[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 246 (Friday, December 22, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 76961]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-21966]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2006-0194]


Control of Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia; Public Meetings

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of public meetings.

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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service's Veterinary Services program will host four public 
meetings to present current information about the outbreaks of viral 
hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) and actions taken to prevent the spread of 
this fish disease, and to discuss issues concerning possible regulation 
of VHS by the Agency.

DATES: The meetings will be held in Lakewood, CO, and Memphis, TN, on 
January 9, 2007, and in Romulus, MI, and Coraopolis, PA, on January 10, 
2007. Each meeting will be held from 8:30 a.m. to noon, local time.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the following locations:
     Lakewood, CO: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 134 Union 
Boulevard, 1st Floor Conference Room, Lakewood, CO.
     Memphis, TN: The Peabody Memphis Hotel, 149 Union Avenue, 
Memphis, TN.
     Romulus, MI: Crowne Plaza Hotel, Detroit-Metro Airport, 
8000 Merriman Road, Romulus, MI.
     Coraopolis, PA: Pittsburgh Airport Marriott, 777 Aten 
Road, Coraopolis, PA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Jill Rolland, Aquaculture 
Specialist, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 46, Riverdale, MD 20737-
1231; (301) 734-7727.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) is a 
highly contagious disease of fresh and saltwater fish. The virus that 
causes VHS produces clinical signs in susceptible fish including 
internal hemorrhaging and death, but other species may carry the virus 
and show no clinical signs. The disease does not pose a risk to people, 
but it has recently been found to affect a number of free-ranging fish 
species previously not known to be susceptible, including a number of 
important baitfish, recreational, and foodfish species.
    In response to outbreaks of VHS in the Great Lakes region and the 
potential impact on aquacultured fish species in the United States, the 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) issued an emergency 
order on October 24, 2006, prohibiting the importation of certain 
species of live fish from Ontario and Quebec, Canada, into the United 
States and the interstate movement of the same species from the eight 
States bordering the Great Lakes: New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, 
Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. On November 14, 
2006, APHIS modified the October 24, 2006, emergency order to allow the 
interstate movement of VHS-susceptible species for slaughter or 
research under certain conditions and to allow the importation of VHS-
susceptible species of salmonids from Ontario and Quebec into the 
United States if the fish meet the requirements specified in the U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service's Title 50 Certification (50 CFR 16.13(a)(3) 
and 16.13(b)).
    Now we are advising the public that APHIS' Veterinary Services 
program will host four public meetings on VHS. The purpose of the 
meetings is to present current information about the outbreaks of VHS 
and actions taken to prevent its spread, and to give interested persons 
an opportunity to present data and views concerning the possible 
regulation of VHS by the Agency. The meetings will be held in Lakewood, 
CO, and Memphis, TN, on January 9, 2007, and in Romulus, MI, and 
Coraopolis, PA, on January 10, 2007. Each meeting will be held from 
8:30 a.m. to noon, local time.
    A representative of APHIS will preside at each public meeting. Any 
interested person may appear and be heard in person, by attorney, or by 
other representative. Written statements may be submitted and will be 
made part of the meeting record.
    Registration for each meeting will take place 30 minutes prior to 
the scheduled start of the meeting. Persons who wish to speak at a 
meeting will be asked to sign in with their name and organization to 
establish a record for the meeting. We ask that anyone who reads a 
statement provide two copies to the presiding officer at the meeting.
    The presiding officer may limit the time for each presentation so 
that all interested persons appearing at each meeting have an 
opportunity to participate. Each meeting may be terminated at any time 
if all persons desiring to speak and who are present in the meeting 
room have been heard.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 19th day of December 2006.
Elizabeth E. Gaston,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
 [FR Doc. E6-21966 Filed 12-21-06; 8:45 am]
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