[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 86 (Friday, May 3, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22388-22389]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-11009]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 67, No. 86 / Friday, May 3, 2002 / Notices  

[[Page 22388]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. 98-090-2]
RIN 0579-AB03


Classical Swine Fever: Availability of Risk Analysis Related to 
the Importation of Swine and Swine Products from the European Union

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We are giving notice of the availability of, and are 
requesting comments on, a revised analysis of the risk of introducing 
classical swine fever virus in swine and swine products imported from 
the European Union.

DATES: We will consider all comments we receive that are postmarked, 
delivered, or e-mailed by July 2, 2002.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by postal mail/commercial delivery 
or by e-mail. If you use postal mail/commercial delivery, please send 
four copies of your comment (an original and three copies) to: Docket 
No. 98-090-2, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 
3C71, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state 
that your comment refers to Docket No. 98-090-2. If you use e-mail, 
address your comment to [email protected]. Your comment must 
be contained in the body of your message; do not send attached files. 
Please include your name and address in your message and ``Docket No. 
98-090-2'' on the subject line.
    You may read the revised risk analysis and any comments that we 
receive on that document 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.
    You may request a copy of ``Risk Analysis for Importation of 
Classical Swine Fever Virus in Swine and Swine Products from the 
European Union--December 2000'' by writing to the person listed under 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. The risk analysis is also available on 
the Internet. Instructions for electronic access are included below 
under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
    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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Anne Goodman, Supervisory Staff 
Officer, Regionalization Evaluation Services Staff, National Center for 
Import and Export, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 38, Riverdale, MD 
20737-1231; (301) 734-4356.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture (the Department) regulates the importation of 
animals and animal products to guard against the introduction of animal 
diseases into this country. The regulations pertaining to the 
importation of animals and animal products are set forth in the Code of 
Federal Regulations (CFR), title 9, chapter I, subchapter D (9 CFR 
parts 91 through 99).
    On June 25, 1999, we published in the Federal Register (64 FR 
34155-34168, Docket No. 98-090-1) a proposal to, among other things, 
amend the regulations regarding the importation of swine and swine 
products from the European Union (EU).
    Before developing our proposed rule, we conducted an analysis to 
determine the likelihood of introducing classical swine fever (which we 
referred to in the proposed rule as hog cholera) from the EU, and to 
determine what, if any, mitigation measures we considered necessary. We 
assessed the likelihood of introducing classical swine fever through 
the importation of live breeding swine, swine semen, and pork and pork 
products. We made the risk analysis available to the public during the 
comment period for the proposed rule.
    We solicited comments concerning our proposed rule for 60 days 
ending August 24, 1999, and received five comments by that date. One of 
the comments expressed concerns with several aspects of our risk 
analysis. Based on that comment, and as recommended by the Department's 
Office of Risk Assessment and Cost Benefit Analysis, we revised the 
initial risk analysis and included a supplement that presented in more 
detail specific information about classical swine fever outbreaks in 
the EU. The revised risk analysis is titled ``Risk Analysis for 
Importation of Classical Swine Fever Virus in Swine and Swine Products 
from the European Union--December 2000.''
    We are giving notice that the revised risk analysis is available 
for public review and are requesting comments on the revised document. 
We will address any comments we receive on the revised risk analysis 
when we address the comments received on our June 1999 proposed rule.

Accessing the Revised Risk Analysis on the Internet

    The Internet address for accessing the revised risk analysis is 
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/reg-request.html. At the bottom of that 
website page, click on ``Information previously submitted by Regions 
requesting export approval and their supporting documentation.'' At the 
next screen, click on the triangle beside ``European Union/Not 
Specified/Classical Swine Fever,'' then on the triangle beside 
``Response by APHIS.'' A link will then appear for ``Risk Analysis for 
Importation of Classical Swine Fever Virus in Swine and Swine Products 
from the European Union--December 2000.'' Following that link will 
allow you to view the revised risk analysis.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 450, 1622, 7711, 7712, 7713, 7714, 7751, and 
7754; 19 U.S.C. 1306; 21 U.S.C. 102-105, 111, 114a, 134a-134d, 134f, 
136, and 136a; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 42 U.S.C. 4331 and 4332; 7 CFR 2.22, 
2.80, and 371.4.


[[Page 22389]]


    Done in Washington, DC, this 29th day of April, 2002.
Peter Fernandez,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 02-11009 Filed 5-2-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P