[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 195 (Monday, October 7, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 52387-52388]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-25638]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
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 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.
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  Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 195 / Monday, October 7, 1996 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 52387]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

9 CFR Part 91

[Docket No. 96-054-1]


Ports Designated for the Exportation of Animals; Georgia

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: We are proposing to amend the ``Inspection and Handling of 
Livestock for Exportation'' regulations by adding Atlanta Hartsfield 
International Airport, Atlanta, GA, as a port of embarkation from which 
animals may be exported from the United States and by adding three 
Georgia facilities, the Atlanta Equine Complex in Atlanta, Tumbleweed 
Farm in Mableton, and Southern Cross Ranch in Madison, to the list of 
approved export inspection facilities. These proposed actions would 
update the regulations by adding a port and three inspection facilities 
through which animals may be processed for export.

DATES: Consideration will be given only to comments received on or 
before December 6, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Please send an original and three copies of your comments to 
Docket No. 96-054-1, 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. 96-054-1. 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. Andrea Morgan, Senior Staff 
Veterinarian, Import/Export Animals, National Center for Import and 
Export, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 39, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231, 
(301) 734-8354.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The regulations in 9 CFR part 91, ``Inspection and Handling of 
Livestock for Exportation'' (referred to below as the regulations), 
prescribe conditions for exporting animals from the United States. The 
regulations state, among other things, that all animals, except animals 
being exported by land to Canada or Mexico, must be exported through 
designated ports of embarkation.
    Section 91.14(a) contains a list of designated ports of embarkation 
and export inspection facilities. To receive designation as a port of 
embarkation, a port must have export inspection facilities available 
for the inspection, holding, feeding, and watering of animals prior to 
exportation to ensure that the animals meet certain requirements 
specified in the regulations. To receive approval as an export 
inspection facility, the regulations provide that a facility must meet 
specified standards in Sec. 91.14(c) concerning materials, size, 
inspection implements, cleaning and disinfection, feed and water, 
access, testing and treatment, location, disposal of animal wastes, 
lighting, office and restroom facilities, and walkways.
    We believe that the Atlanta Equine Complex, 1270 Woolman Place, 
Atlanta, GA 30354, (404) 767-1700; Tumbleweed Farm, 1677 Buckner Road, 
Mableton, GA 30059, (770) 948-3556; and Southern Cross Ranch, 1670 
Bethany Church Road, Madison, GA 30650, (706) 342-8027, meet the 
requirements of Sec. 94.14(c). The Atlanta Equine Complex is located at 
the Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport; Tumbleweed Farm is 
located in the immediate vicinity of the airport; and Southern Cross 
Ranch is located less than 60 miles from the airport. If these 
facilities become approved export inspection facilities, veterinarians 
of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service would conduct export 
inspections of animals at these facilities by appointment. Exporters 
using the Atlanta Equine Complex would have direct access to the 
airport, and exporters using Tumbleweed Farm would be able to transport 
their animals to the airport in approximately 15 minutes. Exporters 
using Southern Cross Ranch would be able to transport their animals to 
the airport in approximately 1 hour.
    Therefore, we are proposing to amend Sec. 91.14(a) to add Atlanta 
Hartsfield International Airport, Atlanta, GA, as a port of embarkation 
and add the Atlanta Equine Center, Atlanta, GA, Tumbleweed Farm, 
Mableton, GA, and Southern Cross Ranch, Madison, GA, to the list of 
export inspection facilities.

Executive Order 12866 and Regulatory Flexibility Act

    This proposed 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.
    This proposed rule would designate Atlanta Hartsfield International 
Airport as a port of embarkation and three facilities in Georgia--the 
Atlanta Equine Complex in Atlanta, Tumbleweed Farm in Mableton, and 
Southern Cross Ranch in Madison--as approved export inspection 
facilities. The Atlanta Equine Complex and Tumbleweed Farm are located 
in the immediate vicinity of the Atlanta Hartsfield International 
Airport. The location of Southern Cross Ranch is less than 60 miles 
from the airport, or approximately an hour's driving time, and would 
offer businesses within the Madison, GA, area a convenient alternative 
location at which animals destined for export could receive 
inspections.
    We do not expect that designating these three facilities as export 
inspection facilities and Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport as a 
port of embarkation would have any adverse impact on businesses. These 
proposed actions should benefit exporters of animals in the region by 
reducing their animal transportation costs. Currently, the closest 
designated ports of embarkation from which exporters in Georgia may 
ship their animals are in Kentucky and Florida. From past export 
activity in the area, we anticipate that, at least initially, if these 
proposed actions are made final, a yearly average of about 50 
exportations of animals, mostly horses and some goats, would take place 
through Atlanta.
    Under these circumstances, the Administrator of the Animal and 
Plant

[[Page 52388]]

Health Inspection Service has determined that this action would 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 proposed rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, 
Civil Justice Reform. If this proposed rule is adopted: (1) All State 
and local laws and regulations that are inconsistent with this rule 
will be preempted; (2) no retroactive effect will be given to this 
rule; and (3) administrative proceedings will not be required before 
parties may file suit in court challenging this rule.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This proposed rule 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 91

    Animal diseases, Animal welfare, Exports, Livestock, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Transportation.

    Accordingly, 9 CFR part 91 would be amended as follows:

PART 91--INSPECTION AND HANDLING OF LIVESTOCK FOR EXPORTATION

    1. The authority citation for part 91 would continue to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 21 U.S.C. 105, 112, 113, 114a, 120, 121, 134b, 134f, 
136, 136a, 612, 613, 614, 618; 46 U.S.C. 466a, 466b; 49 U.S.C. 
1509(d); 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.2(d).

    2. In Sec. 91.14, paragraphs (a)(3) through (a)(17) would be 
redesignated as paragraphs (a)(4) through (a)(18), and a new paragraph 
(a)(3) would be added to read as follows.


Sec. 91.14  Ports of embarkation and export inspection facilities.

    (a) * * *
    (3) Georgia.
    (i) Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport.
    (A) Atlanta Equine Complex, 1270 Woolman Place, Atlanta, GA 30354, 
(404) 767-1700.
    (B) Tumbleweed Farm (horses only), 1677 Buckner Road, Mableton, GA 
30059, (770) 948-3556.
    (C) Southern Cross Ranch (horses only), 1670 Bethany Church Road, 
Madison, GA 30650, (706) 342-8027.
* * * * *
    Done in Washington, DC, this 1st day of October 1996.
A. Strating,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 96-25638 Filed 10-04-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P