[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 104 (Wednesday, May 29, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 26849-26850]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-13407]



 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 104 / Wednesday, May 29, 1996 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 26849]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

9 CFR Parts 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, and 98

[Docket No. 94-106-3]
RIN O579-AA71


Importation of Animals and Animal Products; Public Hearings

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of public hearings.

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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service is hosting three additional public hearings on the 
proposed rule on the importation of animals and animal products that 
was published in the Federal Register on April 18, 1996. One hearing 
has already been held in Riverdale, MD. The hearings will provide an 
additional opportunity for the public to comment on the proposal, which 
would establish criteria for foreign ``regions'' based on risk class 
levels. The criteria would be used to establish importation 
requirements for particular animals and animal products from different 
regions outside the United States.

DATES: The public hearings will be held in Atlanta, GA, on June 17 and, 
if there are more registered speakers than can be heard in one day, on 
June 18; in Kansas City, MO, on June 26 and, if there are more 
registered speakers than can be heard in one day, on June 27; and in 
Denver, CO, on July 1, and, if there are more registered speakers than 
can be heard in one day, on July 2. Each public hearing will begin at 9 
a.m. and is scheduled to end at 5 p.m each day.

ADDRESSES: The public hearings will be held at the following locations:

1. Atlanta, GA: Peachtree Summit Federal Center, Conference Rooms A and 
B, 401 W. Peachtree Street, N.E., Atlanta, GA. Picture identification 
is required. A pay parking garage is adjacent to the building.
2. Kansas City, MO: Richard Boling Federal Building, Room 111, 601 East 
12th Street, Kansas City, MO. Enter from 12th or 13th Street. Picture 
identification is required. Pay parking is available across the street 
from the building.
3. Denver, CO: Denver Federal Center, Building 25, Lecture Halls A and 
B, 6th and Kipling, Denver, CO. Enter through door E2. Picture 
identification is required. Pay parking is available on the east side 
of the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Gary Colgrove, Chief Staff 
Veterinarian, National Center for Import and Export, VS, APHIS, 4700 
River Road Unit 38, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231, (301) 734-8590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Three additional public hearings will be held on the proposed rule 
on the importation of animals and animal products, published by the 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in the Federal 
Register on April 18, 1996 (61 FR 16977-17105, Docket No. 94-106-1). 
One hearing has already been held in Riverdale, MD. The additional 
public hearings will be held in Atlanta, GA, on June 17 and, if there 
are more registered speakers than can be heard in one day, on June 18; 
in Kansas City, MO on June 26 and, if there are more registered 
speakers than can be heard in one day, on June 27; and in Denver, CO on 
July 1, and, if there are more registered speakers than can be heard in 
one day, on July 2.
    A representative of APHIS will preside at the public hearings. Any 
interested party may appear and be heard in person, or through an 
attorney or other representative. We are interested in obtaining the 
views of the public on all aspects of the proposed rule. Each hearing 
will begin with a brief informational presentation explaining the 
background, content and organization of the proposed rule.
    Persons who wish to speak at the hearings will be asked to provide 
their names and affiliations. Parties wishing to make oral 
presentations may register in advance by either: (1) Calling the 
Regulatory Analysis and Development voice mail at (301) 734-4346 and 
leaving a message stating their name, telephone number, and 
organization, the location of the hearing at which they wish to speak, 
and the approximate time necessary for their presentation; or (2) 
providing the above information by electronic mail to 
[email protected]. Parties responding by e-mail may wish to 
use the electronic response registration form available at the APHIS 
Regionalization Proposal Web Page. A list of persons registered to 
speak at each hearing will also be posted to the Web page shortly 
before the hearing. The Web page URL is http://www.aphis.usda.gov/PPD/
region. Registration will also be held for each hearing at that hearing 
site between 8 a.m. and 8:45 a.m on the day of the hearing. Speakers 
will be scheduled in the order their registration is received. Advance 
registrations for the hearings must be transmitted to APHIS no later 
than the following:

1. Atlanta, GA: 5 p.m., d.s.t., June 12, 1996;
2. Kansas City, MO: 5 p.m., d.s.t., June 21, 1996; and
3. Denver, CO: 5 p.m., d.s.t., June 29, 1996.

    The hearings will begin at 9 a.m. of the first day of each hearing. 
The session on the second day of each hearing will be held only if 
speakers who have registered for the first day have not yet had a 
chance to speak. The hearings are scheduled to end at 5 p.m. each day 
that they are held, but may conclude at any time if all persons 
desiring to speak have been heard. The hearing officer may limit the 
time for each presentation so that all interested persons have an 
opportunity to participate. Attendees who wish to speak but who did not 
register will be provided time to speak only after all registered 
speakers have been heard.
    We ask that anyone who reads a written statement provide two copies 
to the presiding officer at the hearing. A transcript will be made of 
the public hearings and the transcript will be placed in the rulemaking 
record and will be available for public inspection.
    The purpose of the public hearings is to give all interested 
parties an opportunity to present data, views, and information to the 
Department concerning this proposed rule. Questions about the content 
of the proposal may be part of a commenter's oral presentation. 
However, neither the presiding officer nor any other representative of 
the Department will respond to the comments at the

[[Page 26850]]

hearings, except to clarify or explain the proposed rule.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 22nd day of May 1996.
Donald Husnik,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 96-13407 Filed 5-28-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P