Emergency Letter

United States

Department of

Agriculture

Marketing and Regulatory Programs

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Washington, DC 20250

April 6, 2011

Subject: Citrus Canker, Citrus Greening, and Asian Citrus Psyllid; Interstate

Movement of Regulated Nursery Stock

To: Andrew Perraut, Desk Officer

Through: Ruth Brown, Department Clearance Officer

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is requesting emergency review, processing, and approval of an information collection activity that is needed in connection with the efforts of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to prevent the spread of citrus canker, citrus greening, and Asian citrus psyllid to noninfested areas of the United States.

This interim rule amends the regulations governing the interstate movement of regulated articles from areas quarantined for citrus canker, citrus greening, and/or Asian citrus psyllid to allow the movement of regulated nursery stock under a certificate to any areas within the United States. These actions are warranted on an immediate basis to provide a degree of relief from existing prohibitions and restrictions on the interstate movement of regulatory nursery stock, while continuing to present the artificial spread of quarantine pests within the United States.

Establishing these regulations will require respondents to keep records of inspections, treatments, invoices, shipments, compliance agreements, certificates, limited permits, and labeling of boxes for traceback purposes.

APHIS is requesting approval of the paperwork clearance within a week, or by Friday, April 15, 2011. Thank you for your consideration.

Should you need additional information regarding this request, please contact

Ms. Deborah McPartlan, Emergency and Domestic Programs, PPQ, 301-734-5459.

/s/

Rebecca Bech

Deputy Administrator

Plant Protection and Quarantine

APHIS - Protecting American Agriculture

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