03-12433. Secretary's Advisory Committee on Foreign Animal and Poultry Diseases; Meeting

AGENCY:

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION:

Notice of meeting.

SUMMARY:

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App. II), we are giving notice of a meeting of the Secretary's Advisory Committee on Foreign Animal and Poultry Diseases.

DATES:

Sessions will be held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on June 3, 2003, and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on June 4 and 5, 2003.

ADDRESSES:

The meeting will be held in the Conference Center at the USDA Center at Riverside, 4700 River Road, Riverdale, MD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Dr. Joseph Annelli, Chief Staff Veterinarian, Emergency Programs Staff, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 41, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Secretary's Advisory Committee on Foreign Animal and Poultry Diseases (the Committee) advises the Secretary of Agriculture on actions necessary to prevent the introduction of foreign diseases of livestock and poultry into the United States. In addition, the Committee advises the Secretary on contingency planning and on maintaining a state of preparedness to deal with these diseases, if introduced.

The meeting will focus on the U.S. animal health emergency management system and the foreign animal disease situation worldwide and its relevance to the United States. The meeting will be open to the public. However, due to the time constraints, the public will not be allowed to participate in the Committee's discussions.

You may obtain an agenda for the meeting by contacting Dr. Joseph Annelli at the address listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

You may file written statements on meeting topics with the Committee before or after the meeting by sending them to Dr. Joseph Annelli at the address listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. You may also file written comments at the time of the meeting. Please refer to Docket No. 03-056-1 when submitting your comments.

Parking and Security Procedures

Please note that a fee of $2.25 is required to enter the parking lot at the USDA Center. The machine accepts $1 bills and quarters.

Upon entering the building, visitors should inform security personnel that they are attending the Advisory Committee Meeting on Foreign Animal and Poultry Diseases. Identification is required. Visitor badges must be worn at all times while inside the building.

Done in Washington, DC, this 13th day of May 2003.

Bobby R. Acord,

Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.