Importation of Rhododendron Established in Growing Media

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

7 CFR Part 319

[Docket No. 89-154-4]

Importation of Rhododendron Established in Growing Media

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: We are extending the comment period on a proposal to allow the

importation of Rhododendron established in growing media. Final action

on that proposal had been deferred to allow consultation regarding the

action with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, in accordance

with the Endangered Species Act. That consultation has been completed,

and, as a result, the proposed action has been limited to Rhododendron

imported from Europe only. This extension of the comment period will

allow interested groups and individuals with additional time to prepare

comments on the proposal.

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

before July 30, 1998.

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

Docket No. 89-154-3, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS,

suite 3C03, 4700 River Road, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state

that your comments refer to Docket No. 89-154-3. 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Pete M. Grosser, Senior Import

Specialist, PIMT, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 140, Riverdale, MD

20737-1236; (301) 734-6799.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On September 7, 1993, we published in the Federal Register a

proposed rule (58 FR 47074-47084, Docket No. 89-154-1) to allow the

importation of five genera of plants established in growing media. That

proposal is referred to below as ``the proposed rule.'' We accepted

comments on the proposed rule for a period of 90 days, ending December

6, 1993.

In a final rule published in the Federal Register on January 13,

1995, and effective on February 13, 1995 (60 FR 3067-3078, Docket No.

89-154-2), the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)

finalized provisions for the importation of Alstroemeria, Ananas,

Anthurium, and Nidularium. The final rule postponed action on

Rhododendron established in growing media.

On April 30, 1998, we published in the Federal Register (63 FR

23683-23685, Docket No. 89-154-3) a notice reopening and extending the

comment period on the proposal to allow the importation of Rhododendron

established in growing media. Final action on the initial proposal had

been deferred to allow consultation regarding the action with the

United States Fish and Wildlife Service, in accordance with the

Endangered Species Act. That consultation has been completed, and, as a

result, the notice also announced APHIS's intention to limit the

proposed action to Rhododendron imported from Europe only.

[[Page 29676]]

Comments were required to be received on or before June 1, 1998. We

received two requests to extend the period during which comments will

be accepted. The requests were from trade organizations. In response,

we are extending the comment period on Docket No. 89-154-3 until July

30, 1998. This action will allow interested groups and individuals

additional time to prepare and submit comments.

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 150dd, 150ee, 150ff, 151-167, 450, 2803, and

2809; 21 U.S.C. 136 and 136a; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.2(c).

Done in Washington, DC, this 27th day of May 1998.

Charles P. Schwalbe,

Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

[FR Doc. 98-14421 Filed 5-29-98; 8:45 am]

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