[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 105 (Wednesday, May 31, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 34598-34599]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-13589]


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 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. 65, No. 105 / Wednesday, May 31, 2000 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 34598]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

9 CFR Part 77

[Docket No. 99-038-4]


Tuberculosis in Cattle, Bison, Goats, and Captive Cervids; State 
and Zone Designations

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening and extension of comment period; 
notice of public hearings.

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SUMMARY: We are reopening and extending the comment period for our 
proposed rule that would amend the bovine tuberculosis regulations to 
establish new levels of tuberculosis risk classifications to be applied 
to States and zones within States. The proposed rule would also 
classify States and zones according to their tuberculosis risk with 
regard to captive cervids. Additionally, it would amend the regulations 
to specify that the regulations apply to goats as well as to cattle, 
bison, and captive cervids, and would increase the amount of testing 
that must be done before certain cattle, bison, and goats may be moved 
interstate. This action will allow interested persons additional time 
to prepare and submit comments. We are also advising the public that we 
are hosting two public hearings on the proposed rule.

DATES: We invite you to comment on Docket No. 99-038-1. We will 
consider all comments that we receive by June 16, 2000. We will also 
consider comments made at public hearings to be held in Albuquerque, 
NM, on June 14, 2000, from 8 a.m. to noon, and in Lansing, MI, on June 
15, 2000, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Please send your comment and three copies to: Docket No. 99-
038-1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Suite 3C03, 
4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238.
    Please state that your comment refers to Docket No. 99-038-1.
    You may read any comments that we receive on this docket in our 
reading room. The reading room 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 (202) 690-2817 before coming.
    APHIS documents published in the Federal Register, and related 
information, including the names of organizations and individuals who 
have commented on APHIS dockets, are available on the Internet at 
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html.
    The public hearings will be held at the following locations:

(1) Albuquerque, NM: Racing Commission Conference Room, Lower Level, 
300 San Mateo Boulevard NE, Albuquerque, NM.
(2) Lansing, MI: The Forum, 1st Floor, Michigan Library and Historical 
Center, 717 West Allegan Street, Lansing, MI.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Joseph Van Tiem, Senior Staff 
Veterinarian, VS, APHIS, USDA, 4700 River Road Unit 43, Riverdale, MD 
20737-1231; (301) 734-7716.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 7, 2000, we published in the 
Federal Register (65 FR 11912-11940, Docket No. 99-038-1) a proposal to 
amend the bovine tuberculosis regulations, contained in 9 CFR part 77. 
We proposed to: (1) Establish several new levels of tuberculosis risk 
classifications to be applied to States and zones within States; (2) 
classify States and zones according to their tuberculosis risk with 
regard to captive cervids; (3) apply the regulations to goats as well 
as to cattle, bison, and captive cervids; and (4) increase the amount 
of testing required for the interstate movement of certain cattle, 
bison, and goats.
    Comments on the proposed rule were required to be received on or 
before April 21, 2000. On March 24, 2000, we published in the Federal 
Register (65 FR 15877-15878, Docket No. 99-038-2) a correction to 
Docket No. 99-038-1. Comments on the proposed rule as corrected were 
required to be received on or before April 21, 2000.
    In response to requests from commenters that we extend the comment 
period on Docket No. 99-038-1, we published a notice in the Federal 
Register on May 1, 2000 (65 FR 25292, Docket No. 99-038-3), that we 
were reopening and extending the comment period until May 8, 2000.
    During the extended comment period, a number of commenters 
requested that we further extend the comment period to allow additional 
time for members of the public to review the proposed rule and to 
submit comments. In response to these requests, we are reopening and 
extending the comment period on Docket No. 99-038-1 until June 16, 
2000. This action will allow interested persons additional time to 
prepare and submit comments.

Public Hearings

    We are advising the public that we are hosting two public hearings 
on Docket No. 99-038-1. The first public hearing will be held in 
Albuquerque, NM, on Wednesday, June 14, 2000, in the Racing Commission 
Conference Room, Lower Level, 300 San Mateo Boulevard NE. The second 
public hearing will be held in Lansing, MI, on Thursday, June 15, 2000, 
at The Forum, 1st Floor, Michigan Library and Historical Center, 717 
West Allegan Street.
    A representative of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
(APHIS) will preside at the public hearings. Any interested persons may 
appear and be heard in person, by an attorney, or by another 
representative. Written statements may be submitted and will be made 
part of the hearing record. Persons who wish to speak at either of the 
public hearings will be asked to sign in with their name and 
organization to establish a record for the hearing. We ask that anyone 
who reads a statement provide two copies to the presiding officer at 
the hearing.
    The public hearing in Albuquerque will begin at 8 a.m and is 
scheduled to end at noon, local time. The public hearing in Lansing 
will begin at 6 p.m. and is scheduled to end at 9 p.m., local time. 
However, the hearings may be terminated at any time if all persons 
desiring to speak have been heard.
    If the number of speakers at a hearing warrants it, the presiding 
officer may limit the time for each presentation so

[[Page 34599]]

that everyone wishing to speak has the opportunity.
    The purpose of the hearings is to give interested persons an 
opportunity for oral presentation of data, views, and arguments. 
Questions about the content of the proposed rule may be part of the 
commenters' oral presentations. However, neither the presiding officer 
nor any other representative of APHIS will respond to comments at the 
hearing, except to clarify or explain provisions of the proposed rule.

    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).

    Done in Washington, DC, this 25th day of May 2000.
Bobby R. Acord,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 00-13589 Filed 5-30-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P