Introduction of Nonindigenous Organisms

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. 93-026-2]

RIN 0579-AA61

Introduction of Nonindigenous Organisms

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period and notice of public

hearing.

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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that an additional public hearing

will be held to give interested persons in the State of Hawaii an

opportunity for the oral presentation of data, views, and arguments

regarding a proposed rule that would establish regulations governing

the introduction (importation, interstate movement, and release into

the environment) of certain nonindigenous organisms. We are also

extending by 60 days the period for the public to comment on the

proposed regulations.

DATES: Consideration will be given only to comments received on or

before May 26, 1995. We will also consider comments made at a public

hearing to be held in Honolulu, HI, on April 6, 1995, from 10 a.m.

until 5 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Please send an original and three copies of your comments to

Docket No. 93-026-1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS,

Suite 3C03, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please

state that your comments refer to Docket No. 93-026-1. Comments

received may be inspected at USDA, room 1141, South Building, 14th

Street and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC, between 8 a.m. and

4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Persons wishing to

inspect comments are requested to call ahead on (202) 690-2817 to

facilitate entry into the comment reading room. The public hearing will

be held at the following location: Holiday Inn at the Airport, 3401 N.

Nimitz Highway, Honolulu, HI.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:Dr. Matthew H. Royer, Chief Operations

Officer, Biological Assessment and Taxonomic Support, PPQ, APHIS, Suite

4A01, 4700 River Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737-1228; (301) 734-

8896.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On January 26, 1995, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

(APHIS) published a proposed rule in the Federal Register (60 FR 5288-

5307, Docket No. 93-026-1) to establish regulations governing the

introduction (importation, interstate movement, and release into the

environment) of certain nonindigenous organisms, In that document,

APHIS stated that the proposed rule appears to be necessary because the

plant pest regulations under which the movement of certain

nonindigenous organisms are currently regulated do not adequately

address the introduction of nonindigenous organisms that may

potentially be plant pests. The proposed regulations would provide a

means of screening certain nonindigenous organisms prior to their

introduction to determine the potential plant pest risk associated with

a particular introduction.

In the proposed rule, we announced that three public hearings would

be held: In Kansas City, MO. on March 6, 1995; in Sacramento, CA, on

March 7, 1995; and in Washington, DC, on March 10, 1995. Since the

publication of the proposed rule, we have received requests that a

public hearing also be held in the State of Hawaii. In response to

those requests, we have scheduled a fourth public hearing, to be held

at the Holiday Inn at the Airport, 3401 N. Nimitz Highway, Honolulu,

HI, on April 6, 1995.

As is the case with the tree previously scheduled hearings, the

purpose of the hearing is to give interested persons an opportunity for

the oral presentation of data, views, and arguments. Questions about

the content of the proposed rule may be part of the commenters' oral

presentations. However, neither the presiding officer nor any other

representative of APHIS will respond to the comments at the hearing,

except to clarify or explain provisions of the proposed rule.

A representative of APHIS will preside at the public hearing. Any

interested person may appear and may be heard in person, by attorney,

or by other representative. Written statements may be submitted and

will be made part of the hearing record. Persons who wish to speak at a

public hearing will be asked to provide their name and organization. We

ask that anyone who reads a statement provide two copies to the

presiding officer at the hearing.

The public hearing will begin at 10 a.m. and is scheduled to end at

5:00 p.m., local time. However, the hearing may be terminated at any

time after it begins if all persons desiring to speak have been heard.

If the number of speakers at the hearing warrants it, the

[[Page 14929]] presiding officer may limit the time for each

presentation so that everyone wishing to speak has the opportunity.

In the January 26, 1995, proposed rule, we stated that comments on

the proposed rule were required to be received on or before March 27,

1995. However, to receive and consider the comments to be presented at

the public hearing in Hawaii on April 6, 1995, and to accommodate

persons who may wish to comment on issues that may be raised at that

public hearing, we are extending by 60 days the comment period for the

proposed rule. Therefore, we will consider all comments that are

received on or before May 26, 1995.

Lonnie J. King,

Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

[FR Doc. 95-6907 Filed 3-20-95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-34-M