[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 84 (Monday, May 1, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 25292]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-10809]


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Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

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Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 84 / Monday, May 1, 2000 / Proposed 
Rules

[[Page 25292]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

9 CFR Part 77

[Docket No. 99-038-3]


Tuberculosis in Cattle, Bison, Goats, and Captive Cervids; State 
and Zone Designations

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of reopening and extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: We are reopening and extending the comment period for our 
proposed rule that would amend the bovine tuberculosis regulations to 
establish new levels of tuberculosis risk classifications to be applied 
to States and zones within States. The proposed rule would also 
classify States and zones according to their tuberculosis risk with 
regard to captive cervids.
    Additionally, it would amend the regulations to specify that the 
regulations apply to goats as well as to cattle, bison, and captive 
cervids, and would increase the amount of testing that must be done 
before certain cattle, bison, and goats may be moved interstate. This 
action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and 
submit comments.

DATES: We invite you to comment on Docket No. 99-038-1. We will 
consider all comments that we receive by May 8, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Please send your comment and three copies to: Docket No. 99-
038-1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Suite 3C03, 
4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238.
    Please state that your comment refers to Docket No. 99-038-1.
    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.
    APHIS documents published in the Federal Register, and related 
information, including the names of organizations and individuals who 
have commented on APHIS dockets, are available on the Internet at 
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Joseph Van Tiem, Senior Staff 
Veterinarian, VS, APHIS, USDA, 4700 River Road Unit 43, Riverdale, MD 
20737-1231; (301) 734-7716.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On March 7, 2000, we published in the Federal Register (65 FR 
11912-11940, Docket No. 99-038-1) a proposal to amend the bovine 
tuberculosis regulations, contained in 9 CFR part 77. We proposed to: 
(1) Establish several new levels of tuberculosis risk classifications 
to be applied to States and zones within States; (2) classify States 
and zones according their tuberculosis risk with regard to captive 
cervids; (3) apply the regulations to goats as well as to cattle, 
bison, and captive cervids; and (4) increase the amount of testing 
required for the interstate movement of certain cattle, bison, and 
goats.
    Comments on the proposed rule were required to be received on or 
before April 21, 2000. On March 24, 2000, we published in the Federal 
Register (65 FR 15877-15878, Docket No. 99-038-2) a correction to 
Docket No. 99-038-1. Comments on the proposed rule as corrected were 
required to be received on or before April 21, 2000.
    Several commenters have requested that we extend the comment period 
on Docket No. 99-038-1 to allow additional time for members of the 
public to review the proposed rule and to submit comments. In response 
to these requests, we are reopening and extending the comment period on 
Docket No. 99-038-1 until May 8, 2000. This action will allow 
interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments.

    Authority: 21 U.S.C. 111, 114, 114a, 115-117, 120, 121, 134b, 
and 134f; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.2(d).

    Done at Washington, DC, this 26th day of April 2000.
Bobby R. Acord,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 00-10809 Filed 4-28-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-U