[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 51 (Thursday, March 15, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 11493]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-05270]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2018-0013]


Low Pathogenicity Avian Influenza Program; Public Meeting

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: We are notifying stakeholders and interested persons that the 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is hosting a public meeting 
to provide information on the Agency's current thinking regarding low 
pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) indemnity, compensation, and 
controlled marketing. The meeting will include an overview of the 
concepts we are developing with respect to LPAI indemnity, 
compensation, and controlled marketing and provide an opportunity for 
attendees to discuss issues of interest.

DATES: The meeting will be held on March 27, 2018, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 
p.m.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held at the Atlanta Airport 
Marriott, 4711 Best Road, Atlanta, GA 30337.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Fidelis Hegngi, Avian Health 
Surveillance Staff, Preparedness, and Response Services, VS, APHIS, 
4700 River Road, Unit 46, Suite 4B-02.27, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 
851-3564.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) 
virus typically causes little to no clinical signs in infected poultry. 
It spreads primarily through direct contact between healthy and 
infected birds or through indirect contact with contaminated equipment 
and materials. To prevent cases of LPAI, poultry producers must use 
special preventative measures and precautions on the farm. When LPAI 
findings do occur, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
(APHIS) and its State partners work to address them quickly and keep 
the disease from spreading to new flocks. Because LPAI does not 
typically kill poultry the way highly pathogenic avian influenza does, 
there may be additional control options beyond depopulation.
    In order to provide a forum for the discussion of policy issues 
related to LPAI, APHIS is organizing a public meeting to provide 
information on our current thinking with respect to LPAI indemnity, 
compensation, and controlled marketing with poultry stakeholders and 
partners. This meeting will be held on March 27, 2018, and will begin 
at 8 a.m., and is scheduled to end at 4:30 p.m. Information regarding 
the meeting and registration instructions may be obtained from the 
person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
    The meeting will open with remarks by Dr. Jack Shere, Deputy 
Administrator for APHIS' Veterinary Services. An overview of APHIS' 
current thinking on LPAI indemnity, compensation, and controlled 
marketing process will follow. APHIS will share the concepts we are 
developing on the process and take questions in a feedback session, 
where attendees can seek clarification about specific issues and state 
their opinions. The meeting will then break for lunch. After lunch, 
attendees will discuss the challenges of an LPAI incident or outbreak 
in the Table Egg and Upland Game Bird industries and offer possible 
solutions. The entire group will then reconvene to receive the 
highlights of each session, and the meeting will end after a discussion 
of next steps and closing remarks.
    If you require special accommodations, such as a sign language 
interpreter, please call or write the individual under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 12th day of March 2018.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-05270 Filed 3-14-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-34-P