[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 108 (Friday, June 5, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 30582-30583]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-14877]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

9 CFR Part 77

[Docket No. 97-063-2]


Tuberculosis in Cattle and Bison; State Designation; Hawaii

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Interim rule and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are amending the tuberculosis regulations concerning the 
interstate movement of cattle and bison by raising the designation of 
Hawaii from an accredited-free (suspended) State to an accredited-free 
State. We have determined that Hawaii meets the criteria for 
designation as an accredited-free State.

DATES: Interim rule effective June 1, 1998. Consideration will be given 
only to comments received on or before August 4, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Please send an original and three copies of your comments to 
Docket No. 97-063-2, 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. 97-063-2. 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. Joseph VanTiem, Senior Staff 
Veterinarian, National Animal Health Programs, VS, APHIS, 4700 River 
Road

[[Page 30583]]

Unit 43, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231, (301) 734-7716.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The ``Tuberculosis'' regulations, contained in 9 CFR part 77 
(referred to below as ``the regulations''), regulate the interstate 
movement of cattle and bison because of tuberculosis. Bovine 
tuberculosis is the contagious, infectious, and communicable disease 
caused by Mycobacterium bovis. The requirements of the regulations 
concerning the interstate movement of cattle and bison not known to be 
affected with, or exposed to, tuberculosis are based on whether the 
cattle and bison are moved from jurisdictions designated as accredited-
free States, modified accredited States, or nonmodified accredited 
States.
    The criteria for determining the status of States (the term 
``State'' is defined to mean any State, territory, the District of 
Columbia, or Puerto Rico) are contained in the ``Uniform Methods and 
Rules--Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication,'' which has been made part of 
the regulations via incorporation by reference. The status of States is 
based on the rate of tuberculosis infection present and the 
effectiveness of a tuberculosis eradication program. An accredited-free 
State is a State that has no findings of tuberculosis in any cattle or 
bison in the State for at least 5 years. The State must also comply 
with all the provisions of the ``Uniform Methods and Rules--Bovine 
Tuberculosis Eradication'' regarding accredited-free States.
    An accredited-free (suspended) State is defined as a State with 
accredited-free status in which tuberculosis has been detected in any 
cattle or bison in the State. A State with accredited-free (suspended) 
status is qualifies for redesignation as accredited-free after the herd 
in which tuberculosis is detected has been quarantined, an 
epidemiological investigation has confirmed that the disease has not 
spread from the herd, and all reactor cattle and bison have been 
destroyed.
    Before publication of this interim rule, Hawaii was designated in 
Sec. 77.1 of the regulations as an accredited-free (suspended) State. 
However, Hawaii now meets the requirements for designation as an 
accredited-free State. Therefore, we are amending the regulations by 
removing Hawaii from the list of accredited-free (suspended) States in 
Sec. 77.1 and adding it to the list of accredited-free States in that 
section.

Immediate Action

    The Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
has determined that there is good cause for publishing this interim 
rule without prior opportunity for public comment. Immediate action is 
warranted to change the regulations so that they accurately reflect the 
current tuberculosis status of Hawaii as an accredited-free State. This 
will provide prospective cattle and bison buyers with accurate and up-
to-date information, which may affect the marketability of cattle and 
bison since some prospective buyers prefer to buy cattle and bison from 
accredited-free States.
    Because prior notice and other public procedures with respect to 
this action are impracticable and contrary to the public interest under 
these conditions, we find good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553 to make this 
rule effective upon signature. We will consider comments that are 
received within 60 days of publication of this rule in the Federal 
Register. After the comment period closes, we will publish another 
document in the Federal Register. It will include a discussion of any 
comments we receive and any amendments we are making to the rule as a 
result of the comments.

Executive Order 12866 and Regulatory Flexibility Act

    This 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.
    According to the 1992 Census of Agriculture, Hawaii has 874 cattle 
herds containing 191,230 cattle. Some 757 of these herds, or 87 
percent, contain 200 or fewer cattle apiece and are assumed to be owned 
by small businesses. Changing the status of Hawaii may affect the 
marketability of cattle from the State, since some prospective cattle 
buyers prefer to buy cattle from accredited-free States. This may 
result in a small beneficial economic impact on some small entities, 
although it appears that sales of cattle from Hawaii to other States 
are quite small in volume. We anticipate, based on our experience in 
similar designations of other States, that this action will not have a 
significant effect on marketing patterns in Hawaii and will therefore 
not have a significant economic effect on those small entities affected 
by this action.
    Under these circumstances, the Administrator of the Animal and 
Plant Health Inspection Service has determined that this action will 
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 rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, Civil 
Justice Reform. This rule: (1) Preempts all State and local laws and 
regulations that are in conflict with this rule; (2) has no retroactive 
effect; and (3) does not require administrative proceedings before 
parties may file suit in court challenging this rule.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This 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 77

    Animal diseases, Bison, Cattle, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Transportation, Tuberculosis.

    Accordingly, 9 CFR part 77 is amended as follows:

PART 77--TUBERCULOSIS

    1. The authority citation for part 77 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 21 U.S.C. 111, 114, 114a, 115-117, 120, 121, 134b, 
and 134f; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.2(d).


Sec. 77.1  [Amended]

    2. In Sec. 77.1, in the definition for ``Accredited-free state'', 
paragraph (2) is amended by adding ``Hawaii,'' immediately before 
``Idaho''.
    3. In Sec. 77.1, in the definition for ``Accredited-free 
(suspended) State'', paragraph (2) is amended by removing ``Hawaii'' 
and adding ``None'' in its place.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 1st day of June 1998.
Craig A. Reed,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 98-14877 Filed 6-4-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P