[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 168 (Wednesday, August 30, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 51428-51429]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-14481]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

9 CFR Part 77

[Docket No. APHIS-2006-0004]


Tuberculosis in Cattle and Bison; State and Zone Designations; 
Minnesota

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Affirmation of interim rule as final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting as a final rule, without change, an interim 
rule that amended the bovine tuberculosis regulations regarding State 
and zone classifications by removing Minnesota from the list of 
accredited-free States and adding it to the list of modified accredited 
advanced States. The interim rule was necessary to help prevent the 
spread of tuberculosis because Minnesota no longer met the requirements 
for accredited-free State status.

DATES: Effective on August 30, 2006, we are adopting as a final rule 
the interim rule that became effective on January 24, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Michael Dutcher, Senior Staff 
Veterinarian, National Tuberculosis Eradication Program, Eradication 
and Surveillance Team, National Center for Animal Health Programs, VS, 
APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 43, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 734-
5467.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    In an interim rule \1\ effective January 24, 2006, and published in 
the Federal Register on January 30, 2006 (71 FR 4808-4810, Docket No. 
APHIS-2006-

[[Page 51429]]

0004), we amended the bovine tuberculosis regulations regarding State 
and zone classifications contained in 9 CFR part 77 by removing 
Minnesota from the list of accredited-free States in Sec.  77.7 and 
adding it to the list of modified accredited advanced States in Sec.  
77.9. The interim rule was necessary to help prevent the spread of 
tuberculosis because Minnesota no longer met the requirements for 
accredited-free State status.
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    \1\ To view the interim rule and the comments we received, go to 
http://www.regulations.gov, click on the ``Advanced Search'' tab, 
and select ``Docket Search.'' In the Docket ID field, enter APHIS-
2006-0004, then click on ``Submit.'' Clicking on the Docket ID link 
in the search results page will produce a list of all documents in 
the docket.
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    Comments on the interim rule were required to be received on or 
before March 31, 2006. We received two comments by that date. The 
comments were from private citizens. One commenter stated that no 
animals should ever be moved interstate, but did not comment 
specifically on the reclassification of Minnesota as a modified 
accredited advanced State. A second commenter, responding to the first, 
stated support for the interim rule. We are making no changes in 
response to these comments.
    Therefore, for the reasons given in the interim rule and in this 
document, we are adopting the interim rule as a final rule without 
change.
    This action also affirms the information contained in the interim 
rule concerning Executive Order 12866 and the Regulatory Flexibility 
Act, Executive Orders 12372 and 12988, and the Paperwork Reduction Act.
    Further, for this action, the Office of Management and Budget has 
waived its review under Executive Order 12866.

List of Subjects in 9 CFR Part 77

    Animal diseases, Bison, Cattle, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Transportation, Tuberculosis.

PART 77--TUBERCULOSIS

0
Accordingly, we are adopting as a final rule, without change, the 
interim rule that amended 9 CFR part 77 and that was published at 71 FR 
4808-4810 on January 30, 2006.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 24th day of August 2006.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E6-14481 Filed 8-29-06; 8:45 am]
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