[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 191 (Monday, October 5, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 51116]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-23948]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2009-0073]


Notice of Availability of a Bovine Tuberculosis 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 tuberculosis program available for public review and 
comment. The cooperative Federal-State-industry effort to eradicate 
bovine tuberculosis from cattle in the United States has made 
significant progress since the program's inception in 1917. However, 
several challenges impede eradication. The concept paper we are making 
available presents our current thinking about changes we are 
considering for the bovine tuberculosis 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-2009-0073 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-2009-0073, 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-2009-0073.
    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. Alecia Naugle, National 
Tuberculosis Program Coordinator, Ruminant Health Programs, VS, APHIS, 
4700 River Road Unit 43, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734-6954.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Bovine tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious and infectious 
granulomatous disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium bovis. 
Although commonly defined as a chronic debilitating disease, bovine TB 
can occasionally assume an acute, rapidly progressive course. While any 
body tissue can be affected, lesions are most frequently observed in 
the lymph nodes, lungs, intestines, liver, spleen, pleura, and 
peritoneum. Although cattle are considered to be the true hosts of M. 
bovis, the disease has been reported in several other species of both 
domestic and nondomestic animals, as well as in humans.
    At the beginning of the past century, bovine TB caused more losses 
of livestock than all other livestock diseases combined. This prompted 
the establishment in the United States of the National Cooperative 
State/Federal Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication Program for bovine TB in 
livestock.
    In carrying out the national eradication program, the Animal and 
Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) issues and enforces 
regulations. The regulations require the testing of cattle, bison, and 
captive cervids for bovine TB, define the Federal bovine TB status 
levels for States or zones (accredited-free, modified accredited 
advanced, modified accredited, accreditation preparatory, and 
nonaccredited), provide the criteria for attaining and maintaining 
those status levels, and contain testing and movement requirements for 
cattle, bison, and captive cervids leaving States or zones of a 
particular status level. These regulations are contained in 9 CFR part 
77 and in the Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication Uniform Methods and 
Rules, 1999, which is incorporated by reference into the regulations.
    This document announces the availability of a concept paper, ``A 
New Approach for Managing Bovine Tuberculosis: Veterinary Services' 
Proposed Action Plan.'' Bovine TB 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 1917. However, several challenges impede eradication. This 
concept paper presents the current thinking of the APHIS' Veterinary 
Services (VS) about changes we are considering for the TB program to 
address these challenges.
    The concept paper provides an action plan that:
    1. Enhances efforts to mitigate disease transmission from wildlife 
and imported animals;
    2. Enhances bovine TB surveillance through a comprehensive national 
surveillance plan and accelerated development of new diagnostic tests;
    3. Expands disease management options and control strategies;
    4. Modernizes the regulatory framework to allow VS to better focus 
resources; and
    5. Transitions the bovine TB program from a State classification 
system to a science-based zoning approach.
    The bovine TB 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 
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. E9-23948 Filed 10-2-09; 8:45 am]
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