imported Fire Ant
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will continue
to administer its imported fire ant program.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ron Milberg, Operations Officer, PPQ,
APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 134, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 734-
5255.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Our imported fire ant program is based on
our imported fire ant regulations (7 CFR 301.81-1 through 301.81-10,
referred to below as the regulations). The regulations govern the
interstate movement of regulated articles from areas quarantined
because of the imported fire ant. Section 301.81-2 of the regulations
provides a list of articles regulated because of the imported fire ant.
Regulated articles are imported fire ant queens and reproducing
colonies of imported fire ants, soil (except potting soil shipped in
its original container), baled hay or straw stored in direct contact
with the ground, nursery stock (except plants maintained indoors in a
home or office environment and not for sale), used soil-moving
equipment (unless removed of all noncompacted soil), and any other
article or means of conveyance determined to present a risk of
spreading imported fire ant. Section 301.81-3 of the regulations lists
areas quarantined because of the imported fire ant. Quarantined areas
are all or portions of the following States and territories: Alabama,
Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New
Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina,
Tennessee, and Texas. Sections 301.81-4 through 301.81-10 provide
requirements for moving regulated articles interstate from quarantined
areas to nonquarantined areas. These sections include requirements for
certificates and limited permits and for treatment of regulated
articles.
On March 2, 2000, we published in the Federal Register (65 FR
11281-11283, Docket No. 00-008-1), a notice announcing four public
meetings to discuss how we should administer our imported fire ant
program in light of reduced funding. The meetings were held in Raleigh,
NC, on March 21, 2000; Orlando, FL, on March 23, 2000; Austin, TX, on
March 28, 2000; and Santa Ana, CA, on March 30, 2000. We also solicited
written comments on our notice for 60 days, ending May 1, 2000.
In the notice, we asked the public to comment on the following
three options: (1) Maintain our imported fire ant program with minimal
Federal regulatory activity, in line with Fiscal Year 2000 funding; (2)
eliminate the imported fire ant regulations (i.e., rescind the Federal
quarantine) and develop model guidelines for States to use in
harmonizing their quarantines; or (3) eliminate the imported fire ant
regulations (i.e., rescind the Federal quarantine) and establish a
voluntary nursery self-certification program.
Approximately 105 individuals representing industry and cooperating
States attended the public meetings. In addition, we received 58
written comments in response to the notice by the May 1, 2000, close of
the comment period. They were from representatives of industry,
cooperating States, and other interested individuals. With one
exception, those who spoke at the public meetings and those who
submitted written comments supported retention of the current imported
fire ant program with a significant increase in funding for the
program. They stated that the program enhances producers' ability to
move regulated articles interstate. One commenter recommended enacting
more stringent regulations in order to prevent the spread of the
imported fire ant to the State of Hawaii. The majority of respondents
also supported the National Plant Board's proposal for $7.5 million in
congressional funding for the imported fire ant program and the
Gulfport Plant Protection Station's unique methods development work.
Given the public support for our imported fire ant program, we will
maintain the program in line with current funding. Therefore, our
regulations will continue to provide uniform standards for the
regulated industry, along with consistent interstate shipping
requirements. Along with cooperating States, we will also continue to
enforce the Federal quarantine. This means that when alerted by States,
APHIS personnel will investigate noncompliance with the regulations and
will examine the origin and pathway of introduction of imported fire
ants found on regulated articles. In addition, we will continue to
develop new regulatory treatments and nursery compliance protocols to
control or reduce imported fire ant populations
[[Page 13486]]
in nursery production areas. For the development of new regulatory
treatments, about $350,000 is allocated annually to our plant
protection station in Gulfport, MS. To our knowledge, the Gulfport
Plant Protection Station is the only facility in the country that is
developing regulatory treatments for the imported fire ant.
In response to public support for increased funding for our
imported fire ant program, Congress restored about $2.1 million for the
imported fire ant program in Fiscal Year 2001. The majority of this
appropriation will be distributed to States for enforcement and
regulatory activities. We will retain a small percentage for
administrative costs.
Done in Washington, DC, this 28th day of February 2001.
Bobby R. Acord,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 01-5421 Filed 3-5-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
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