Importation of Orchids in Growing Media

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

7 CFR Part 319

[Docket No. 98-035-2]

Importation of Orchids in Growing Media

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that we are extending by 30 days

the comment period for our proposed rule that would add orchids of the

genus Phalaenopsis to the list of plants that may be imported in an

approved growing medium subject to specified growing, inspection, and

certification requirements. This extension will provide interested

parties additional time to prepare their comments on the proposed rule.

DATES: Consideration will be given only to comments on Docket No. 98-

035-1 that are received on or before December 2, 1998.

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

Docket No. 98-035-1, 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. 98-035-1. 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.

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

Specialist, Phytosanitary Issues Management Team, PPQ, APHIS, 4700

River Road Unit 140, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 734-6799; fax

(301) 734-5786; e-mail: Peter.M.G[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On September 1, 1998, we published in the Federal Register (63 FR

46403-46406, Docket No. 98-035-1) a proposed rule to amend the

regulations governing the importation of plants and plant products to

add orchids of the genus Phalaenopsis to the list of plants that may be

imported in an approved growing medium subject to specified growing,

inspection, and certification requirements.

Comments on the proposed rule were required to be received on or

before November 2, 1998. However, in response to requests received

following the publication of the proposed rule, we are extending by 30

days the comment period for the proposed rule. Therefore, we will

consider all comments that are received on or before December 2, 1998.

Done in Washington, DC, this 23rd day of October, 1998.

Joan M. Arnoldi,

Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

[FR Doc. 98-28997 Filed 10-28-98; 8:45 am]

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