[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 85 (Wednesday, May 3, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26019-26020]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-6728]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2006-0047]


Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy; Availability of an Estimate of 
Prevalence in the United States

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that an analysis of the prevalence 
of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in the United States has been 
prepared by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. We are 
making the analysis of BSE prevalence in this country available to the 
public.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the analysis are available for review on the 
Internet (see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below) and 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Brian McCluskey, National 
Surveillance Coordinator, National Surveillance Unit, Center for Animal 
Health Surveillance, VS, APHIS, USDA, 2150 Centre Avenue, Fort Collins, 
CO 80526-8177; 970-494-7589.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is a 
progressive and fatal neurological disorder of cattle that results from 
an unconventional transmissible agent. BSE belongs to the family of 
diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). 
Since 1990, the United States has conducted surveillance for BSE in 
this country with increasing intensity, including an enhanced 
surveillance effort implemented following the diagnosis of BSE in a cow 
of Canadian origin in Washington State in December 2003.

[[Page 26020]]

    The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has 
conducted an analysis of the BSE surveillance data collected in the 
United States. Based on this analysis, APHIS has arrived at an estimate 
of BSE prevalence in this country. This information will help to guide 
and support any future requests for consideration of the overall BSE 
status of the United States.
    We are making our analysis of BSE prevalence in the United States 
available to the public. This report is considered a draft and will 
undergo peer review.
    The analysis may be viewed on the APHIS Web site at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/hot_issues/bse/bse_in_usa.shtml. Click 
on the document titled ``An Estimate of the Prevalence of BSE in the 
United States.'' The analysis may be also viewed on the Regulations.gov 
Web site. Go to http://www.regulations.gov, click on the ``Advanced 
Search'' tab and select ``Docket Search.'' In the Docket ID field, 
enter APHIS-2006-0047, click on ``Submit,'' then click on the Docket ID 
link in the search results page. The analysis will appear in the 
resulting list of documents.
    You may request paper copies of the analysis by calling or writing 
to the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Please 
refer to the title of the analysis (``An Estimate of the Prevalence of 
BSE in the United States'') when requesting copies. The analysis is 
also available for review in our reading room (information on the 
location and hours of the reading room is provided under the heading 
ADDRESSES at the beginning of this notice).

    Done in Washington, DC, this 1st day of May 2006.
Elizabeth E. Gaston,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
 [FR Doc. E6-6728 Filed 5-2-06; 8:45 am]
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