[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 24 (Monday, February 5, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 8887]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-2866]



[[Page 8887]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

9 CFR Part 93

[Docket No. 00-115-2]


Specifically Approved States Authorized to Receive Mares and 
Stallions Imported from Regions. Where CEM Exists: Delay of Effective 
Date

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Final Rule; delay of effective date.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the memorandum of January 20, 2001, from 
the Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff, entitled 
``Regulatory Review Plan,'' published in the Federal Register on 
January 24, 2001, this action temporarily delays for 60 days the 
effective date of the rule entitled Specifically Approved States 
Authorized to Receive Mares and Stallions Imported from Regions Where 
CEM Exists, published in the Federal Register on December 18, 2000, 65 
FR 78897. The rule amends the animal importation regulations in 9 CFR 
part 93 by adding Oregon to the lists of States approved to receive 
certain mares and stallions imported into the United States from 
regions affected with contagious equine metritis (CEM). To the extent 
that 5 U.S.C. section 553 applies to this action, it is exempt from 
notice and comment because it constitutes a rule of procedure under 5 
U.S.C. section 553(b)(A). Alternatively, the Department's 
implementation of this rule without opportunity for public comment, 
effective immediately upon publication today in the Federal Register, 
is based on the good cause exceptions in 5 U.S.C. section 553(b)(B) and 
553(d)(3). Seeking public comment is impracticable, unnecessary and 
contrary to the public interest. The temporary 60-day delay in 
effective date is necessary to give Department officials the 
opportunity for further review and consideration of new regulations, 
consistent with the Assistant to the President's memorandum of January 
20, 2001. Given the imminence of the effective date, seeking prior 
public comment on this temporary delay would have been impractical, as 
well as contrary to the public interest in the orderly promulgation and 
implementation of regulations. The imminence of the effective date is 
also good cause for making this rule effective immediately upon 
publication.

DATES: The effective date of the Specifically Approved States 
Authorized to Receive Mares and Stallions Imported from Regions Where 
CEM Exists regulation, published in the Federal Register on December 
18, 2000 at 65 FR 78897, is delayed for 60 days, from February 16, 2001 
to a new effective date of April 17, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Karen James at (301) 734-8364.

    Dated: January 29, 2001.
Ann M. Veneman,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 01-2866 Filed 2-2-01; 8:45 am]
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