[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 191 (Monday, October 5, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51115-51116]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-23947]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2009-0006]


Notice of Availability of a Bovine Brucellosis Program Concept 
Paper

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service is making a concept paper describing a new direction 
for the bovine brucellosis program available for public review and 
comment. The cooperative Federal-State-industry effort to eradicate 
bovine brucellosis from cattle in the United States has made 
significant progress since the program's inception in 1934. However, 
unique challenges impede eradication. The concept paper we are making 
available presents our current thinking about changes we are planning 
to address these challenges.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
December 4, 2009.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2009-0006 to submit or view comments and 
to view supporting and related materials available electronically.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send two copies of 
your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2009-0006, Regulatory Analysis and 
Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, 
Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that your comment refers to 
Docket No. APHIS-2009-0006.
    Reading Room: You may read any comments that we receive on this 
docket 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.
    Other Information: Additional information about APHIS and its 
programs is available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Lee Ann Thomas, Director, Ruminant 
Health Programs, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 43, Riverdale, MD 
20737-1231; (301) 734-6954.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Brucellosis is a contagious disease affecting animals and humans, 
caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella.
    The brucellosis regulations, contained in 9 CFR part 78, currently 
provide a system for classifying States or portions of States according 
to the rate of Brucella infection present and the general effectiveness 
of a brucellosis control and eradication program. The current State 
classifications are Class Free, Class A, Class B, and Class C. States 
or areas that do not meet the minimum standards for Class C are 
required to be placed under Federal quarantine.
    This document announces the availability of a concept paper for a 
new direction for the bovine brucellosis program. Bovine brucellosis 
has significant animal health, public health, and international trade 
consequences. The cooperative Federal-State-industry effort to 
eradicate this disease from cattle in the United States has made 
significant progress since the program's inception in 1934. However, 
unique challenges impede eradication. This concept paper presents the 
current thinking of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's 
Veterinary Services (VS) program about changes we are planning to 
address these challenges.
    The concept paper provides an action plan that:
    1. Effectively demonstrates the disease-free status of the United 
States through a national status-based program supported by a national 
surveillance strategy;
    2. Enhances efforts to mitigate disease transmission from wildlife;
    3. Enhances disease response and control measures;
    4. Modernizes the regulatory framework to allow VS to address risks 
quickly and sensibly; and
    5. Implements a risk-based disease management area concept.
    The bovine brucellosis concept paper may be viewed on the Internet 
at the Regulations.gov Web site (see ADDRESSES above for instructions 
on accessing Regulations.gov). You may request paper copies of the 
document by calling or writing to the person listed under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT. Please refer to the title of the document when 
requesting copies. The document is also available for review in our 
reading room (information on the location and hours of the reading room

[[Page 51116]]

is listed under the heading ADDRESSES at the beginning of this notice).

    Done in Washington, DC, this 29th day of September 2009.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E9-23947 Filed 10-2-09; 8:45 am]
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