[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 76 (Tuesday, April 21, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 19652-19653]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-10559]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
9 CFR Part 78
[Docket No. 98-018-1]
Brucellosis in Cattle; State and Area Classifications; Georgia
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Interim rule and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: We are amending the brucellosis regulations concerning the
interstate movement of cattle by changing the classification of Georgia
from Class A to Class Free. We have determined that Georgia meets the
standards for Class Free status. This action relieves certain
restrictions on the interstate movement of cattle from Georgia.
DATES: Interim rule effective April 21, 1998. Consideration will be
given only to comments received on or before June 22, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Please send an original and three copies of your comments to
Docket No. 98-018-1, 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. 98-018-1. 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: Dr. R.T. Rollo, Jr., Staff
Veterinarian, National Animal Health Programs, VS, APHIS, Suite 3B08,
4700 River Road Unit 43, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231, (301) 734-7709; or
e-mail: rrollo@aphis.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Brucellosis is a contagious disease affecting animals and humans,
caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella.
The brucellosis regulations, contained in 9 CFR part 78 (referred
to below as the regulations), provide a system for classifying States
or portions of States according to the rate of Brucella infection
present, and the general effectiveness of a brucellosis control and
eradication program. The classifications are Class Free, Class A, Class
B, and Class C. States or areas that do not meet the minimum standards
for Class C are required to be placed under Federal quarantine.
The brucellosis Class Free classification is based on a finding of
no known brucellosis in cattle for the 12 months preceding
classification as Class Free. The Class C classification is for States
or areas with the highest rate of brucellosis. Class B and Class A fall
between these two extremes. Restrictions on moving cattle interstate
become less stringent as a State approaches or achieves Class Free
status.
The standards for the different classifications of States or areas
entail (1) maintaining a cattle herd infection rate not to exceed a
stated level during 12 consecutive months; (2) tracing back to the farm
of origin and successfully closing a stated percent of all brucellosis
reactors found in the course of Market Cattle Identification (MCI)
testing; (3) maintaining a surveillance system that includes testing of
dairy herds, participation of all recognized slaughtering
establishments in the MCI program, identification and monitoring of
herds at high risk of infection (including herds adjacent to infected
herds and herds from which infected animals have been sold or
received), and having an individual herd plan in effect within a stated
number of days after the herd owner is notified of the finding of
brucellosis in a herd he or she owns; and (4) maintaining minimum
procedural standards for administering the program.
Before the effective date of this interim rule, Georgia was
classified as a Class A State.
To attain and maintain Class Free status, a State or area must (1)
remain free from field strain Brucella abortus infection for 12
consecutive months or longer; (2) trace back at least 90 percent of all
brucellosis reactors found in the course of MCI testing to the farm of
origin; (3) successfully close at least 95 percent of the MCI reactor
cases traced to the farm of origin during the 12 consecutive month
period immediately prior to the most recent anniversary of the date the
State or area was classified Class Free; and (4) have a specified
surveillance system, as described above, including an approved
individual herd plan in effect within 15 days of locating the source
herd or recipient herd.
After reviewing the brucellosis program records for Georgia, we
have concluded that this State meets the standards for Class Free
status. Therefore, we are removing Georgia from the list of Class A
States in
[[Page 19653]]
Sec. 78.41(b) and adding it to the list of Class Free States in
Sec. 78.41(a). This action relieves certain restrictions on moving
cattle interstate from Georgia.
Immediate Action
The Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
has determined that there is good cause for publishing this interim
rule without prior opportunity for public comment. Immediate action is
warranted to remove unnecessary restrictions on the interstate movement
of cattle from Georgia.
Because prior notice and other public procedures with respect to
this action are impracticable and contrary to the public interest under
these conditions, we find good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553 to make it
effective upon publication in the Federal Register. We will consider
comments that are received within 60 days of publication of this rule
in the Federal Register. After the comment period closes, we will
publish another document in the Federal Register. It will include a
discussion of any comments we receive and any amendments we are making
to the rule as a result of the comments.
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.
Cattle moved interstate are moved for slaughter, for use as
breeding stock, or for feeding. Changing the brucellosis status of
Georgia from Class A to Class Free will promote economic growth by
reducing certain testing and other requirements governing the
interstate movement of cattle from this State. Testing requirements for
cattle moved interstate for immediate slaughter or to quarantined
feedlots are not affected by this change. Cattle from certified
brucellosis-free herds moving interstate are not affected by this
change.
The groups affected by this action will be herd owners in Georgia,
as well as buyers and importers of cattle from this State.
There are an estimated 27,000 cattle herds in Georgia that would be
affected by this rule. All of these are owned by small entities. Test-
eligible cattle offered for sale interstate from other than certified-
free herds must have a negative test under present Class A status
regulations, but not under regulations concerning Class Free status. If
such testing were distributed equally among all animals affected by
this rule, Class Free status would save approximately $4 per head.
Therefore, we believe that changing the brucellosis status of
Georgia will not have a significant economic impact on the small
entities affected by this interim rule.
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 12988
This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, 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 document 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 78
Animal diseases, Bison, Cattle, Hogs, Quarantine, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements, Transportation.
Accordingly, 9 CFR part 78 is amended as follows:
PART 78--BRUCELLOSIS
1. The authority citation for part 78 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 21 U.S.C. 111-114a-1, 114g, 115, 117, 120, 121, 123-
126, 134b, and 134f; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.2(d).
Sec. 78.41 [Amended]
2. In Sec. 78.41, paragraph (a) is amended by adding ``Georgia,''
immediately after ``Florida,''.
3. In Sec. 78.41, paragraph (b) is amended by removing
``Georgia,''.
Done in Washington, DC, this 15th day of April 1998.
Charles P. Schwalbe,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 98-10559 Filed 4-20-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
