[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 159 (Tuesday, August 18, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 44175-44176]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-22181]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
9 CFR Parts 93 and 98
[Docket No. 97-014-2]
Canadian Border Ports; Champlain, NY, and Derby Line, VT
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Proposed rule; withdrawal.
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SUMMARY: We are withdrawing a proposed rule that would have amended the
animal and animal product importation regulations by removing
Champlain, NY, and Derby Line, VT, as land border ports of entry for
animals and animal germ plasm imported from Canada into the United
States. We had proposed this action in an effort to increase efficiency
in our animal and animal germ plasm inspection program along the U.S.-
Canada border. We are withdrawing the proposed rule because of ongoing
communications with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency regarding
possible sharing of animal inspection resources along the U.S.-Canada
border.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Gary Colgrove, Chief Staff
Veterinarian, Import/Export Animals, National Center for Import and
Export, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 39, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231,
(301) 734-3276.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On June 27, 1997, we published in the Federal Register (62 FR
34677-34679, Docket No. 97-014-1) a proposed rule to amend the
regulations at 9 CFR parts 93 1 and 98, which govern the
importation of animals and animal products, to remove Champlain, NY,
and Derby Line, VT, from the lists of border ports along the U.S.-
Canada border having inspection facilities for the importation of
animals and animal germ plasm. The ports of Champlain, NY, and Derby
Line, VT, are listed in parts 93 and 98 as ports of entry for the
importation of many animals, including poultry, horses, swine, cattle,
and other ruminants, and certain animal germ plasm. The animal
importation facilities at these two ports are open on a part-time basis
only. Following a review of the amount of animal and animal germ plasm
inspections performed annually at all of the Canadian border ports in
the Northeast, we were considering closing the animal importation
facilities at Champlain and Derby Line to increase efficiency in our
inspection program.
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\1\ The proposed rule actually discussed amending parts 92 and
98 instead of parts 93 and 98. The provisions of part 92,
``Importation of Certain Animals, Birds, and Poultry, and Certain
Animal, Bird, and Poultry Products; Requirements for Means of
Conveyance and Shipping Containers,'' were moved to part 93 in a
final rule published October 28, 1997 (62 FR 56000-56026, Docket No.
94-106-9), and effective November 28, 1997.
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We solicited comments on the proposed rule for 60 days ending
[[Page 44176]]
August 26, 1997. We received six comments by that date. The comments
were from a Canadian livestock producer, an organization representing
the U.S. equine industry, a State Government official, a Canadian
Government official, a U.S. senator, and a commenter who did not
identify a particular affiliation. Five of the comments opposed closing
the animal importation facilities at Derby Line, and two opposed
closing the facilities at Champlain. The most common concern expressed
in the comments was that, by closing either or both of these ports for
animal inspection purposes, exporters and importers would have to
transport their animals greater distances than is currently required,
and additional travel time translates into higher transportation costs.
Since publication of the proposed rule of June 27, 1997, referenced
above, our agency has become engaged in discussions with officials of
the Animal Health Division of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
regarding the possibility of sharing animal inspection resources along
the U.S.-Canada border. Because these discussions are ongoing, we
believe that it would be premature to make the proposed changes to our
animal and animal germ plasm inspection program along the U.S.-Canada
border at this time. Accordingly, we have decided to withdraw the
proposed rule. If, following the conclusion of our communications with
Canadian animal health officials, we believe that it would be prudent
to close the animal inspection facilities at any of the ports along the
U.S.-Canada border, we will propose such changes in the Federal
Register for public comment.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1622; 19 U.S.C. 1306; 21 U.S.C. 103-105,
111, 134a, 134b, 134c, 134d, 134f, 136, and 136a; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 7
CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.2(d).
Done in Washington, DC, this 10th day of August, 1998.
Joan M. Arnoldi,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 98-22181 Filed 8-17-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
