[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 178 (Wednesday, September 13, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 55253]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-23466]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Solicitation of Proposals To Add to or Modify the List of United 
States Ports at Which Rodent Infestation Inspections Will Be Conducted 
and Deratting and Deratting Exemption Certificates Issued

AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of 
Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: CDC is soliciting proposals to add additional ports to or 
otherwise modify the list of those at which it will conduct rodent 
infestation inspection of ships and issue Deratting and Deratting 
Exemption Certificates. While the United States does not require these 
certificates for ships to enter its seaports, Article 17 of the 
International Health Regulations requires that the U.S. provide these 
services, and 42 CFR 71.46 authorizes their performance by CDC through 
the Public Health Service (PHS).

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before September 30, 
2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James E. Barrow, Chief, Program 
Operations Branch, Division of Quarantine, National Center for 
Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 
Mailstop E03, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, telephone (404) 639-8107, FAX 
(404) 639-2599, E-mail [email protected].

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 264-271, 42 CFR 71.46, IHR Articles 17 and 
53.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Purpose and Background

    The purpose of this announcement is to solicit comments on adding 
to or otherwise modifying the list of United States ports at which CDC 
will conduct rodent infestation inspections of ships and issue 
Deratting and Deratting Exemption Certificates. While the United States 
does not require these certificates for ships to enter its seaports, 
CDC currently provides rodent infestation inspections and issues 
Deratting and Deratting Exemption Certificates for ships at 11 major 
ports upon request. These ports include: Baltimore, MD; Honolulu, HI; 
Houston, TX; Jacksonville, FL; Los Angeles, CA; Miami, FL; New Orleans, 
LA; New York, NY; San Francisco, CA; Savannah, GA; and Seattle, WA., 
Article 17 of the International Health Regulations, published by the 
World Health Organization, Geneva, requires that each Health 
Administration provide these services, and Article 82 outlines the 
criteria for charging fees; 42 CFR 71.46 authorizes the performance of 
these services by PHS as carried out by CDC. For many years, CDC 
provided these services at no cost to the owners or agents of ships 
requesting them. Consistent with the practice of most foreign 
countries, and to reduce the cost of the inspection program, beginning 
on October 1, 1997, CDC consolidated its inspection activities to 
include only the ports listed above (Federal Register: April 9, 1998 
(63 FR 17427)). Further, beginning on June 6, 1999, CDC imposed user 
fees for inspections conducted at the above listed ports (Federal 
Register: May 7, 1999 (64 FR 24658)).

Applicability

    User fees will continue to be applicable to all rodent infestation 
inspections conducted by CDC or its vendors.
    Proposal for the addition of ports for conducting rodent 
infestation inspections and issuing Deratting and Deratting Exemption 
Certificates.
    Shipping companies, agents, and all other interested parties are 
invited to submit proposals for the addition of ports to the list at 
which rodent infestation inspections will be conducted by CDC or its 
vendors, and Deratting or Deratting Exemption Certificates issued 
pursuant to those inspections. Proposals to delete or modify ports on 
the current list may also be submitted and will be considered. 
Proposals should be in the following format and should include all 
supporting information that is to be considered by CDC:
    1. Port.
    2. Estimated annual number of inspections to be conducted at this 
port.
    3. Estimated annual cost savings to shipping interests attributable 
to services at this port.
    4. Narrative justification and additional supporting information.
    Any addition to or modification of the list of ports at which 
services will be provided will be at the sole discretion of CDC. 
Information submitted will be considered, along with the availability 
and suitability of potential vendors at the ports proposed for addition 
or modification. The user fee charged for services at all ports may be 
affected by the cost of vendor-provided services at any added or 
modified ports.

    Dated: September 7, 2000.
Thena M. Durham,
Director, Executive Secretariat, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 00-23466 Filed 9-12-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P