[Federal Register: January 7, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 4)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 1043-1044]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07ja08-1]
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Rules and Regulations
Federal Register
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[[Page 1043]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
9 CFR Part 94
[Docket No. APHIS-2007-0142]
Addition of Armenia to the List of Regions Where African Swine
Fever Exists
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Interim rule and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: We are amending the regulations concerning the importation of
animals and animal products by adding Armenia to the list of regions
where African swine fever exists. We are taking this action because
outbreaks of African swine fever have been confirmed in various
locations in the northern portion of Armenia. This action will restrict
the importation of pork and pork products into the United States from
Armenia and is necessary to prevent the introduction of African swine
fever into the United States.
DATES: This interim rule is effective January 7, 2008. However, we are
imposing this restriction retroactively to August 29, 2007, which is
the date that the presence of ASF in Armenia was confirmed. We will
consider all comments that we receive on or before March 7, 2008.
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-2007-0142 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-2007-0142, 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-2007-0142.
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: Mr. Javier Vargas, Animal Scientist,
Regionalization Evaluation Services Staff, National Center for Import
and Export, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 38, Riverdale, MD 20737-
1231; (301) 734-0756.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The regulations in 9 CFR part 94 (referred to below as the
regulations) govern the importation of specified animals and animal
products to prevent the introduction into the United States of various
animal diseases, including rinderpest, foot-and-mouth disease, bovine
spongiform encephalopathy, swine vesicular disease, classical swine
fever, and African swine fever (ASF). These are dangerous and
destructive diseases of ruminants and swine.
Section 94.8 of the regulations lists regions of the world where
ASF exists or is reasonably believed to exist and imposes restrictions
on the importation of pork and pork products into the United States
from those regions.
On August 29, 2007, Armenia reported to the World Organization for
Animal Health six outbreaks of ASF in various areas in the northern
part of the country. The source of the outbreaks is unknown. Therefore,
in order to prevent the introduction of ASF into the United States, we
are amending the regulations by adding Armenia to the list of regions
in Sec. 94.8 where ASF exists or is reasonably believed to exist. As a
result of this action, the importation into the United States of pork
and pork products from Armenia will be restricted. We are imposing this
restriction retroactively to August 29, 2007, which is the date that
the presence of ASF in Armenia was confirmed.
Emergency Action
This rulemaking is necessary on an emergency basis to prevent the
introduction of ASF into the United States. Under these circumstances,
the Administrator has determined that prior notice and opportunity for
public comment are contrary to the public interest and that there is
good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553 for making this rule effective less than
30 days after publication in the Federal Register.
We will consider comments we receive during the comment period for
this interim rule (see DATES above). After the comment period closes,
we will publish another document in the Federal Register. The document
will include a discussion of any comments we receive and any amendments
we are making to the rule.
Executive Order 12866 and Regulatory Flexibility Act
This interim rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12866.
For this action, the Office of Management and Budget has waived its
review under Executive Order 12866.
This interim rule amends the regulations by adding Armenia to the
list of regions in which ASF exists. This action is necessary on an
emergency basis to prevent the introduction of ASF into the United
States.
The rule will restrict the importation of pork and pork products
from Armenia. While the United States imported approximately $2.1
million of agricultural products from Armenia between 2002 and 2006,
these were largely horticultural products, wine and wine products, and
fruit and vegetable products. Pork and pork products are not currently
imported from Armenia into the United States. Therefore, it is unlikely
that this interim rule will have any substantial effects on trade, or
on large or small businesses.
Under these circumstances, the Administrator of the Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service has determined that this action will
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small
entities.
[[Page 1044]]
Executive Order 12988
This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, Civil
Justice Reform. This rule: (1) Preempts all State and local laws and
regulations that are inconsistent with this rule; (2) has retroactive
effect to August 29, 2007; and (3) does not require administrative
proceedings before parties may file suit in court challenging this
rule.
Paperwork Reduction Act
This interim rule contains no information collection or
recordkeeping requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.).
List of Subjects in 9 CFR Part 94
Animal diseases, Imports, Livestock, Meat and meat products, Milk,
Poultry and poultry products, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
0
Accordingly, we are amending 9 CFR part 94 as follows:
PART 94--RINDERPEST, FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE, FOWL PEST (FOWL
PLAGUE), EXOTIC NEWCASTLE DISEASE, AFRICAN SWINE FEVER, CLASSICAL
SWINE FEVER, AND BOVINE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY: PROHIBITED AND
RESTRICTED IMPORTATIONS
0
1. The authority citation for part 94 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 450, 7701-7772, 7781-7786, and 8301-8317; 21
U.S.C. 136 and 136a; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.4.
Sec. 94.8 [Amended]
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2. In Sec. 94.8, the introductory text is amended by adding the word
``Armenia,'' after the word ``Africa,''.
Done in Washington, DC, this 27th day of December 2007.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E7-25661 Filed 1-4-08; 8:45 am]
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