2011-26056. Traceability for Livestock Moving Interstate

AGENCY:

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION:

Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

SUMMARY:

We are extending the comment period for our proposed rule that would establish minimum national official identification and documentation requirements for the traceability of livestock moving interstate. This action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments.

DATES:

We will consider all comments that we receive on or before December 9, 2011.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments by either of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/​#!documentDetail;​D=​APHIS-2009-0091-0001.
• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2009-0091, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238.

Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may be viewed at http://www.regulations.gov/​#!docketDetail;​D=​APHIS-2009-0091 or in our reading room, which is located in room 1141 of the USDA South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC. Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you, please call [phone] before coming.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. Neil Hammerschmidt, Program Manager, Animal Disease Traceability, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 46, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

On August 11, 2011, we published in the Federal Register (76 FR 50082-50110, Docket No. APHIS-2009-0091) a proposal to establish minimum national official identification and documentation requirements for the traceability of livestock moving interstate.

Comments on the proposed rule were required to be received on or before November 9, 2011. We are extending the comment period on Docket No. APHIS-2009-0091 for an additional 30 days. This action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments.

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 8301-8317; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.4.

Done in Washington, DC this 3rd day of October 2011.

Kevin Shea,

Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.