[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 15 (Tuesday, January 23, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 1697-1699]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-870]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
9 CFR Part 92
[Docket No. 95-092-1]
Specifically Approved States Authorized To Receive Mares and
Stallions Imported From Countries Where CEM Exists
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Direct final rule.
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SUMMARY: We are amending the animal importation regulations by adding
Alabama and North Carolina to the list of States approved to receive
certain mares imported into the United States from countries affected
with contagious equine metritis (CEM). We are also adding Alabama to
the list of States approved to receive certain stallions imported into
the United States from countries affected with CEM. We are taking this
action because Alabama and North Carolina have entered into an
agreement with the Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service to enforce their State laws and regulations to
control CEM and to require inspection, treatment, and testing of
horses, as required by Federal regulations, to further ensure the
horses' freedom from CEM. This action relieves unnecessary restrictions
on importers of
[[Page 1698]]
mares and stallions from countries where CEM exists.
DATES: This rule will be effective on March 25, 1996 unless we receive
written adverse comments or written notice of intent to submit adverse
comments on or before February 22, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Please send an original and three copies of any adverse
comments or notice of intent to submit adverse comments to Docket No.
95-092-1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, suite 3C03,
4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that
your submission refers to Docket No. 95-092-1. Submissions 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 and notices are requested to call ahead on (202) 690-2817 to
facilitate entry into the comment reading room.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Joyce Bowling, Staff Veterinarian,
Import/Export Animals, National Center for Import and Export, VS,
APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 39, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231, (301) 734-
6479.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The animal importation regulations (contained in 9 CFR part 92 and
referred to below as the regulations), among other things, prohibit or
restrict the importation of certain animals, including horses, into the
United States to protect U.S. livestock from communicable diseases.
Sections 92.301(c)(2), 92.304(a)(4)(ii), and 92.304(a)(7)(ii) allow
certain horses to be imported into the United States from certain
countries where contagious equine metritis (CEM) exists if specific
requirements to prevent their introducing CEM into the United States
are met.
Mares and stallions over 731 days old must be consigned to States
that have been approved by the Administrator of the Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service (APHIS) as meeting conditions necessary to
ensure that the mares and stallions are free of CEM. These conditions,
which concern inspection, treatment, and testing of the mares and
stallions, are contained in Sec. 92.304(a)(5) of the regulations for
stallions and in Sec. 92.304(a)(8) of the regulations for mares.
Alabama and North Carolina have agreed to abide by the State
regulations concerning mares and stallions imported from countries
where CEM exists, and have entered into a written agreement with the
Administrator, APHIS, to enforce their State laws and regulations, as
required by the regulations, to control CEM.
This direct final rule will add Alabama and North Carolina to the
list of States approved to receive certain mares
(Sec. 92.304(a)(7)(ii)) imported into the United States from countries
where CEM exists. This direct final rule will also add Alabama to the
list of States approved to receive certain stallions
(Sec. 92.304(a)(4)(ii)) imported into the United States from countries
where CEM exists. (North Carolina is already on the list in
Sec. 92.304(a)(4)(ii) of States approved to receive certain stallions
imported into the United States from countries where CEM exists.)
Dates
We are publishing this rule without a prior proposal because we
view this action as noncontroversial and anticipate no adverse public
comment. This rule will be effective, as published in this document, 60
days after the date of publication in the Federal Register unless we
receive written adverse comments or written notice of intent to submit
adverse comments within 30 days of the date of publication of this rule
in the Federal Register.
Adverse comments are comments that suggest the rule should not be
adopted or that suggest the rule should be changed.
If we receive written adverse comments or written notice of intent
to submit adverse comments, we will publish a notice in the Federal
Register withdrawing this rule before the effective date. We will then
publish a proposed rule for public comment. Following the close of that
comment period, the comments will be considered, and a final rule
addressing the comments will be published.
As discussed above, if we receive no written adverse comments nor
written notice of intent to submit adverse comments within 30 days of
publication of this direct final rule, this direct final rule will
become effective 60 days following its publication. We will publish a
notice to this effect in the Federal Register, before the effective
date of this direct final rule, confirming that it is effective on the
date indicated in this document.
Executive Order 12866 and Regulatory Flexibility Act
This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12866. For this
action, the Office of Management and Budget has waived its review
process required by Executive Order 12866.
We anticipate that fewer than 20 mares and stallions over 731 days
old will be imported into the States of Alabama and North Carolina
annually from countries where CEM exists. Approximately 200-300 mares
and stallions over 731 days old from countries where CEM exists were
imported into approved States in fiscal year 1995. During this same
period, approximately 2,167 horses of all classes were imported into
the United States from countries other than Canada and Mexico through
air and ocean ports; approximately 27,565 horses were imported from
Canada; and, approximately 15,358 horses were imported from Mexico.
Under these circumstances, the Administrator of the Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service has determined that this action will
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small
entities.
Executive Order 12372
This program/activity is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance under No. 10.025 and is subject to Executive Order 12372,
which requires intergovernmental consultation with State and local
officials. (See 7 CFR part 3015, subpart V.)
Executive Order 12778
This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12778, Civil
Justice Reform. This rule: (1) Preempts all State and local laws and
regulations that are in conflict with this rule; (2) has no retroactive
effect; and (3) does not require administrative proceedings before
parties may file suit in court challenging this rule.
Paperwork Reduction Act
This rule contains no information collection or recordkeeping
requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501
et seq.).
List of Subjects in 9 CFR Part 92
Animal diseases, Imports, Livestock, Poultry and poultry products,
Quarantine, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
Accordingly, 9 CFR part 92 is amended as follows:
PART 92--IMPORTATION OF CERTAIN ANIMALS AND POULTRY AND CERTAIN
ANIMAL AND POULTRY PRODUCTS; INSPECTION AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS FOR
CERTAIN MEANS OF CONVEYANCE AND SHIPPING CONTAINERS THEREON
1. The authority citation for part 92 continues to read as follows:
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Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1622; 19 U.S.C. 1306; 21 U.S.C. 102-105,
111, 114a, 134a, 134b, 134c, 134d, 134f, 135, 136, and 136a; 31
U.S.C. 9701; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.2(d).
Sec. 92.304 [Amended]
2. Section 92.304 is amended as follows:
a. In paragraph (a)(4)(ii), by adding, in alphabetical order, ``The
State of Alabama''.
b. In paragraph (a)(7)(ii), by adding, in alphabetical order, ``The
State of Alabama'' and ``The State of North Carolina''.
Done in Washington, DC, this 17th day of January 1996.
Terry L. Medley,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 96-870 Filed 1-22-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
